The WTA will offer equal prize money to women and men at every combined 1000-level tournament beginning in 2027, completing a four-year push toward pay parity at some of the biggest events outside the Grand Slams.
The tour announced the change Thursday as part of its 2027 calendar and a broader series of structural adjustments aimed at giving players more scheduling flexibility.
The Italian Open in Rome, the Canadian Open (which alternates between Toronto and Montreal) and the Cincinnati Open will become the final three combined 1000 tournaments to equalize prize money, following suit with the tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing.
“Achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said.
The WTA initially outlined its path to equal prize money in 2023, targeting 2027 for combined WTA 1000 and 500 events and 2033 for single-week tournaments at those levels.
The tour will also reduce the number of WTA 500 tournaments required of top-50 singles players from six to four in 2027.
That leaves those players with a base commitment of 14 WTA events, in addition to the four Grand Slams. Players will also be permitted to replace one eligible WTA 1000 result in their rankings with a stronger result from a WTA 500 or 250 tournament.
Those changes will be tested for one season before the WTA evaluates whether to retain them beyond 2027.
The tour also announced a new Tournament Investment Fund that will provide financial support to selected events, with part of its purpose focused on sustaining the equal-prize-money initiative.
The 2027 WTA calendar features 55 tournaments across 26 countries and territories.
–Field Level Media
