Maria Sharapova makes explosive claim about women’s tennis that needs to be addressed

Maria Sharapova still has a powerful voice in tennis, so her comments surrounding the current state of the women’s game will set alarm bells ringing.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova is on the elite list of players who has won all four majors and her status as one of the most famous female athletes endured throughout her career.

Now she believes women’s tennis chiefs need to shine a brighter light on the game away from the Grand Slam championships, as she suggested sports fans around the world are not engaged in the sport outside of the biggest events.

Speaking a a Bloomberg Live event, the tennis legend suggested the WTA should be doing more to promote champions like Coco Gauff, as she suggested the young America’s first event after her US Open win last month did not get enough publicity.

“You had Coco Gauff winning her first major at US Open in New York City,” she said.

“The crowd, the bridging culture, sport, fashion, all in that moment. Then three weeks later, how many people know she’s playing a tournament in Beijing?

“She got to the semi-finals & lost but I’m sure 99 per cent of the audience at the US Open had no idea where she was playing next. Right away, that’s a problem off the bat.

“I really think Coco Gauff was the best thing that could have happened to women’s tennis. And I like the way in which way she won.

“She was someone who had the ability the talent the voice already had her platform,”

Sharapova also spoke about the disparity in pay between the men’s and women’s tours, as she suggested talk of a merger between the ATP and WTA Tours is unlikely.

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“That’s not going to happen, not soon,” she continued.

“Just this week there is a men’s tournament still happening in Shanghai with the winners’ prize cheque at $1.2million. At the same time, there is a women’s event in China and the prize cheque is $120,000.

“At a Grand Slam, we are celebrating equal prize money. Great. Those are the biggest events, the biggest buzz.

“Then the rest of the Tour, which is the eight or nine other months, the disparity is insane. That needs to be addressed.

“You have so many entities. You have the ATP, the WTA, The ITF. Different ownership of tournaments. How do you align the calendar? How do you make it interesting and engaging? It will take time, but I sure hope they do it.”

Sharapova also looked back on her first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon back in 2004, as she beat Serena Williams in a memorable final.

Her record against Williams over the course of her career was less than impressive, but she admits that win changed her life.

“I was born in Russia & went to the United States when I was a 5-year-old with my father,” she added.

“I had a small talent & my dad had a big vision. I followed his steps and his guidance.

“At 17, I was playing the finals of Wimbledon on the biggest stage of my career against Serena Williams. There was a lot on the line.

“As a teenager, you’re not really aware of what’s on the line except a tennis match & perhaps a ball where you get to wear a nice dress. It was a lesson in partnerships and winning.

“Going back to New York & going through the media rounds, it was the moment when I realised that sport was more than just about winning & losing.

“That this was a business, that you walk out on to the stage & you have a platform & you have a voice.”

It was an engaging and thoughtful interview with a player who remains one of the most famous faces in women’s tennis.

Now it is up to new names to fill the considerable void created by the likes of Sharapova and Williams since their retirements from the sport.