The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced on Thursday that, beginning in 2027, every combined WTA 1000 tournament will award identical prize money to male and female competitors. This decision brings the Italian Open, along with other marquee events, into alignment with the rest of the elite 1000‑level stops, ensuring that women will receive the same total financial payout as their male counterparts.
The change marks a historic moment for the sport, arriving almost sixty years after Billie Jean King captured the Italian Open title at Rome’s famed Foro Italico. In 2027, the clay‑court showdown in the Eternal City will finally match the prize pool of the men’s draw, fulfilling a long‑standing ambition that the WTA describes as a "major milestone" in the quest for gender parity.
By 2027, all combined WTA 1000 events—those that host both men’s and women’s draws at the same venue—will feature equal prize money for the first time. This shift places the Canadian Open, the Cincinnati Open, and the Italian Open on an equal footing with other combined 1000‑level tournaments such as Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and the events in China, as well as with the United Cup and the four Grand Slam championships, all of which already provide equal compensation to men and women.
"Achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis," said Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA. "It demonstrates the WTA's continued commitment to leading the sports industry in delivering our athletes competitive and financial equality and is a testament to the enduring nature of the founding vision of the WTA." The upcoming 2027 calendar will be expansive, featuring 55 tournaments spread across 26 nations and territories. The season‑ending WTA Finals will relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will be staged for at least three years in an NBA arena, providing a larger stage and enhanced fan experience. In addition to the prize‑money reforms, the WTA unveiled several structural adjustments aimed at reducing player workload and improving the overall quality of competition.
The number of mandatory WTA 500‑level events for players ranked inside the top 50 will be cut from six to four. Consequently, the baseline schedule for elite players will consist of 14 WTA tournaments plus the four Grand Slams in 2027, a reduction that the organization believes will help athletes manage fatigue and injuries more effectively.
"The WTA is stepping up to deliver more for players and tournaments in 2027," Camillo added. "We have listened to player feedback on the demands of the calendar and responded with a meaningful reduction in commitments." Other notable announcements for the 2027 season include an expanded WTA 250‑level event in Manila, Philippines, a move driven by the surge of local interest surrounding homegrown talent Alex Eala. The addition of a larger tournament in the Philippines reflects the WTA’s strategy to grow the sport in emerging markets and to capitalize on regional fan enthusiasm.
The board also approved a series of broadcast and streaming initiatives designed to increase accessibility for global audiences. Starting next season, tennis matches will be streamed without a contract on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports App, allowing fans to watch events like the WTA/ATP China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters live via Sky Sports. This push for broader distribution aligns with the WTA’s broader goal of making the sport more visible and inclusive. Overall, the decision to equalize prize money at all combined WTA 1000 tournaments represents a watershed moment for gender equality in professional tennis.
It acknowledges the growing commercial appeal and athletic excellence of women’s tennis, while also sending a clear message that financial fairness is a core value of the sport’s governing bodies. The move is expected to inspire further progress in other tiers of the tour, potentially paving the way for full parity across all levels of professional tennis in the years to come.
The upcoming changes also carry symbolic weight. By ensuring that women receive the same monetary rewards as men at the sport’s most prestigious combined events, the WTA honors the legacy of pioneers like Billie Jean King, who fought tirelessly for equal treatment on and off the court. As the 2027 season approaches, players, fans, and sponsors alike will be watching closely to see how these reforms translate into on‑court performance, fan engagement, and the overall growth of tennis worldwide.