The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that starting in 2027, its top-tier WTA 1000 tournaments will offer equal prize money at events held alongside the Association of Tennis Professionals’ (ATP) Masters 1000 tournaments. This decision means that six combined events will feature equal prize money, adding to the four Grand Slam tournaments that have already implemented this policy since 2018.
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WTA President Valerie Camillo emphasized the importance of achieving equal prize money across all WTA 1000 events, stating that it reflects the organization’s commitment to financial equality and reinforces the relevance of its founding vision.
Currently, equal prize money is already in effect at Indian Wells, the Miami Open, and the Mutua Madrid Open. The next tournaments to join this initiative will be those in Rome, Canada, and Cincinnati.
The US Open has the historical distinction of being the first Grand Slam to introduce equal prize money for both men's and women's draws in 1973, largely due to the activism of Billie Jean King, who was leading the charge for equality in tennis. After a successful protest demanding equal pay, the campaign gradually led to other tournaments adopting similar policies.
However, the WTA is facing financial challenges, with reports indicating a potential loss of $23 million by the end of 2026, following the termination of its partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Consequently, the organization anticipates significant spending cuts in the coming year.
Additionally, tensions have arisen between players and Grand Slam tournaments regarding prize money distribution. Although Roland Garros increased its prize pool to €61.7 million this year, that figure accounted for only 14% of the tournament’s total revenue, leading to frustration among players. There is a growing consensus that players should receive between 30% and 50% of the total revenue generated from both the ATP and WTA tours.