The decision carries particular significance in Rome, where the difference between men’s and women’s prize money has been part of a history dating back to the early days of the women’s professional circuit. In 1970, Billie Jean King received $600 for winning the women’s Italian Open title, while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for winning the men’s tournament. Almost six decades later, the Foro Italico is preparing to award the same total prize money to both draws for the first time.

A historic gap comes to an end at WTA 1000 tournaments

The equalization announced by the WTA means that, from 2027, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will offer equal prize money. The four Grand Slams already meet this standard, as do Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing. With the addition of the Italian Open, the Canadian Open and Cincinnati, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award the same amount of prize money to their women’s and men’s draws.

The situation in Rome is particularly significant because of the gap that remained in recent editions. In 2023, organizers of the Italian tournament had committed to achieving equal prize money from 2025, but that deadline was not met. In 2026, the tournament allocated $9.6 million to the men’s draw, compared with $8.3 million for the women. For 2027, the WTA plans to close that gap and make the Foro Italico one of the venues where financial equality is achieved across both competitions.

Greater flexibility for players in the 2027 calendar

The reform announced for 2027 is not limited to prize money. The WTA will also modify some requirements related to season planning, particularly for players ranked among the top 50. The number of WTA 500 tournaments they will be required to play each year will be reduced from six to four, establishing a base commitment of 14 WTA tournaments, in addition to the four Grand Slams.

The changes also include the expansion of a WTA 250 tournament in Manila, Philippines, a decision that comes amid growing interest in local player Alex Eala, who is currently ranked No. 18. The WTA explained that these changes will be implemented as a one-year pilot program in 2027 and that their impact will be assessed before potential adjustments are made for 2028 and subsequent seasons. The work behind the new structure involved the circuit architecture council, chaired by Jessica Pegula, who highlighted the greater flexibility players will have to organize their seasons according to their competitive and personal goals.

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Alexia Putellas explained that the national team’s captains had raised their concerns with the federation about reconciling motherhood with an international career. In the same interview, she revealed that RFEF had reached an agreement with a clinic to enable players to freeze their eggs while still active. “The federation understands that you are serving your country at the expense of your biological clock,” she said. RFEF is not, however, entering entirely new territory. The WNBA introduced financial support in 2020, the WTA added grants and competitive protection in 2025, several USA football clubs developed their own agreements from 2021 and the NWSL eventually incorporated family-planning support into its 2024 collective bargaining agreement.

The WNBA pays while the WTA also protects careers

The Women’s National Basketball Association -WNBA- incorporated family-planning provisions into its 2020 collective bargaining agreement with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association -WNBPA-. The agreement allowed veteran players to receive up to $60,000 during their careers for costs related to adoption, surrogacy, egg freezing and fertility or infertility treatment. These provisions were accompanied by full salary during maternity leave, annual childcare stipends, two-bedroom accommodation for players with children and suitable breastfeeding facilities. The collective bargaining agreement approved in 2026 expanded family-planning benefits to players and their spouses or partners, although the league has not published a new financial breakdown. Sue Bird, who froze her eggs in 2019 at the age of 39, was among those who helped bring the issue into negotiations: “Your career is your body, and you need to keep your options open in terms of starting a family.”

The Women’s Tennis Association -WTA- developed a different model because its players are self-employed and their ranking determines access to tournaments. Since 2025, the PIF WTA Maternity Fund has provided grants for egg and embryo freezing and in vitro fertilisation treatment, up to 12 months of paid maternity leave and two months of paid parental leave in cases of adoption, surrogacy or a partner’s pregnancy. Players ranked inside the top 750 who take at least ten weeks away from competition for fertility preservation can also return with a Special Entry Ranking and use it to enter three tournaments up to WTA 500 level. Sloane Stephens, who froze her eggs in 2022, had called for this protection because she could previously find only one suitable window at the beginning of the off-season to complete the procedure. “It can feel like you have to decide between career and family,” she explained.

