The Challenge
The gender gap remains a significant burden for women in sports, and tennis is no exception. Female players face disparities in prize money, visibility, investment, and structural prejudice. During the Billie Jean King Cup in Brazil (April 2024), ENGIE — proud sponsor of the National Tennis Team — saw an opportunity to make a bold statement against these inequities. When women step onto the court, they’re up against more than just an opponent: they face prejudice, intolerance, lack of visibility, and lower investments. By analyzing data on sponsorships, prize money, broadcast time, and social media sentiment, we uncovered a stark reality: the path of a sportswoman is, on average, 20 times more difficult than that of a man.
The Solution
We created a tennis racket 20 times heavier than normal to symbolize the inequities women face in sports. The "heaviest racket in the world" — weighing 6 kg instead of the standard 300 g — was unveiled to the public and the Brazil National Team players during the Billie Jean King Cup tournament. This powerful symbol honored Billie Jean King, a trailblazer for equity in sports, and sparked a national conversation about the weight of inequity. For the first time, a tennis racket became a catalyst for real change.
