world number 7 jabur Women players should not wait to receive the same prize money as their male counterparts at the Italian Open after tournament organizers announced plans to achieve pay parity by 2025.
Tennis has sought to be a leader in the fight for equality over the past few decades, with four Grand Slams offering equal prize money to men and women.
WTA Tour events, however, still often offer less prize money than those on the individual men’s circuits. In the Rome tournament, the total financial commitment for the men is $9.51 million; For women it is $3.5 million.
Italian tennis federation chief Angelo Binghi said last month that the event had begun a process that would see equal prize money in three years, but Jaber called for an immediate change.
“I Don’t See Why We Have to Wait,” Jabur told the New York TimesAdding, “It’s really disappointing. It’s time for a change. It’s time for the better of the tournament.”
WTA President and CEO Steve Simon said the tour was continuing to work to achieve pay equity at its top events.
“There’s still a long way to go, but we’re seeing progress,” Simon told the Times on Monday.
The Italian Open features both men’s and women’s competitors playing best-of-three set matches, and the draws for both events consist of 128 players.
Similar events in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid offer equal pay for women, although they are listed as mandatory tournaments for players.
from Spain paula badosa told the Times he did not understand why there was a disparity in prize money in Rome, which attracts some of the world’s top names.
“I don’t know why it’s not the same now,” Badosa said. “They don’t inform us. They say this is what you get and you have to play.”
Reuters has contacted tournament organizers for comment.
