Gender Equality in Tennis: A Decade After Raymond Moore’s Controversial Remarks

Indian Wells, Calif. — Ten years have passed since Raymond Moore, then CEO and tournament director of the BNP Paribas Open, made comments widely considered sexist, sparking a significant conversation about gender equality in tennis. His remarks, made on the final Sunday of the 2016 tournament, led to his resignation and prompted a re-evaluation of the sport’s structures and biases.

The 2016 Controversy

In a press conference preceding the 2016 singles finals, Moore stated that the WTA Tour “rides on the coattails of the men” and that female players were “very, very lucky” to benefit from the success of their male counterparts. He suggested he would prefer to be born a male player, and described several WTA Tour players as “very attractive prospects,” clarifying he meant physically as well as competitively. [Source: The New York Times]

Moore later apologized for his comments, calling them “in poor taste and erroneous,” but the damage was done. His remarks drew immediate and strong criticism from tennis legends like Serena Williams and Billie Jean King. [Source: BBC Sport] Novak Djokovic, after winning the men’s final, initially described Moore’s remarks as “not politically correct” but later issued a full apology and affirmed his support for gender equality. [Source: The New York Times]

Moore subsequently resigned from his position. [Source: Tennis.com]

Progress and Persistent Inequalities

A decade later, although significant strides have been made in some areas, inequalities persist within professional tennis. Prize money equality has improved, with the WTA pledging equal prize money for combined 1000- and 500-level events by 2027, and by 2033 for non-combined events. [Source: The New York Times] Still, disparities remain at major tournaments like the Italian Open and Cincinnati Open. [Source: The New York Times]

Beyond prize money, inequalities manifest in scheduling, media coverage, and commentary. Billie Jean King continues to advocate for equal format, arguing that the best-of-five set format for men at Grand Slams inherently creates disparities in exposure and court time. [Source: The New York Times] The order of finals at tournaments often prioritizes men’s matches, and scheduling controversies, such as those at the French Open regarding night session matches, highlight ongoing biases. [Source: The New York Times]

Scheduling and Exposure

The French Open has been particularly scrutinized for its scheduling practices, with only four women’s matches scheduled in night sessions out of 53 since 2021. [Source: The New York Times] Tournament directors have cited spectator value and the risk of short, less engaging matches as justification, but players like Ons Jabeur argue that limited exposure contributes to the perception of lower interest in women’s tennis. [Source: The New York Times]

At the Indian Wells tournament, gender equality in scheduling has improved, with an even split of men’s and women’s matches on the main courts, a significant change from the 75/60 split in 2016. [Source: The New York Times]

The Role of Media and Promotion

Sabalenka has called for improved promotion of women’s tennis, noting the effectiveness of the ATP’s marketing efforts. [Source: The New York Times] Players similarly point to subtle biases in commentary and discourse, where similar qualities are viewed differently in men and women. [Source: The New York Times]

Looking Ahead

Despite ongoing challenges, there is a sense of optimism within the sport. Prize money has increased significantly, with Sabalenka setting a new WTA record for single-season earnings in 2025. [Source: The New York Times] Players and organizations continue to advocate for further improvements in scheduling, media coverage, and overall equity. As Pegula, a leading voice for player concerns, stated, women’s tennis remains a leader in the broader landscape of women’s sports, and continued progress is essential. [Source: The New York Times]