"The bottom line is that male voices are valued more than women's": When Martina Navratilova was 'shocked' about being paid 10x less than John McEnroe

Martina Navratilova once expressed her shock at her fellow BBC commentator John McEnroe getting paid ten times more than her.

In 2017, Navratilova and McEnroe were both prominently involved in the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. However, a pay discrepancy came to light when the British broadcasting giant's list of highest-paid employees was published. It showed that McEnroe earned between £150,000-£199,999 ($210,000-$280,000), while Navratilova, for her contributions, received £15,000 ($21,000).

Navratilova was understandably angry about it and she voiced her frustration with the gender pay gap during an interview with BBC's Panorama investigations team in 2018.

The American said the real problem is that men's voices are still seen as more important than women's. She highlighted that even though her situation only lasted two weeks, many women experienced this discrimination in their full-time jobs as well.

"It’s still the good old boys network. The bottom line is that male voices are valued more than women’s voices," Martina Navratilova said.

"It’s shocking if really, this happens to me then, you know, for me it’s a part-time job, it’s two weeks of my life. But for the women that work there full time, maybe the discrepancy’s not that large, but it adds up over a lifetime, it adds up to an amazing amount of money," she added.

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"Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe are simply not comparable" - BBC on the gender pay gap situation

Martina Navratilova

BBC addressed the controversy in 2018, stating that the gender gap comparison between John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova wasn't fair. They explained that McEnroe had more on-air presence than Navratilova and that the two were under different types of contracts.

"He [John McEnroe] is a defining voice within the BBC’s coverage. He is widely considered to be the best expert/commentator in the sport, highly valued by our audiences," BBC's statement read.

"His contract means he cannot work for another UK broadcaster without our permission. They are simply not comparable," it read further.

Both Navratilova and McEnroe were formidable forces during their playing days. Navratilova secured an impressive 18 Grand Slam singles titles in her career, while her male counterpart claimed seven Majors. They spent significant time as World No. 1s as well.

Navratilova retired from the singles circuit in 1994. However, she remained active in doubles, securing her 59th and final Major title at the 2006 US Open. Similarly, McEnroe concluded his singles tennis career in 1994 and doubles in 2006.