The NWSL takes club support across the league

Racing Louisville became the first National Women’s Soccer League -NWSL- club to offer complimentary egg freezing, embryo freezing and long-term storage in October 2021. Its agreement continued to cover storage costs even after a player was no longer under contract with the club. Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, North Carolina Courage, Houston Dash, Gotham FC, San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit subsequently introduced different forms of fertility support. Portland, for example, offered complimentary consultations, assessments, egg retrieval and freezing, cryopreservation and frozen embryo transfers. Former goalkeeper Michelle Betos, who used Racing’s programme, said it allowed her to continue her career without having to retire early to try to start a family.

The NWSL extended part of this trend across the league through its collective bargaining agreement covering 2024 to 2030. The league must provide access to a specialist service covering IVF and intrauterine insemination, fertility medication, egg, embryo and sperm preservation, ovulation tracking, fertility and genetic testing, and surrogacy-related services. Its coverage is not equivalent to that of the WNBA: the NWSL pays the provider’s administrative costs, while treatments are processed through health insurance and players are responsible for any amount not covered. In Europe, Chelsea Women announced a fund in August 2026 providing assessments, treatments, counselling and workshops to every player, although the club has not detailed the procedures financed or the financial limits. Futpro offers a 10% discount on several treatments; the English Professional Footballers’ Association -PFA- provides education, confidential guidance and benefits towards selected services; and the Spanish Footballers’ Association -AFE- has agreed preferential conditions for members and their families with Hospital Ruber Internacional.

A treatment that must fit the sporting calendar

The egg-preservation process begins with an individual assessment and hormonal stimulation to encourage several eggs to mature. They are then retrieved in a short procedure and vitrified for possible future use. The process can take approximately two weeks, but it is not invisible to training: it can cause bloating and fatigue, while specialists advise temporarily reducing high-impact exercise around the retrieval. Coordination with medical and anti-doping staff is also necessary because substances used in some protocols, including clomifene and letrozole, appear on the World Anti-Doping Agency -WADA- Prohibited List. An athlete whose treatment requires either substance must therefore obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Neither FIFA nor UEFA has published a specific protocol for incorporating fertility treatment into professional women’s football.

RFEF still needs to define the coverage and operation of a programme that could place it among the first national football federations to directly finance egg freezing for its international players. The measure represents another step forward for Spanish women’s football, although the broader change would come if this kind of support spread across the game rather than remaining dependent on isolated initiatives. Combining financial assistance, sporting protection, medical guidance and work-life balance measures would allow football to respond more closely to players’ needs and give them greater freedom to reconcile their professional careers with personal and family decisions.

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The impact of her success quickly extended beyond the tennis courts. The young player was welcomed home as a heroine in the Philippines, received recognition from President Ferdinand Marcos, and dominated the front pages of the country’s leading media outlets. In a nation where basketball and boxing have traditionally captured the spotlight, Eala has sparked an unprecedented interest in tennis, inspiring thousands of children and young people who now see in her a relatable role model and proof that the sport’s biggest stages are within reach for Filipino athletes.

From junior prospect to global tennis star

The name Alexandra Eala began attracting international attention at an early age. Trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain after earning a scholarship at just 13 years old, the Filipino player built her career through steady progression, combining talent, discipline, and international experience. Before lifting the trophy in Washington, she had already shown signs of her rapid development by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and defeating some of the world’s best players, including Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.

Her triumph in the U.S. capital confirmed that her rise was no coincidence. In a final that stretched over two days due to rain delays, Eala fought back against Jessica Pegula, then the world’s No. 3, to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. The result not only earned her the first WTA title of her career, but also propelled her into the Top 20 of the world rankings, establishing her as one of the brightest emerging stars in women’s tennis and a player with the potential to climb even higher in the years ahead.

