| Photo via USTA
NEW YORK – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrates its 50th anniversary of equal pay prize money at the US Open, which will be the theme throughout the 2023 US Open, and equality will be the focus of its ongoing “Be Open” campaign. Now in its fourth year, the Be Open campaign emphasizes tennis’ commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect and encourages all tennis fans to embrace these ideals.
In 1973, after Billie Jean King won the women’s singles title at the 1972 US Open, USTA became the first sporting event in history to offer equal prize money to both men and women competitors, with each competing for total purses of $100,000, including a $25,000 payout to both the men’s and women’s singles champion. King demanded that the US Open pay men’s and women’s players equally and set the tone for a momentous year. This led to the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association. King defeated Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match at Houston’s iconic Astrodome, which helped propel the women’s movement in both sports and society and remains the most-watched tennis match ever.
“The USTA is incredibly proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of awarding equal prize money at this year’s US Open, and to honor Billie Jean King’s efforts to make this a reality,” said Brian Hainline, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “No individual has done more to secure equality for female athletes than Billie Jean King. Her impact goes far beyond the tennis court, and there is no better time to celebrate her legacy than on the anniversary of this historic milestone.”
“It’s not just about the money, it’s about the message,” said Billie Jean King. “Every generation does have to fight for equality and freedom.”
The campaign to award the honor to King has begun, and efforts will continue over the year. The USTA said it actively supports the effort to have King’s myriad achievements recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. Though 11 individual athletes have received the Congressional Gold Medal, none of those recipients has been female athletes.
The USTA said it would be partnering with the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), founded in 1974 by King, to enable all girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life, which will support the Congressional Gold Medal campaign in several ways, including with their expertise in advocacy and collective impact, as well as their significant reach with athletes, leaders, entities, and fans.
“Billie has rightfully received numerous honors and accolades in her life,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive of Professional Tennis, USTA, and US Open Tournament Director. “But the time has come for our nation to recognize her achievements with the Congressional Gold Medal for the wide-ranging positive impact these achievements have had on generations of women, men, girls, and boys of all backgrounds, making our country a better place.
The 2023 US Open theme art will also be tied to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Equal Prize Money. The artwork, created by Brazilian artist Camila Pinheiro, is a bold and contemporary spin on an iconic image of Billie Jean King while capturing the power and excitement of the US Open dramatically. The US Open theme art is featured across all areas of promotion and activation, including on US Open broadcasts, through a robust merchandise offering, and US Open advertising. It will be visible throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds. The USTA is proud to support WSF with a donation from the proceeds of this themed art.
In addition, the USTA is planning a full slate of activities to support this historic anniversary. A multi-dimensional history of equal prize money and the impact that equal prize money has had on sports will be launched online with additional promotion across the association’s social media channels. The series will include stories written by noted tennis journalists complemented with historic video footage, which will roll out over the five months leading to the 2023 US Open. Finally, a “What Equality Means to Me” series of essays penned by notable women from all disciplines of life will begin to roll out in April. King will author the first of these essays.
This year’s tournament starts with US Open Fan Week on Tuesday, August 22, with the tournament’s main draw running from Monday, August 28, through Sunday, September 10.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
