Janko Tipsarevic has waded into the equal pay row in tennis by claiming that women should not be rewarded the same prize money as men at Grand Slams.
The debate was recently reignited at Wimbledon when France's Gilles Simon argued that the men deserved their money due to their popularity and physical endurance.
His comments caused many female players, including Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, to hit back.
World number eight Tipsarevic has now added fuel to the fire by saying that the men's game is the bigger draw and that the women's game lacks the quality to warrant equal pay.
"Men's tennis is currently in the top four in terms of quality and popularity, it's at its peak, just like golf when Tiger Woods dominated," the Serbian told Berner Zeitung. "In women's tennis it's very different.
"I do not underestimate the achievements of Victoria Azarenka and the others, but their best time is over. That was when the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Amelie Mauresmo were at the top.
"I wouldn't say a good junior could beat Serena 6-1, 6-2, but it is ridiculous that women get equal prize money at the Grand Slams."
Tipsarevic is through to the quarter-finals of the Swiss Open in Gstaad, where he will take on Austria's Martin Fischer.
Jack Prescott
