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Journalism of Courage
Melbourne, January 21: Lindsay Davenport leapt to the defence of Yevgeny Kafelnikov today in a row over prize money in tennis, saying the Russian was misunderstood.
Her comments were in stark contrast to the biting rebuke fellow Americans Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras dished out to the former champion.
While the defending women’s champion acknowledged that tennis players were paid well, she said Kafelnikov, 26, was misunderstood.
“I don’t think we’re underpaid, that wasn’t the approach I was taking,†she said. “What I was trying to get through is that it looks great when the winner gets a lot of money but you also have to look on how much the tournament makes off us the television deals and all the money that the players generate.â€
Agassi told Kafelnikov, who wants tennis players to be paid more, to “take his prize money when he is done here and go and buy some perspectiveâ€.
Sampras chipped in with: “Yevgeny definitely plays every week, so you know what he likes.â€
The outspoken Russian snapped back: “I don’t care what the American democratic opinion is. I’ve had plenty of locker room support for my calls.â€
