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The US Open 2023 Women’s singles match went down the line in a two-hour thriller as young prodigy, Coco Gauff beat second seeded Aryna Sabalenka at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The 19-year-old surpassed the challenges possessed by the World No. 2, winning the match 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
However, what was common between the two world-class players was their statements on equal pay. The Belarusian, who is set to take over as World No. 1, replacing Iga Swiatek in the new ranking which is set to release on Monday, 11th September, opened up on female athletes deserving equal pay as men.
The US Open 2023 runners-up in her post-match presser stated that the women also sacrifice a lot and work hard. “I think women deserve to be paid the same as men. We sacrifice a lot. We work really hard. It’s not like we’re doing nothing and they pay us the same. We deserve to be paid the same. The level is probably different, but we are still putting a lot of work in,” Sabalenka added.
Coco Gauff thanks veteran Billie Jean King for equal pay fight
The newly crowned US Open champion, Coco Gauff also went up to Billie Jean King for her fight for equal pay. Post receiving the prize money worth INR 25 Crore, Gauff said, “Thank you Billie for fighting for this.”
Notably, this is the 50th anniversary of when the 1973 US Open became the first major sports event to pay women and men equal prize money, led by the efforts of Hall of Fame player and rights advocate Billie Jean King.
