Billie Jean King tells USA Today that male players who object to equal prize money aren’t necessarily upset with the financial issue, but about the message it sends, as the men haven't always had to share equally with the women. She also said that young ATP players haven't yet thought about "anything beyond hitting tennis balls."
King is also disappointed that ATP Player Council president Roger Federer, who is married to former WTA player Mirka Vavrinec and has twin daughters, has not come out in support of equal prize money. Federer has avoided taking sides on the issue this year while other male players such as Gilles Simon and Janko Tipsarevic have openly opposed equal prize money. King "suspects he doesn't personally object to women earning equal prize money," writes author Bobby Chintapalli.
"I have a feeling knowing his mother, who is a <em>fantastic</em> mother,” King said. "Lynette is just unbelievable as a human being. She's helped shape a lot of his thinking in life. He's very close to her. I just think if you're a father of daughters you should think twice before you complain."