A landmark change is set for women’s tennis: starting in 2027, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments, including the Italian Open in Rome, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open, will award equal prize money to men and women. This aligns these remaining events with others like Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Beijing, as well as the Grand Slams, which already offer pay parity. The move, announced by the WTA, represents a culmination of decades-long efforts for equality in the sport.
Historic Milestone for the WTA
The announcement signifies a breakthrough for gender equity in tennis. Billie Jean King, whose 1970 Italian Open earnings were a fraction of her male counterpart's, inspired the founding of the women's professional circuit. Nearly sixty years later, the Italian Open will finally close the prize money gap. In 2026, for example, men at the Rome event received $9.6 million while women got $8.3 million. From 2027, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will distribute winnings equally, underscoring the WTA’s commitment to financial and competitive equality.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo hailed the change as a ‘major milestone’ and emphasized that it reflects the organization's ongoing efforts to lead the sports industry in equality. The change follows a 2023 pledge by Italian Open organizers for equal prize money by 2025, a commitment that was not fulfilled until this new broader initiative.
Structural Changes for 2027 and Beyond
Alongside prize money reforms, the WTA has announced updates to the tour’s structure, taking into account player feedback on the tour’s demanding schedule. For the 2027 season, players ranked in the top 50 will see their minimum required 500-level tournaments reduced from six to four, lowering the base tournament commitment to 14 WTA events plus the four Grand Slams.
This adjustment aims to give top athletes more flexibility for planning their seasons. The changes, influenced by input from the WTA Tour architecture council chaired by world number three Jessica Pegula, will be implemented as a one-year pilot in 2027 for evaluation before they are potentially adopted longer-term.
Growth and Global Expansion
The WTA also announced an expanded WTA 250 tournament in Manila, Philippines, responding to growing local interest in home star Alex Eala, currently ranked 18th.
Additionally, Charlotte, North Carolina, will host the WTA Finals in an NBA arena for the next three years, reflecting the organization’s efforts to elevate the profile of women’s tennis events worldwide.
