Earlier this week, Novak Djokovic stepped in a major controversy that most of us believed was long settled. Novak seemingly came out and openly advocated for men and women tennis players to receive different prize money according to their popularity. Meaning, Novak sort of thinks that as the #1 ranked male player in the world, he’s selling more tickets than any woman, and he should be paid accordingly. Both Serena Williams and woke-as-hell Andy Murray slammed Novak, after which Novak tried to clarify his remarks and offer a half-assed apology on his social media. But he was still being criticized (justifiably). So in his press conference ahead of his appearance at the Miami Open, Novak once again tried to eat sh-t and apologize. This time it came across a bit better.
Novak Djokovic has moved to heal potential rifts with Andy Murray and Serena Williams by contacting both to clear the air following the sexist comments which have angered the tennis world. In anticipation of being interrogated before his first appearance at the Miami Open on Friday, where he plays the Briton Kyle Edmund, Djokovic released a half-baked letter on Facebook on Tuesday evening in a muddled attempt to claw himself out the hole he has occupied since suggesting in Indian Wells last weekend that male players deserve more money than their female counterparts because of superior ticket sales and viewing figures.
When Djokovic faced the press here there was a stronger sense of clarity from the world No. 1, who said he had spoken with Billie Jean King, the original proponent of equal pay, before taking to the world’s press. “I feel I can make myself available to younger players but felt, because tennis helped me so much, it was my duty to give my opinion on the distribution of wealth in sport,” he said. “I make no difference in terms of gender. I believe in equal opportunities and we all contribute in our own ways. I have said everything I need to say. I have just been speaking with Billie Jean King about opportunities tennis players have and the influences we can have in different fields of life. Andy [Murray] sent me a message, we spoke very openly and frankly, I sent a message to Serena, Caroline Wozniacki and others, I just wanted them to understand and I never had any intention to offend or have a negative connotation of my statements.”
“I was shocked at the effect this story had in the media,” Djokovic said. “There is a lot attention on what I say and I want to repeat there were no bad intentions. What Raymond Moore said was very inappropriate and people thought I was speaking in line with him. I never had a problem with equality. I was referring to the tournaments and how the wealth is distributed to all players: high ranked , low ranked, female, male, young and old. We deserve more of the wealth distribution, for all genders.”
I love the role Billie Jean King occupies not only in America, but in the international world of tennis. Even though King didn’t win the most Gland Slams ever, her activism on LGBT causes, feminism and equal pay have made her an icon. And if Billie Jean King says Novak is okay now, then maybe I’ll believe it. But… King has not offered up any public statement of support for Novak. In fact, she was issuing statements immediately following his initial remarks. King said:
“I would pray most of the players have daughters because it will change them. When you are the dominant group, others are very invisible to you. If you’re the non-dominant group, boy you know about the dominant group because you have to navigate. The men teed up the world and we as women, or people of colour, or people with disabilities, we know a lot about the dominant group. We know more about them than they know about themselves. We have to navigate in their world. And that is not fun every day. I want to change their hearts and minds to want the best for everyone.”
Word. Chris Evert went after Novak too, especially about Novak’s comments about women’s “horomones.” Anyway, note that Novak is the one saying that he’s met with Chris and Billie Jean, that he’s the one talking about getting in touch with Serena and Andy. They aren’t saying anything.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Novak you’re not very convincing.
Please take all the seats.
Didn’t even read it, lost any interest in this guy. No apology will change that, he spoke his mind and we know what he thinks, everything he says now is damage control.
I was his fan, but he’s a jackass sometimes.
Exactly. We heard what he really thinks the first time.
Thank you. Also, off topic somewhat: he looks like a young Jerry Lewis.
Shut up and just play tennis Djokovic.
The more he opens his mouth the more his arrogance and male chauvinism comes out.
And bravo for the great female tennis players for putting him and others straight – the person with the most grand slams is not a man but a woman called Navatnalova (not sure are the spelling) then followed by Steffi Graf. Federa is not even near those records.