The athlete who changed the Philippines’ relationship with tennis

Alexandra Eala’s influence extends far beyond her achievements on the court. Her rise has triggered a cultural shift in a country where tennis had long remained a niche sport. Following her international success, tennis courts began filling up, academies reported significant increases in enrollment, and sporting goods stores experienced soaring demand for rackets and equipment. Even during her overseas matches, thousands of Filipino fans stayed up through the night and gathered in public spaces to cheer her on point by point.

That phenomenon is also driven by the way Eala represents her country. Rather than projecting only the image of a champion, she has consistently spoken about her roots, her family, and the need to improve access to the sport. She has often recalled beginning her journey on modest facilities before moving to Spain to further her career and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of building more public courts so that tennis no longer remains an activity reserved for a privileged few. This combination of sporting excellence, national identity, and commitment to future generations explains why Alexandra Eala is now regarded as the new icon of Philippine tennis and one of the sport’s most promising international talents.

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A negative result will normally confirm eligibility for the remainder of the player’s career. If the SRY gene is detected, the athlete will be unable to compete while the WTA conducts a further medical assessment. The player may still be declared eligible by demonstrating complete androgen insensitivity syndrome or another difference of sex development that prevented the physiological effects of male infancy and adolescent puberty. The WTA will cover the cost of the screening and any additional medical testing it requires.

A departure from the previous testosterone-based policy

The framework replaces regulations that allowed transgender women to participate after declaring a female gender identity and maintaining reduced testosterone levels for two years before competing. There are currently no known transgender women active at any level of professional tennis, meaning that the change has not been presented as a response to a particular player or dispute within the tour. The WTA instead describes it as a preventive standard intended to preserve equal athletic opportunities and fair competition.

Eligibility will therefore no longer depend primarily on an athlete’s current hormone levels. The policy defines the women’s category through biological sex and the physiological effects of male development, regardless of legal sex or gender identity. It also establishes that a biological female who has used testosterone or another androgen as part of gender-related treatment must wait four years after the final use before returning to WTA competition. The organisation states that these distinctions are not intended to question any individual’s identity or dignity.

Tennis joins a wider regulatory shift

The decision follows the direction taken by World Athletics and World Boxing, which introduced one-time genetic screening in 2025. Athletics tested 1,015 competitors before its World Championships in Tokyo, while boxing established medical review and appeal procedures for athletes whose initial results require further assessment. The International Olympic Committee -IOC- adopted its own policy for the protection of the women’s category in March 2026, placing genetic eligibility testing at the centre of preparations for Los Angeles 2028.

Tennis nevertheless retains a divided institutional structure. The WTA governs its professional women’s tournaments, but the four Grand Slams operate under separate organisational structures and the Olympic competition falls under the authority of the International Tennis Federation -ITF-. The WTA may recognise an SRY test conducted by another governing body when it considers the result sufficiently reliable, but its policy does not by itself determine eligibility for a Grand Slam or the Olympic Games. Achieving a common testing system will therefore require coordination between the principal organisations responsible for the sport.

Fairness, privacy and the right to appeal

Supporters of the measure argue that the physiological effects of male puberty can produce lasting physical advantages that reducing testosterone does not fully remove. Opponents consider universal genetic screening disproportionate and warn about its consequences for transgender athletes and women with differences of sex development. A test may also reveal unexpected and sensitive medical information, making confidentiality, specialist assistance and protection against public speculation essential parts of the process.

The WTA states that medical information will remain confidential and offers counselling to players undergoing further assessment. Athletes can appeal an eligibility decision, provisional suspension or disciplinary sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport -CAS-, although a challenge to the legality of the policy itself must be brought before the relevant courts in Florida. The organisation has established a clearer internal standard, but international sport continues to apply different definitions, tests and exemptions across disciplines. A player’s eligibility may still depend on whether she is entering a WTA tournament, a Grand Slam, an ITF event or the Olympic Games.

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Aware of this issue, World Tennis and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) presented their second annual report on online abuse directed at players, a document that highlights significant progress in identifying and pursuing offenders. Based on the Threat Matrix platform, developed by Signify Group, the report shows that the combination of artificial intelligence, human analysis, and collaboration with security agencies is beginning to deliver measurable results in protecting those who are part of the professional circuit.

