Karolina Pliskova calls out “Super Weak” men for complaining about equal prize money

World No 3 Karolina Pliskova has given her thoughts on what a potential merger between the men’s and women’s tours might mean for tennis, and taken a shot at “super weak” men who complain about equal prize money in the process.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic

Tennis Majors

May 31, 2020

With the WTA and ATP Tours contemplating a ground-breaking merger that could have meaningful prize money implications, WTA No 3 Karolina Pliskova has expressed her opinion that men are “super weak” for complaining about WTA players receiving equal prize money.

Pliskova, speaking to the PA News Agency, said that she herself doesn’t dwell on the issue.

“I am not the one who wants it,” she said. “But I don’t like the men who are complaining that we would get the same money. I think it is super weak from them that they complain we have the same money as them.”

The 2016 US Open runner-up, former world No 1 and three-time Fed Cup champion admits that a potential merger between the ATP and WTA Tours could work well for the women even if the prize money issue isn’t completely tidied up.

“I don’t need to have the same prize money as men. But to have the same chance to play on centre court or to have the same chance to be on TV, that should be possible with these changes,” she said. “It needs to be positive also for the ATP so they need to find a balance so it is a forward step for both. It might take a couple of years to get going. It will be different, but I don’t think for the players it would change that much. It would be a good step.”

Pliskova was on hand to speak about the Livescore Cup, which is to be held in Prague on 3-6 June. Pliskova will be joined by fellow Czech players Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Strycova, Karolina Muchova and her sister Kristyna, along with Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova at the clay-court event.