Goran Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion, has told The Tennis Space that the All England Club should not pay equal prize-money to male and female players, as it is unfair on the men. “Men and women aren’t paid the same. Women are paid more. Look at how much time the women spend on court. They are paid more for what they do, and that’s unfair,” said Ivanisevic. The Croat, who is commentating for BBC Five Live during these Championships, supported the argument put forward by Gilles Simon that men deserve more money because the tennis they play is more entertaining than the women’s game.

Ivanisevic on whether Wimbledon should pay equal prize-money: “Men and women aren’t paid the same. Women are paid more. Look at how much time the women spend on court – they play fewer sets, less time on court. And they are paid the same prize-money as the men. So they are paid more for what they do. If the women are paid more than the men, it’s unfair, and at the moment they are paid more. Women definitely shouldn’t get paid more than the men, and at the moment equal prize-money means that they’re paid more. Victoria Azarenka beats Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-0 in half an hour or something to reach the quarter-finals, and the men could be out there for six or seven hours, and then everyone is paid the same. It’s a good thing I’m not playing now. It’s up to the guys playing now to complain or to say something.

“You have to look at entertainment. Simon made a point about this, about the entertainment provided by men’s and women’s tennis. I wouldn’t mind if the women were paid more if they were more entertaining. But I think men’s tennis is more entertaining than women’s tennis. I think you should look at that aspect. If women’s tennis was more attractive and appealing, then who cares, pay them five times more.”