Tennis champ Rafael Nadal says female players deserve more prize money if they draw larger crowds - as his longtime girlfriend makes a rare appearance in the stands
- Rafael Nadal was asked about Serena Williams' fight for prize money equality
- He was uncomfortable answering gender questions because it's 'sensitive'
- 'You can't have an opinion, because anything that you say is going against you'
- Nadal's girlfriend Xisca Perello made a rare appearance in the stands to watch
- He dodged questions about what the pair get up to when he's not playing
- Couple were seen looking tense while shopping and eating in Melbourne
Rafael Nadal says female tennis players should win more prize money than men if they sell more tickets to tournaments.
The 32-year-old was asked about Serena Williams' push for equal pay at all tennis competitions, not just the four grand slams.
Though reluctant to talk about gender issues in the sport, he stressed that men and women were the same and pay should be determined by crowd size.
Rafael Nadal (pictured) says female tennis players should win more prize money than men if they sell more tickets to tournaments
Nadal (pictured with the Williams sisters) was asked about Serena Williams' push for equal pay at all tennis competitions, not just the four grand slams
'Is not about equal or not equal prizemoney. I don't care if they win more than us, that's the real thing,' he said after cruising to the quarter finals on Sunday.
'If they sell more tickets, they deserve to more than us. That's very easy to understand. It's not about being male or women. Doesn't matter. We are the same.'
Nadal then dodged a question about whether the ATP and WTA tours should be merged into a tour of both sexes, saying the press should ask organisers.
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'I don't know. I don't have the whole information to know if that stronger product or not stronger product. Who knows? You need to make an analysis,' he said.
However, he then went on to explain that he didn't like to talk about gender issues because they often got anyone who made a comment into trouble.
'[It is] a very [sensitive] thing today in this world talking about men or women. At this moment you even can't have an opinion, because anything that you say is going against you,' he said.
'I will not be the one that I going to tell you anything in this moment, you know?'
Nadal (pictured with Serena Willaims) was reluctant to talk about gender issues in the sport, but stressed that men and women were the same and pay should be determined by crowd size
Williams (pictured) said 'uncomfortable' public conversations by stars like Andy Murray and herself were necessary to achieve equality
'We still are fighting for equal prize money at all events across the board. I think that's something that we're going to continue to do, continue to fight for,' she (pictured with junior players) said
The Spaniard was even less forthcoming about a woman much closer to him than other players - his longtime girlfriend Xisca Perello.
The 31-year-old made a rare appearance in the stands during Nadal's match against Tomas Berdych, which he won in straight sets.
Channel 9's Jim Courier asked the World No. 2 what the couple, who have been dating since 2005, got up to in Melbourne between matches.
'As I say to you a couple of years ago in 2017, I think it was the first time she was able to be here, that she had received a wildcard in that moment,' Nadal replied.
'And now after 14 years together she doesn't need wildcards. She comes wherever she wants.'
The Spaniard was even less forthcoming about a woman much closer to him than other players - his longtime girlfriend Xisca Perello who watched the match on Sunday (pictured)
Channel 9's Jim Courier asked the World No. 2 what the couple, who have been dating since 2005, got up to in Melbourne between matches
Nadal's response was in reference to a similar conversation at the 2017 Australian Open when Courier asked him about another rare sighting of Ms Perello.
'After 10 years finally my girlfriend gets a wildcard to come here,' he said at the time, before thinking better of it. 'You know… better we stop here.'
The couple do at least eat together during Nadal's time off, as they were spotted at the swanky Nobu restaurant in Melbourne on Friday.
However, it seemed the stress of the tournament was getting to them as they appeared drained and tense while shopping and over dinner.
Ms Perello placed her head in her hands at one stage while Rafael looked on with a tense expression.
The pair sat at a table with a bottle of water between them, both appearing glum and strained.
The couple do at least eat together during Nadal's time off, as they were spotted shopping and eating at the swanky Nobu restaurant in Melbourne on Friday
'As I say to you a couple of years ago in 2017, I think it was the first time she was able to be here, that she had received a wildcard in that moment,' Nadal said of her attendance
The two left the restaurant together but appeared to keep their distance from each other as they walked.
Earlier, Williams said 'uncomfortable' public conversations by stars like Andy Murray and herself were necessary to achieve equality.
'For change to really be made, men and women have to work together, they have to have the same message, they have to support each other,' she said.
'As many people as we can get to support us, that's what it's going to take.
'We still are fighting for equal prize money at all events across the board. I think that's something that we're going to continue to do, continue to fight for.'
Nadal will play Frances Tiafoe after the unseeded American upset 20th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.
