England, Jun28: The member of the ATP Player's Council who caused a stir this week by saying men should be paid more than women at Grand Slam tournaments claims most of his male colleagues share his view but are afraid to speak out.
The 13th-ranked Gilles Simon defended his views Thursday after being eliminated in straight sets by Xavier Malisse in the second round of Wimbledon.
Simon says that his fellow male players “can't say it ... maybe they will lose, I don't know, $2 million on the contracts if they say that. In the conversations ... I had in the locker room, for sure they agree with me.”
Women's No. 1 Maria Sharapova says Simon's comments are a step back because “we women have fought so long to get equal prize money.”
All four Grand Slam tournaments pay equal prize money to men and women.
