The WTA announced on Tuesday a new strategy aimed at achieving equal prize money. and a revamped Hologic WTA Tour calendar, “providing long-term sustainable growth for women’s tennis.”
The new calendar structure will allow for the best players to continue to compete in the best events, while also providing a structure for player mobility and growth opportunities.in addition to driving WTA’s commercial growth and providing a sustainable economic model for tournaments and players.
One of the main pillars of the strategy involves the creation of a path to equivalent prize money in the ATP, something that has long been sought.
This equality is gradual to ensure that the changes are sustainable for players and tournaments in the long term, with the combined WTA 1000 and 500 tournaments delivering the same prize money in 2027and the week-long WTA 1000 and 500 events in 2033.
The revamped WTA calendar will feature a boost in top WTA events with a focus on delivering the best talent each week in a consistent and transparent manner, making it easier for fans to follow.
WTA 1000-level tournaments have increased to a total of 10 and include several moves to two weeks in length and with it, bigger draws: Rome (2023), Beijing (2024) and Cincinnati and Toronto/Montreal (2025), in addition to existing appointments in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid. Additional WTA 1000 events will be a week-long event in Doha, Dubai and an event yet to be determined.
New registration rules for players will guarantee the continued presence of the best in the ranking at these premium events throughout the year. The increase in the two-week WTA 1000 tournament combined with the ATP shows a clearer lineup on both circuits.
This new strategy aims to improve the WTA 500 events and increase their value.which will be achieved through some strategic additions and less schedule overlap, along with new registration rules to improve the quality of player rosters.
The WTA 500 events will increase to 17 events in the new schedule: Abu Dhabi, Adelaide, Berlin, Brisbane, Charleston, Eastbourne, Monterrey, San Diego, Seoul, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Tokyo, United Cup, Washington, Zhengzhou and two others still needs to be defined.
At the WTA 250 level, tournaments will have a stronger regional focus to create a more sustainable and viable business model that will help develop the next generation of stars.
Source: La Verdad
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