On September 28, two figures of ladies’s tennis, fashions within the sports activities and social panorama, made outstanding appearances at C2 Montreal, the worldwide occasion on the crossroads of commerce and creativity (C2) launched in 2012.
After all, the themes of inclusion and equality had been on the coronary heart of their discussions.
Lower than two weeks from worldwide day of the ladyan annual observance first declared by the United Nations on October 11, 2012 and meant to help extra alternatives for women and lift consciousness of the gender inequality confronted by ladies, media protection of The occasion couldn’t have come at a greater time.
And simply 16 months in the past, Tennis Canada and Nationwide Financial institution launched the 10-year program Women. Alter. Match technique, which ends up in significant adjustments to advertise gender equality in tennis.
What higher strategy to illustrate the initiative than by recalling the profession of Billie Jean King? From her childhood goals to her Grand Slam crowns and the creation of the pioneering Unique 9, she has been one of many world sporting icons of the previous 50 years.
And the story of Rebecca Marino too: her admirable journey that made Canadian headlines and was a sizzling matter for journalists in each Tour metropolis the place the world’s eightieth has competed since her return to tennis 5 years in the past. yr.
Earlier than Ms. King appeared on stage, Marino and Radio-Canada journalist Valérie-Micaela Bain had the prospect to sit down down with the tennis legend.
Rebecca recollects the time she met Billie Jean King at an occasion hosted by the WTA round 12 years in the past.
“We may ask him questions,” Marino informed Radio-Canada. “She motivated and impressed us. She is a pioneer of ladies’s sport and equality.
Marino then talked about how troublesome it’s at all times for girls to obtain the identical prize cash as their male counterparts in tournaments exterior of the Grand Slam championships. In 1973, the US Open was a precursor by presenting the identical checks to the 2 champions. Melbourne solely adopted go well with in 2001, Wimbledon in 2006 and Roland-Garros in 2007.
Rebecca Marino will let you know that extra effort remains to be wanted from tennis executives.
“I do not know why there are fewer girls’s tournaments, however we speak about it so much between us. And our participant council is pushing for extra,” Marino stated. “We’d like extra alternatives for girls. I am glad the prize cash is identical at Grand Slams. It is a good begin and I hope different tournaments will observe.
“We’re fortunate that tennis has much more publicity in comparison with different sports activities, however I nonetheless really feel just like the dialog is dominated by males’s tennis. That stated, we have seen motion and alter on the the previous couple of years, and there’s increasingly girls’s tennis on tv,” she continued.
In 2011, on the age of 21, Rebecca Marino rose to thirty eighth place within the WTA rankings. Two years later, in February 2013, she had solely performed two matches within the season when she determined to surrender tennis. The expectations and strain on social media had been troublesome to handle and pushed her into melancholy.
However that was not the tip.
Whereas she is probably not as well-known as Billie Jean King’s, Rebecca’s story catches on and can stay an inspiration to any lady who doubts her prospects for many years to return.
Right now, at 31, Rebecca Marino will not be fascinated by retirement. Among the many challenges forward is defending Canada as a part of the nationwide group on the greatest group tennis occasion on the planet: the Billie Jean King Cup.
