The WTA, the organizer of top-tier women’s professional tennis, has approved a plan to provide equal prize money at events where both men and women compete by 2027, as it continues to close the gender pay gap to and the men’s ATP Tour.
Equal prize money was one of the key goals of players who founded the WTA 50 years ago. Along with its goal to reach parity during combined tournaments, the governing body also pledged to reach equal prize money at non-combined events, such as one-week WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2033.
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The announcement comes after months of internal negotiations within the WTA Tour between tournament organizers, stakeholders, and the body itself over the issue of female professionals being paid a fraction of what is given to their male equivalents, even when both are playing the same best-of-three-sets format.
Men only play a best-of-five-sets format during the four Grand Slam tournaments in Australia, France, the UK, and the US.
During the Rome Open in May, the men competed for $8.3 million while the women competed for $3.9 million, while the Western and Southern Open in the US offered men $6.28 million compared to the $2.53 million given to the women.
However, at the recent Indian Wells 1000 event, the men’s and women’s champions both received $1.26 million for winning their titles. The Italian Open has separately committed to equal prize money by 2025.
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By GlobalDataSteve Simon, WTA chairman and chief executive, said: “At the heart of everything the WTA does is producing the highest-quality product and experience, and the strengthened future calendars will have a positive impact for our players, tournaments, fans, and partners.
“Equality, including equal compensation, is a fundamental principle of the WTA and it is crucial to attain this level. We appreciate the support from our tournaments in securing this top priority.”
WTA founder Billie Jean King, WTA Founder added: “Fifty years after the players found strength in unity, I’m proud the WTA continues to be a global leader focused on providing opportunities, and hope that women in other sports and walks of life are inspired by its example.”
As part of an overhaul to the women’s game, the governing body also announced it will increase the number of top-tier WTA 1000 tournaments to 10, with seven of the 10 played over two weeks by 2025, including Rome (2023), Beijing (2024), Cincinnati, and Toronto (both 2025).
There will also be additional one-week 1000 events staged in Doha in Qatar, Dubai in the UAE, and another yet-to-be-named city.
WTA 500 events will increase to 17, while WTA 250s will have a “stronger regional focus” to help develop the next generation.
Sloane Stephens, WTA Player and Players’ Council member, said: “Every generation contributes to preserving the future of their sport, striving to leave it in a better state for the next. I take pride in being a part of this evolution and fully support the WTA's commitment to progress.”
Image: Tom Pennington/Getty Images
