Why do male athletes not face the same career-family sacrifice?

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Male athletes are not required to make the same sacrifices regarding family and career as female athletes.

Female athletes, unlike their male counterparts, face significant career disruptions when starting a family. Svetlana Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, articulated that women athletes often have to sacrifice having children and raising a family during the prime years of their careers. This contrasts sharply with male athletes, who can become fathers in their twenties without this level of professional compromise.
Women athletes forgo personal lives for their careers

Many women athletes begin their professional careers at a young age, dedicating extensive hours to training and competition. Kuznetsova herself has been a professional since she was 14, playing eight months a year and consequently giving up personal time, friends, and a stable home life. This level of dedication and sacrifice, she argues, warrants equal compensation.
Men can start families without career interruption

Kuznetsova pointed out that male athletes can have children and establish families during their twenties without surrendering a significant portion of their professional careers. This allows them to continue competing at a high level, as exemplified by athletes like Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, who have had children while maintaining successful careers, with Federer even winning Grand Slam titles after becoming a father multiple times.
The demands of the sport necessitate different life choices

The inherent physical demands and the extensive travel required in professional tennis mean that male athletes, who are generally physically stronger, can manage family life alongside their careers more readily. However, women often face a more difficult balance, needing to give up considerable personal space and the opportunity for a "normal decent family" life while on tour, which Kuznetsova believes justifies equal pay.

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Why do male athletes not face the same career-family sacrifice?

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