On October 2nd, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced a significant step towards achieving pay parity between male and female professional players. Starting in the 2027 season, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will implement an equal pay policy, ensuring that women receive the same prize money as men at these events. Previously, five combined tournaments had adopted this policy, but now the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, and Italian Open will also adhere to it, thereby making equal pay universal across these competitions.
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WTA chair Valerie Camillo emphasized that this change reflects the WTA's ongoing commitment to competitive and financial equality for athletes, underscoring the founding vision of the organization.
Jessica Pegula, currently ranked No. 3 in the world and chair of the tour’s architecture council, praised the decision to reduce the required participation in WTA 500 tournaments for top 50 players from six to four. This means women will only need to compete in 18 tournaments annually, including the four Grand Slams. Pegula noted that the increased flexibility in scheduling allows players to better align their commitments with personal and competitive goals, marking a meaningful advancement for the players.
The WTA's announcement comes amidst ongoing tensions between players and tournament organizers regarding pay equity. In 2025, a coalition of top players called for a larger share of tournament revenues, enhanced player welfare programs, and the establishment of an athlete advisory council. Earlier this year, players initiated protests by restricting post-match press conferences to 15 minutes—symbolizing their 15% share of Grand Slam revenues—and discussions of potential boycotts surfaced, but these did not materialize.
Looking ahead, the equal pay initiative for combined WTA 1000 tournaments is set as a one-year pilot program. Following the 2027 season, the WTA plans to assess the impact of these changes to inform decisions regarding policies for the 2028 season and beyond.