Sania Mirza brings about monetary equality of the sexes

It was Billie Jean King's campaign for equality in the 1970s which benefited women tennis players. Back home it is Sania Mirza asked, "why the differential treatment?" Sharmistha Chaudhuri reports.

It was Billie Jean King's campaign for equality in the 1970s which benefited women tennis players.

Still, for a long time, women were offered equal prize money in only two of the Grand Slams.

However, since Wimbledon - the last Slam to change their policy in 2007 - also came on board, the equal prize money debate has given rise to various controversies, the latest being France's Gilles Simon criticising the decision.

Back home, the senior hardcourt nationals, now renamed the Fenesta Open, had pretty much gone per tradition over the years, though the organisers had brought up this topic during their meeting a month ago.

However, Sania Mirza put an end to the dithering on Saturday afternoon.

Invited as chief guest at the tournament where she played as a junior, Sania asked, "why the differential treatment?"

And hey presto, the decision to distribute equal prize money immediately came into effect.

Thus, the women's singles winner Prerna Bhambri got Rs. 1.5 lakh, Rs. 50,000 more than the initial promised sum.

"It's wonderful to see that the organisers accepted my suggestion and acted upon it so quickly," Sania said. While India's women players can thank one of their own for bringing about an abrupt turnaround, the debate is by no means over globally.

Simon, a member of the ATP Tour council, recently claimed men attract more fans and spend more time on court.

However, compatriot Marion Bartoli, the first woman to receive equal prize money at Wimbledon as runner-up in 2007, retorted saying women in no way lagged behind men in their effort.