Equal prize money across combined tier
On 1 October 2026, the Women's Tennis Association announced that all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award equal prize money to female and male competitors starting in the 2027 season. Tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Beijing already provide equal payouts to men and women, following the practice established across all four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Under the new agreement, the Italian Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open will raise their financial payouts to match the ATP men's purse. WTA chair Valerie Camillo framed the agreement as a defining development for professional tennis.
Camillo discussed the broader institutional implications in the organization's official announcement.
Achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis.
Payout gaps at combined tournaments
The decision addresses long-standing compensation disparities at shared events where both tours compete at the same venue. In 2023, organizers of the Italian Open in Rome pledged to establish equal prize money by 2025, but the tournament did not implement the change on that timetable. At the 2026 Italian Open, the men's singles and doubles field competed for a total prize fund of £7.3 million, while the women's event distributed £6.3 million. Discrepancies also continued at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open throughout recent seasons. Even with equal pay taking effect across all combined 1000-level competitions in 2027, prize money gaps will remain present at smaller, standalone tournaments on the WTA calendar.
Workload reductions for top players
Alongside the prize money adjustments, the WTA unveiled modifications to player entry rules designed to alleviate physical strain across the competitive calendar. For players ranked inside the world's top 50, mandatory participation in WTA 500 tournaments will drop from six events down to four. This policy reduction establishes a baseline commitment of 14 WTA tournaments plus the four Grand Slam championships for eligible competitors during the 2027 season. Additionally, the WTA will permit players to replace one eligible WTA 1000 tournament score in their official rankings with a higher points result from a WTA 500 or WTA 250 tournament.
Player response and calendar adjustments
WTA leadership noted that the decision to reduce tournament commitments emerged directly from discussions with athletes regarding the physical demands of the tour.
We have listened to player feedback on the demands of the calendar, and responded with a meaningful reduction in commitments.
American world number three Jessica Pegula welcomed the calendar flexibility, stating that the new rules allow competitors to tailor their travel and rest schedules.
The 2027 changes give us more ability to build our seasons around our own goals - competitively and personally.
Pegula noted that the modifications represent an impactful step forward for players across the circuit. The WTA also confirmed an expansion of its tournament footprint with the addition of a new WTA 250 tournament in Manila, Philippines, scheduled to begin next year.