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Tennis great's call to Serena Williams over 'disgraceful' farce

Tennis icon Serena Williams (pictured left) during a Wimbledon press conference and (pictured right) Iga Swiatek celebrating with her trophy.
Tennis great Pam Shriver has called on Serena Williams (pictured left) and a number of other icons to band together and buy the Italian Open after women's winner Iga Swiatek (pictured right) received less prize money than the men. (Getty Images)

Tennis great Pam Shriver has called for icons Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Billie Jean King to band together and buy the Italian Open following some outrage regarding the prize money for women.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek continued her mercurial streak to take out the Italian Open in style having won her previous four tournaments in the lead-up to Rome.

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Swiatek won $482,000 for her ATP 1000 win at the Italian Open.

However, fans became frustrated to learn that the orld No.1 would pick up less prize money than men's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas won $683,000 for coming second in Rome.

Winner Novak Djokovic pocketed a whopping $1.25 million, up 241 per cent from 2021, for his efforts.

The disparity between the pay caused many to take to social media and blast the tournament.

And following the uproar, tennis great Pam Shriver called to arms a number of the sport's biggest names to band together and take action.

Shriver urged Martina Navratilova, the Williams sisters, King and a number of other tennis greats to 'put a female tournament director' in place in Rome to ensure equal prize money.

Navratilova praised Shriver's idea and said she would be on board.

Previously, Navratilova hit out at Rome for the difference in prize money between the men and women.

All grand slams have the same prize money for women and men, however ATP and WTA events do vary in prize money.

The difference in pay caused an almighty stir with fans and commentators taking to social media to discuss the drama.

Serena Williams hints at comeback at Wimbledon

In further news, Williams hinted at a return to competition at Wimbledon.

The 23-time grand slam champion hasn't played since last year's SW19.

Williams posted a video to her social media account of her back in training ahead of the grass court season.

Williams has taken time away from the game since her injury in the first round of Wimbledon last year.

The 40-year-old will be looking to win her eighth Wimbledon title and equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam titles.

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