Dubai Championships: Murray slams difference in prize money

British tennis star Andy Murray has described the difference in prize money between the men and women tennis players as ‘big step backward’ with the men’s singles winner set to receive five times more the amount as compared to the women’s champion.

Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko took home $104,180 after winning the women’s WTA 500 event by beating Veronika Kudermetova in the final last weekend.

The men’s ATP 500 event, which ends on Saturday, will result in the winner receiving prize money worth $523,740.

“Obviously that’s a big step backwards, so it’s not great,” Murray told reporters after his 7-5, 6-2 loss to Jannik Sinner.

“Obviously if they’re the same size events one week apart, that’s quite a big discrepancy.”

Tennis is usually considered the leader in the battle for equality for women’s sport, with equal prize money paid to men and women at the four grand slams.

“There has been tournaments on the tour, like the Washington event, for example, with the different size events, the prizemonies are different,” Murray added.

“I’ve also played the tournament in Brisbane for the men, which is a smaller event compared to women, and the prizemoney is flipped the other way.”

Murray also said that Germany’s Alexander Zverev had been “reckless” after he was kicked out of the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, for “unsportsmanlike conduct” following his doubles match.

“I obviously understand lots of players, athletes across lots of sports can get very frustrated,” Murray said. “… I’m certainly not claiming to be an angel. I’m not perfect myself.

 “However, when you’re ripping your tennis racquet right next to the umpire multiple times, yeah, you can’t be doing that.

“I know obviously one of the British guys who was playing, as well, a bit dangerous. It’s graphite flying off the racquet.”