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On September 28, two figures in ladies’s tennis—fashions within the sports activities and social landscapes—made notable appearances at C2 Montréal, the worldwide occasion on the intersection of commerce and creativity (C2) launched in 2012.
In fact, the matters of inclusion and equality have been the crux of their discussions.
With lower than two weeks earlier than the International Day of the Girl, an annual observance first declared by the United Nations on October 11, 2012, and meant to assist extra alternatives for women and improve consciousness of the gender inequality confronted by women, the media protection of the occasion couldn’t have come at a greater time.
And simply 16 months in the past, Tennis Canada and the Nationwide Financial institution launched the 10-year Girls. Set. Match technique, which leads significant change to advertise gender equality in tennis.
What higher approach to illustrate the initiative than by recalling Billie Jean King’s personal journey? From her girlhood goals to her Grand Slam crowns and the creation of the pioneering Unique 9, she is among the many world sports activities icons of the previous 50 years.
And Rebecca Marino’s story, too: her admirable path that made Canadian headlines and has been a sizzling subject for reporters in each metropolis on the Tour the place the World No.80 has competed since returning to tennis 5 years in the past.
Earlier than Ms. King’s look on stage, Marino and Radio-Canada journalist Valérie-Micaela Bain had the prospect to take a seat down with the tennis legend.
Rebecca remembered the time she met Billie Jean King at an occasion organized by the WTA about 12 years in the past.
“We may ask her questions,” Marino instructed Radio-Canada. “She motivated and impressed us. She’s a pioneer in ladies’s sports activities and equality.”
Marino then talked about how tough it nonetheless is for girls to be awarded the identical prize cash as their male counterparts at tournaments outdoors the Grand Slam championships. In 1973, the U.S. Open was a forerunner when it began out handing the identical cheques to each champions. Melbourne solely adopted go well with in 2001, Wimbledon in 2006 and Roland-Garros in 2007.
Rebecca Marino will inform you that extra efforts are nonetheless wanted on the a part of tennis leaders.
“I don’t know why there are fewer ladies’s tournaments, however we speak about it so much amongst ourselves. And our Participant Council is pushing for extra,” mentioned Marino. “We’d like extra alternatives for girls. I’m glad the prize cash is similar on the Slams. That’s a superb begin, and I hope the opposite tournaments will comply with.”
“We’re fortunate that tennis will get much more visibility in comparison with different sports activities, however I nonetheless really feel just like the dialog is dominated by males’s tennis. That mentioned, we’ve seen motion and alter over the previous few years, and there’s increasingly ladies’s tennis on TV,” she continued.
In 2011, on the age of 21, Rebecca Marino rose as excessive as No.38 within the WTA rankings. Two years later, in February 2013, she’d performed solely two matches within the season when she determined to go away tennis behind. The expectations and stress on social media have been tough to deal with and pushed her into melancholy.
However that wasn’t the tip.
Whereas it might not be as well-known as Billie Jean King’s, Rebecca’s story is making its manner and can stay a supply of inspiration for any woman who’s doubting her prospects for many years to return.
Immediately, at 31, Rebecca Marino isn’t interested by retirement. Among the many challenges that lie forward for her is defending Canada as a part of the nationwide squad on the world’s main workforce tennis occasion: Billie Jean King Cup.
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