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As Wimbledon 2025 draws near, Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa isn’t just fine-tuning her game—she’s challenging the way women’s tennis is perceived.
In a recent interview, Badosa voiced her frustration over the persistent gender bias that continues to shape media coverage of female athletes. Her remarks have ignited a broader conversation about equality in sports, and they’re striking a chord far beyond the tennis court.
Ranked World No. 9, Badosa has built an impressive career with four WTA titles and a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open earlier this year. Yet, she finds that her personal life—especially her relationship with fellow tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas—often overshadows her athletic achievements.
She noted that while women’s tennis has made progress, the media still tends to focus more on the personal side of female players than their male counterparts. Topics like relationships, fashion, and off-court behavior are frequently discussed, sometimes at the expense of recognizing skill and strategy.
This imbalance isn’t just anecdotal. Studies have shown that men’s matches receive more prime-time coverage and are framed around performance, while women’s matches are often discussed in terms of emotion or appearance. Last year’s French Open featured nine men’s matches in the prime-time slot and only one women’s match—a scheduling decision that drew criticism and a public apology from the tournament director.
Badosa’s comments reflect a growing awareness among female athletes that equality goes beyond prize money. While major tournaments now offer equal pay, the spotlight still tilts toward men’s tennis. The International Tennis Federation has launched initiatives to promote gender balance, including increasing female representation in coaching and leadership roles. But as Badosa points out, respect and recognition are just as vital as financial parity.
Her message is clear: women’s tennis deserves to be celebrated for its athleticism, not sidelined by stereotypes. As Wimbledon kicks off, Badosa’s words serve as a rallying cry for change—not just in tennis, but in how we value women in sport.