The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed on Thursday that, beginning in 2027, every combined WTA 1000 tournament will award identical prize money to female competitors as is given to their male counterparts. This decision places the Italian Open—also known as the Rome Masters—alongside other flagship events such as the Canadian Open, the Cincinnati Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and the Chinese 1000‑level stops, as well as the United Cup and the four Grand Slam championships, in offering parity in financial rewards for men and women.
The announcement marks a historic turning point for the sport. It arrives almost sixty years after Billie Jean King captured the Italian Open title at the storied Foro Italico, a victory that helped cement the push for gender equity in tennis. In 2027, the Rome clay‑court tournament will finally match the total purse paid out to men, fulfilling a long‑standing aspiration that the WTA describes as a "major milestone" for the game. Valerie Camillo, chair of the WTA, emphasized the significance of the move, stating, "Achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis.
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." Her remarks underscore the organization’s broader strategy to champion fairness and to set a benchmark for other sports bodies. The 2027 calendar will be expansive, featuring 55 tournaments spread across 26 countries and territories. The season‑ending WTA Finals will relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will be staged in an NBA arena for at least three consecutive years, beginning in 2027. This new venue is expected to provide a larger stage and enhanced fan experience, reinforcing the WTA’s ambition to grow the sport’s global footprint.
In addition to the prize‑money overhaul, the WTA disclosed several structural adjustments aimed at easing the demands placed on players. The mandatory number of WTA 500‑level events for players ranked inside the top 50 will be trimmed from six to four.
Consequently, the baseline playing commitment for elite athletes will consist of 14 WTA tournaments plus the four Grand Slams in the 2027 season. Camillo explained, "The WTA is stepping up to deliver more for players and tournaments in 2027. We have listened to player feedback on the demands of the calendar and responded with a meaningful reduction in commitments." The board also approved the introduction of an expanded WTA 250‑level tournament in Manila, Philippines, a move driven by the soaring popularity of home‑grown talent Alex Eala. The Manila event is expected to draw significant regional interest and further diversify the WTA’s geographic reach.
From a broadcasting perspective, the WTA is pushing for greater accessibility. Fans will be able to stream matches without a contractual lock‑in on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports App, with live coverage of the WTA/ATP China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters also available on Sky Sports. This flexible streaming approach is designed to attract a broader audience and to accommodate viewers across different regions and devices. The decision to equalize prize money at the combined 1000 level aligns the WTA with the existing parity already present at the Grand Slam tournaments, which have offered equal payouts since the early 2000s, and at other combined events like Indian Wells and Miami.
By extending this principle to every WTA 1000 stop, the organization eliminates the last major discrepancy in prize structures between the men’s and women’s tours at the highest tier of non‑Grand Slam competition. Industry analysts view the move as both a moral and commercial win. Equal compensation not only acknowledges the athletic excellence of women players but also enhances the marketability of the sport, potentially attracting new sponsors who are eager to align with gender‑balanced initiatives. Moreover, the financial parity is expected to inspire younger athletes, reinforcing the message that success on the court will be rewarded fairly regardless of gender.
In summary, the WTA’s 2027 agenda introduces a suite of reforms: equal prize money at all combined 1000 events, a streamlined tournament commitment for top‑ranked players, the addition of a high‑profile WTA 250 event in Manila, and a more flexible streaming model for fans worldwide. These changes collectively signal a forward‑looking, player‑centric approach that aims to solidify tennis’s status as a leader in sports equity while expanding its global appeal.