WOMEN ARE WORTHY ENOUGH TO GET EQUAL PAY AT WIMBLEDON

French player Gillies Simon caused controversy in the world of tennis by claiming that women do not deserve to be paid as much as men because the men's game is deemed "more attractive". 


He added that it's about the entertainment as well as stating that men's tennis is actually more "interesting" than women's.


I believe that Simon's claims demonstrate how sexism is still an issue in sport. A man cannot be paid more because he is seen as a greater interest. If that is a reason behind any pay, then it is wrong. 


Wimbledon has awarded equal prize money since 2007: Singles winners win £1.15 million; Doubles winners get £260,000 for the pair; and mixed doubles earn £92,000 for the pair.


Giving the same amount of prize money is the correct thing to do in my opinion: female tennis players train and work equally as hard as male players do. The quality of play in women's tennis is just as good as men's. 


However, I can understand why some people are arguing men should receive greater pay because of their task to compete to the best of five sets, whereas a women has to play best to three. 


But surely we're all about equality here? We are in the 21st century, not the 20th. Being a women should not be a reason as to why pay should be less. That is unfair and sexist. 


Yes, I understand why many depict men's tennis as more interesting: the 'Top Four' create headlines worldwide because of their rivalry and always seem to cause the biggest shocks and upsets within the sport. 


But women's tennis is as interesting. I agree, there is not a rivalry between female players similar  with the likes of Nadal and Murray. But why should Simon use that as the reason as to why women shouldn't receive equal pay. 


Female players have fought long and hard to get equal prize money, so why are many people claiming the opposite to what they campaigned for?


Men have the physical ability of a 5 set match whereas a female may not have equal ability. Equal pay should be awarded because it is not a woman's fault if they do not have the physical strength to compete in 5 sets. I can understand people's argument against this, but I think Simon is wrong by claiming men's tennis is 'more attractive' and 'entertaining'. 


My message to the critics is this: Stop making gender the issue. Tennis players, both male and female, work hard and put equal time and effort into their training. It is not about the entertainment as Gilles Simon believes. It is about the players' ability to perform as athletes and achieve sporting goals for themselves and their countries. 

FEMALE ATHLETES LEFT OUT OF TOP 10 FOR SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2011

Nominations for Sports Personality of the Year 2011 have been announced today and not one woman has been shortlisted for the top 10.

Widespread backlash has been sparked as a result of the controversial decision, as sports women around the UK have taken to twitter to convey their anger and annoyance.

Nominees include:  Mark Cavendish (cycling), Darren Clarke (golf), Alastair Cook (cricket), Luke Donald (golf), Mo Farah (athletics), Dai Greene (athletics), Amir Khan (boxing), Rory McIlroy (golf), Andy Murray (tennis), Andrew Strauss (cricket).

Some of the men in the list do deserve to be nominated. Darren Clarke and Alastair Cook are just two examples of great sportsmen.

But why was there no place for Chrissie Wellington, Olympic Gold Medalist Rebecca Adlington, third time European Champion gymnast Beth Tweddle, taekwondo fighter world champion 2011 Sarah Stevenson or world champion rower Kath Grainger?

How about Mary King or Hayley Turner?

UK tennis number one, Andy Murray, is a credit to our country, but he has not won a world major in the sport.

Swimmer Keri-Anne Payne is a world champion and so is her team mate Rebecca Adlington. So why have they been missed out of the top 10?!

Adlington, in my opinion, is the role model we need and she needs to be recognised as one of the many successful and admirable female athletes in Great Britain.  

Personally, I’d like to see the editors of Nuts and Zoo attempt 800m freestyle. Competing in that event takes stamina, determination and hard work. Winning it on an international level is something else.

I would have expected newspapers which follow sport themselves to nominate athletes for Sports Personality, such as The Racing Post.

It is disappointing to see that these publications have taken huge steps backwards in time. Women are just as good, if not better, than men in sport.

It’s sad to see that some great women in sport have not been recognised for Sports Personality of the Year. We need to celebrate the achievements of Great Britain’s female athletes.