Technology and coordination are delivering tangible results

The report reveals that during 2025, more than 1.2 million posts and comments from platforms such as X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook were analyzed through a monitoring system covering 57 languages and protecting more than 10,000 players and officials across the sport. Of that total, more than 12,000 posts were classified as abusive, while 3,726 were identified as severe abuse, including threats of violence, racist messages, sexually offensive content, and attacks directed at athletes and their families.

The joint strategy made it possible to remove 66% of the most serious abusive content detected and report 35 accounts linked to 12 individuals to law enforcement authorities. The report also highlights that 89% of the accounts responsible for severe abuse during 2024 did not reappear in 2025, while 26 particularly active accounts were removed after posting more than 30 abusive messages each. Together, these accounts were responsible for 21% of all serious abuse cases recorded during the season, demonstrating the impact of taking action against a relatively small group of repeat offenders.

The challenge extends beyond social media

One of the issues that concerns World Tennis and the WTA the most is the connection between online abuse and sports betting. According to the report, frustrated gamblers were responsible for 42% of all verified abuse cases during 2025 and 59% of incidents classified as severe. The research also found that just 9% of abusive accounts generated 87% of all messages considered to be of “high concern,” while repeat offenders accounted for nearly half of all abusive posts detected throughout the year.

Against this backdrop, both organizations insist that the solution requires a coordinated response involving digital platforms, law enforcement agencies, government authorities, and the gambling industry. In this context, they highlighted the addition of Fanatics Sportsbook to the Bad Actor Program as the first sportsbook to use investigative tools such as Threat Matrix to identify and take action against users responsible for abuse on social media. Both the WTA and World Tennis believe that expanding initiatives like this will be essential to further reducing the impact of online abuse and providing a safer environment for athletes competing at the highest level.

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The season-ending championship, considered the crown jewel of women’s tennis, will take place from November 8 to 15 at the prestigious Indian Wells Open, one of the most important ATP and WTA 1000 events on the calendar. Although both parties described the collaboration in Riyadh as a success and stated that the contract termination was mutual, the move comes amid ongoing criticism of the WTA’s presence in Saudi Arabia and the tour’s continued search for a stable long-term home after years of relocations and uncertainty.

The Early End of an Alliance That Divided Women’s Tennis

When the WTA announced that the Finals would be held in Riyadh starting in 2024, the decision sparked strong reactions both inside and outside the sport. For the tour, the partnership represented an opportunity to expand women’s tennis into new markets and benefit from Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in major international sporting events. For critics, however, it raised concerns about sportswashing, using sport as a tool to improve the country’s global image amid criticism of its human rights record.

Despite the controversy, the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation defended the project by highlighting its outcomes. Both organizations reported reaching more than 30,000 people through community programs, including coaching workshops for women, training for physical education teachers, tennis clinics for breast cancer survivors, and initiatives aimed at encouraging girls and young women to participate in the sport. They also noted that tournament attendance increased by 20% year-on-year, with sell-out crowds during the final stages.

Indian Wells Regains a Tournament in Search of Stability

The move to California marks a return of the Finals to one of tennis’s most iconic venues. Indian Wells offers a well-established infrastructure, a long-standing organizational tradition, and international prestige that make it a reliable host for an event of this scale. This year’s edition will also aim to maintain the high sporting and financial standards recently reached, after Elena Rybakina earned more than $5.2 million in Riyadh, the largest prize money payout in women’s sports history, following her title victory.

This latest change of venue also extends a period of instability for the season-ending championships. Before moving to Saudi Arabia, the WTA Finals went through a complex journey that began with a 10-year contract in Shenzhen, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the case of Peng Shuai, before moving on to Guadalajara, Fort Worth, and Cancún. As the women’s tour once again redefines the future of its flagship event, Saudi Arabia continues to expand its presence in global tennis and is preparing to enter the men’s circuit with a new ATP Masters 1000 tournament, expected to begin in 2028.