Navratilova? Martina Navratilova I think ( not sure either)
But way to go! Indeed the persons with most grand slams are women! I know lots of men who favor women matches over men’s , as my brother would say: they are more technical and the game is more intelligent and tight rather than strong.
Not disagreeing with you, but which stats do you have?
Most grand slams is Martina Navratilova followed by Steffi Graf?? How so? If just GS singles, it is usually Steffi Graf followed by Serena Williams (I don’t know why Margaret Court haul doesn’t count at all even though some of her winnings were before the Open era, she’s still played ’em all). If combined singles, doubles, mixed, then Martina followed by the equally great Billie Jean King.
Not trying to be argumentative, i’m just curious about which stats you’re sharing that puts Martina first followed by Steffi.
Sorry got my names wrong – Margaret Court has 24, Steffi Graf 22, Serena Williams 21 & Martina Navratilova 18:)
People talk about Martina being the greatest not *just* because of slams won, but she has a career slam and has won just about everything else you *can* win, including doubles and mixed doubles. So, best all around player.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Navratilova_career_statistics
He looks like one of those fish townspeople from Spongebob. Or maybe the fact that he’s a doofus just makes him look nerdier.
hey, I resent that remark!
but I still <3 you, Shambles.
Oh no, Doofus! I put my metaphorical foot in my metaphorical mouth. You’re a gem, and you know it. I shall amend that to…
“He’s such a cotton headed ninnymuggins,” a la Buddy the Elf.
oooo, you get extra points for quoting one of my favorite movies. 🙂
He looks like Screech from Saved by the Bell! 🙂
Woah…what has been seen cannot be unseen 😮
Not buying his attempt at damage control. He showed us his ugly underbelly and its not likely to change.
Three strikes and your out. Still not an apology and he just didn’t offend Serena and Andy Murray. They were vocal and he didn’t like it. He needs to truly just play tennis and keep his mouth shut.
✋🏾✋🏾 too late. We already know how you really feel.
Still a non-apology, imo. I wish people could just come out and admit they screwed up rather than trying to defend their intentions. He should just say “I was wrong and dumb to bring up women’s hormones and I deeply regret it.” As far as equal pay, I don’t think he actually believes they should be paid the same. He seems more worried about other players not being mad at him.
“He seems more worried about other players not being mad at him.”
Because they already hate him… so
I’m not defending this doofus behavior, obviously, but Novak is not hated on the tour.
@msw: it is a very well known information within tennis that he is VERY MUCH disliked on the tour
My favorite idiot is back. Hope he tries to talk about womens “hormones and sh-t”. Or maybe even better how women shouldn’t vote. Boom
Comments about hormones were intended to expound on the issue of wealth distribution within the sport? Hmmm…
Word to Evert’s comments. It is cultural, imo. And I think related to a country’s economic development.
Yeah. Nope. Stop talking, Nole.
Billie Jean King is spot on in her assessment of how minority groups understand the dominant ones better than the dominant ones understand minorities or even themselves. Brilliant. What a hero.
-TheRealPinky
I concur! Billie Jean’s statement was everything. Totally on point. Sadly, reflection is not a prominent attribute of the dominant group, so Novak likely won’t hear what she’s saying. AT ALL.
Who is advising this prick? He keeps digging himself in deeper.
I love tennis and used to like him until his ego superseded his talent. This is just adding to why I deliciously love watching him lose the French Open.
He has always been a jerk. I go to the Cincy open every year and have volunteered there multiple times, and he’s very conceited–and mean to the ball kids and linesmen.
Tom Fordyce from the BBC had a great comeback to Novak – in terms probably he can best resonate with: he said that at the last Djokovic-Federer match at Wimbledon – which Djoko won – Federer was Wimby’s overwhelming favorite player. So, since player popularity is the acid test, perhaps Federer’s take of the winnings should have been bigger than Djoko’s – the winner’s – take?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/35863208
Djokovic should keep talking – he is doing more to publish the view of him with the public that avid tennis fans have formed following the sport over the years.