• October 10, 2024

US Open 2023: The Obamas Turn Up To Support Coco Gauff, Michelle Obama Speaks In Honour Of Billie Jean King | Tennis News

US Open 2023: The Obamas Turn Up To Support Coco Gauff, Michelle Obama Speaks In Honour Of Billie Jean King | Tennis News

New York: Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were in the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands to watch Coco Gauffโ€™s first-round victory at the US Open 2023 on Monday night. After that match, Michelle Obama went down on the court to participate in a tribute to Billie Jean King marking the 50th anniversary of the US Open becoming the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to pay equal prize money to women.

โ€œBillie Jean teaches us that when things lie in the balance, we all have a choice to make. We can either wait around and accept what weโ€™re given. We can sit silently and hope someone else fights our battles. Or we can make our own stand,โ€ the former first lady said during the ceremony between Gauffโ€™s match and 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovicโ€™s contest that was to follow next in Ashe.

โ€œWe can use whatever platforms we have to speak out and fight to protect the progress weโ€™ve made, and level the playing field for all of our daughters and their daughters.โ€

In 1972, when King won the US Open, she earned $10,000 for her title, $15,000 less than what the menโ€™s champion earned. She threatened to not play at all the next year โ€” and added that no other women would, either.

King then helped recruit a sponsor that stepped in and helped make up the difference in 1973, so the two singles champions were paid the same amount: $25,000. It wasnโ€™t until more than 30 years later that Wimbledon became the last major tennis tournament to pay its singles champions equally.

โ€œEven today, there are far too many tournaments out there that still need to give equal pay to women. โ€ฆ Let us remember all of this is far bigger than a championโ€™s paycheck,โ€ Michelle Obama said on Monday night. โ€œThis is about how women are seen and valued in this world.โ€

She also was at Flushing Meadows last year, when she saw American Frances Tiafoe play during his run to the semifinals.

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