Women consider Slam boycott

NEW YORK -- Tired of receiving second-class treatment on the payrolls of three of the sport's four Grand Slams, the women who make their living from professional tennis may resort to a boycott to bite the hand that feeds them -- but feeds the men more -- if the three shallow-pocketed Slams don't make a millennial motion toward equality.

Billie Jean King calls it a potential "girl-cott." Bart McGuire, the WTA Tour's chief executive officer, calls it a militant maneuver he hopes his troops won't deploy. Lindsay Davenport, who sits on the tour's Player Council, calls it a possible future payback for past and present slights.

If Wimbledon, currently the most chauvinistic of the Slams in its pay scale, doesn't announce a raise today for this year's event, don't look for many female players at Wimbledon next year; they just may have other plans for that particular fortnight.

"I think the players need to be ready for it," Davenport said.

Of the four Slams, only the U.S. Open awards equal prize money.

Pub Date: 4/29/99