The Women’s Tennis Association has revealed plans to restructure its professional tour in order to introduce equal prize money at its top-tier events.
On Tuesday, the WTA announced that it will be revising its calendar, with WTA 1000 events set on a “pathway to equal prize money” as it gradually increases before becoming equal with the ATP’s prize money. Combined WTA events are set to offer equal prize money in 2027 while separate WTA 1000 and 500 events will offer the same money as their equivalent ATP events in 2033.
While the four grand slam tournaments have offered equal prize money at their events for years, starting with the US Open in 1973, most of the top level ATP and WTA joint events have had significant prize money gaps.
Over the past few years, particularly since the pandemic, the pay gap between the two tours has actually widened significantly. At the recent Italian Open, a joint event, the men’s event boasted a total purse of $8,637,966 (roughly £6.75m) while the women’s event was $3,572,618 (roughly £2.75m).
The restructuring of the WTA tour is a result of significant changes at the organisation, with it forming a new partnership with CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm that bought a 20% stake in the WTA for $150m (£125m).
The new revised WTA calendar will also see the number of WTA 1000 events increased by one to 10 events, and the majority of those events will expand to two-week tournaments in line with the ATP. Four new WTA 500 events will also be added to the calendar, with tournaments in Monterrey, Seoul and Strasbourg being expanded.
Along with the restructuring of the tournaments, the WTA will initiate new scheduling rules for the top players in order to increase the chances of top players facing each other regularly. Changes to the WTA’s scheduling mandates will likely attract criticism from some top players who would rather have greater freedom to compete in lower-level events.
Meanwhile, Ons Jabeur picked up her first win of the grass-court season at the Eastbourne International, overcoming tough windy conditions to defeat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2. She was followed later by Coco Gauff, who eased past Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-2 to set up a second-round clash with Britain’s Jodie Burrage.
The second day of action in Eastbourne proved a difficult day for British players as Katie Boulter and Heather Watson lost in straight sets. Boulter, the new British No 1, was ousted by world No 30 Petra Martic, a lucky loser, 6-4 7-5. Watson, herself a lucky loser, fell 6-3, 6-4 to Camila Giorgi.
“I’m going to work hard these next few days, and I don’t think I have lost any confidence these past couple of weeks just because I lost to higher-ranked players. I really don’t feel that at all,” said Boulter, who lost in the first round of Birmingham and Eastbourne to top-50 opponents after winning her first WTA title in Nottingham.
On Tuesday morning, defending champion Petra Kvitova withdrew from the tournament before her first-round match against Jelena Ostapenko. After returning to the top 10 earlier this year by winning the Miami Open and then winning in Berlin on Sunday on grass, the two-time Wimbledon champion is one of the tournament favourites next week. At 33, opting to manage her body by not competing in Eastbourne was a smart decision.
In the men’s draw, Liam Broady moved into the second round with a solid 6-3, 6-4 over fellow Briton, Jan Choinski.
