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Female tennis star blasts 'super weak' male players

Karolina Pliskova smiles during a press conference.
Karolina Pliskova says men that complain women shouldn't be getting equal pay in tennis are 'super weak'. (Getty Images)

World No.3 Karolina Pliskova has called for men that are against equal pay in tennis ‘super weak’ in an interview ahead of her competitive return.

The debate to whether the WTA and ATP will merge has come to the forefront in tennis following the break of the tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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But with the merger debate comes the talk of equal pay between men and women.

Men and women are paid the same amount at the four grand slams, but there is a big disparity for the rest of the season.

In an interview ahead of the Czech Republic star’s return to action at the LiveScore Cup in Prague, Pliskova ripped into men who are against the idea despite claiming she does not crave equal pay.

“I don’t think so and I am not the one who wants it,” she said.

“But I don’t like the men who are complaining that we would get the same money. I think it is super weak from them that they complain we have the same money as them.

“The only time it is true is at grand slams. I understand they play longer, but they are men. They are stronger than us.”

Pliskova supports WTA and ATP merger

But Pliskova said women should be treated equally when it comes to centre court and the opportunity to showcase their talent.

“I don’t need to have the same prize money as men. But to have the same chance to play on centre court or to have the same chance to be on TV, that should be possible with these changes,” she added.

The World No.3 has also expressed her support for the growing talks of a merger between the ATP and WTA.

Petra Kvitova, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, Belinda Bencic and Karolina Pliskova smile for a selfie.
Petra Kvitova, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu, Belinda Bencic and Karolina Pliskova pose for a selfie ahead of the 2019 WTA Finals. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The 28 year old has not played since the Qatar Open in February, but claimed she is willing to return to action for the hard-court season in America around August.

Pliskova will. be joined by her twin sister Kristyna, Marketa Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Barbora Strycova for a round-robin tournament in Prague.