WTA announces equal prize money with men for combined 1000 events

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that it will provide equal prize money for all combined 1000 level events next year. Out of the seven joint tournaments at the top tier of both the ATP and WTA circuits, only four offered equal prize money to women during the current season. However, starting in 2027, Rome, Canada and Cincinnati will align their prize money with the levels of Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing.

Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA, expressed that achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments represents a significant milestone for tennis. Camillo highlighted that this achievement demonstrates the WTA's ongoing dedication to leading the sports industry in providing equal competitive and financial opportunities to its athletes, thereby honoring the original vision of the WTA.

Next season, a new tournament will be added in Manila, leveraging the immense popularity of rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala. In response to player concerns, the WTA has also reduced the number of mandatory events. In a pilot program, top-50 players will now only be required to participate in four WTA 500 events per year, down from the previous six.