The Jensen Zone: Is the Doubles Game About to Flatline?
As the tennis year rolls on, I would like to bring up a point on the 40th anniversary of the most important and impactful tennis match in history. The year was 1973, and Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in what was called "The Battle of the Sexes." It was a very important step in the growth of tennis and gender equality in the sport.
Tennis has equal prize money between the genders at all the Grand Slams, but it is not equal between the different events. This year at the U.S. Open, the singles champions Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams each earned $2.6 million and another $1 million for winning the U.S. Open Series Bonus Pool of money. The men's and women's doubles winning teams split $450,000 with no U.S. Open Series Bonus Pool option. The mixed-doubles earnings are even less.
I believe it is time for the pro game to really promote the stars in doubles. To invest in the amazing game that it is. It is a game of thought, teamwork and it is very fast-paced. The majority of the players on the planet play doubles, but at the pro level, it is not given the respect or promotion it deserves.
At the Olympic Games, every discipline in every sport receives the same Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. It is equal for all competitions and competitors.
I believe it is time, on the 40th anniversary of one battle, to begin another battle to improve the sport of tennis. We need to put more of an emphasis on these world-class players and pay them like the players in the singles draw.
In my mind, the Grand Slams will have equal prize money when the doubles and mixed-doubles teams split the same prize money per round that the singles players receive.
Tennis needs to evolve and grow more stars. Use the power of all the draws and components in tennis to promote our game for a lifetime.
I can only stress this very important point … doubles, at the Pro Tour level, is nearly dead. The only current marketable doubles team, the Bryan Brothers and the Williams Sisters, are the only teams fans watch in masses and on television as the ratings have proved. These two teams, however, are just a few short years from leaving the game.
When this happens, doubles tennis will no longer be relevant. The Pro Tour tournament directors tried to kill doubles a few years back, and the Bryan family saved it from death row. The tournament directors will have the opportunity to cut costs and eliminate the expense of doubles players who do not sell tickets for their events.
Doubles and the Pro Tours need to adapt doubles to be relevant or die. Now is the time to give all events in the Grand Slams equal prize money distribution and make the doubles stars marketable, or pro tennis will become a one draw show limited to one draw stars.
Give the fans the doubles game they play at the parks and clubs around the world. Give the fans the game the fans understand … give them DOUBLES and make it IMPORTANT!
Now and forever proud to be … 1984/1993 French Open Doubles Champion.
