Equal prize money will be implemented at the Washinton Open by 2027 after the tournament was recently criticised over the differences in pay male and female players receive.
The combined event is a 500-level tournament for both men and women but there is a big difference between the draws when it comes to money. In the men’s event, there is a total financial commitment of $2,178,980 which is almost three times higher than that of the women’s equivalent ($780,737). As a result, this year’s men’s champion will receive $353,445 and the women’s winner will get $120,150. There is also a slight difference when it comes to ranking points awarded.
Due to the men’s and women’s Tours having their own governing bodies, they are not aligned to implement the same rewards at their events. The two also differ when it comes to TV rights which also has an impact on what matches are scheduled on the premier court.
However, Washington Open owner Mark Ein confirmed on Sunday that from 2027 there will be equal prize money. This year’s tournament is the first-ever combined 500 event on the Tour.
“Credit to the WTA, they push and say, If you’re going to put men and women on the same court it needs to get equal faster,” said Ein.
“The stand-alone events have to have equal prize money to the same category in 2033. The combined events, of which we are the only one, have to do it by 2027. And that’s fine. It gives us a bunch of years to make the economics work and get it there.”
It is not the first time there has been debate surrounding equal prize money. It is less complicated at the Grand Slams as each of them has its own governing body that oversees both the men’s and women’s draws. However, the ATP and WTA are separate from each other.
Speaking about the matter during his press conference, former world No.1 Andy Murray said he believes the issue won’t be fully resolved until there is a merger or some form of alignment. There have been some signs of the ATP and WTA working closer together with them combining their marketing operations in 2021. However, there is currently no indication that a merger will happen soon.
“I think it is difficult for it ever to become truly equal until the ATP and the WTA sort of actually combine and work together,” said Murray.
“I always felt like when we’re competing at the same event on the same courts we should be playing for the same prize money. But I think for it ever to become truly equal, the WTA and the ATP are actually going to have to come together and work as one before that’s the case.’
“I don’t think it’s that straightforward just now. Both tours have different sponsors, different TV deals, and all of that stuff too.”
Last month the WTA revealed their new strategy concerning equal prize money. They have set out a pathway to achieve equal prize money at all WTA 1000 and 500 combined events by 2027 and single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2033.