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The initiative is part of the broader transformation driven by Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and strengthen sectors such as sports, tourism, and entertainment. Beyond hosting major events, the new venue aspires to become a meeting point for athletes and fans. With construction already underway, the facility is emerging as one of the most ambitious sports projects in the region and another step in Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in globally recognized sports.

A Complex Designed to Attract Elite International Tennis

The National Tennis Centre will be built in accordance with the regulatory standards of the ATP, the WTA, and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), a key requirement for hosting top-tier competitions. The complex will feature 30 courts, including 28 hard courts and two clay courts, along with a range of facilities designed to meet both elite performance demands and spectator expectations. The project will integrate sports facilities, commercial areas, public spaces, and support services within the expanding urban ecosystem of Qiddiya City.

At the heart of the development will be the Centre Court, a main stadium with a capacity of 15,000 spectators and a retractable roof designed to ensure optimal conditions throughout the year. It will be complemented by a second multi-purpose arena, known as Court 3, which will seat 8,000 spectators and also feature a retractable roof. The venue will also include Court 1 and Court 2, with capacities of 5,000 and 2,000 spectators respectively, as well as several outdoor match courts. Altogether, the facility will offer a total capacity of nearly 33,000 spectators, making it one of the world’s most significant tennis venues.

Sports Development and the Next Generation of Saudi Talent

While the prospect of hosting major international tournaments has attracted significant attention, the project also carries a strong athlete development component. The complex will include a High Performance Training Centre dedicated to elite athlete preparation, featuring state-of-the-art gyms, recovery facilities, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy areas, athlete lounges, and a media center. These facilities are intended to provide Saudi players with resources comparable to those available at the world’s leading training centers.

The vision behind the project extends beyond elite competition. According to Qiddiya Investment Company, the centre will operate year-round to deliver community programs and encourage tennis participation among local residents. For Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the facility represents a key pillar in the growth of tennis within the kingdom. Similarly, Abdullah Aldawood, Chief Executive Officer of Qiddiya Investment Company, stated that the goal is to create a world-class home for tennis at every level, capable of welcoming the sport’s biggest stars while fostering the development of the next generation of Saudi talent.

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Players ranked between 1 and 750 in singles or doubles will be eligible for this measure if they remain out of competition for at least 10 consecutive weeks due to a fertility protection procedure, according to a statement from the WTA.

Statements of support for the new measure

Sloane Stephens, winner of the 2017 US Open, expressed her satisfaction with this initiative: “I am incredibly proud that our sport recognizes the importance of fertility treatments for female athletes. This is a true innovation that will allow this generation and future generations to continue practicing the sport they love without having to give anything up.”

Portia Archer, CEO of the WTA, also highlighted the positive impact of this measure: “Tennis players can face the dilemma of focusing on their careers and starting a family. We are pleased that this new measure will help our athletes reach their full potential and become mothers when they wish to do so.”

How the protected ranking works

The protected ranking system allows players to retain their previous ranking during a transition period after a long absence. In this case, the protected ranking will be calculated based on the average of the twelve weeks prior to the player’s break.

This ranking may be applied upon the athlete’s return for a maximum of three tournaments, whether they are 125, 250, or 500 category tournaments. It should be noted that this system was already available to pregnant players and is now being expanded to include those who opt for fertility treatments.

With this measure, the WTA reinforces its commitment to the well-being of tennis players, allowing them to balance their sporting careers with personal decisions related to motherhood and fertility. Without a doubt, this advance marks a milestone in women’s sport.

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Last Thursday, in the midst of Roland Garros 2025, the top ten ATP and WTA players met with the organizers of the four major tournaments: Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. Among the attendees were figures such as Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the current revenue sharing.

Key meeting at Roland Garros 2025

During the meeting, the players directly conveyed their message to the organizers, highlighting the need for a change in revenue sharing. According to reports, the players argued that while tournament revenues have grown significantly in recent years, prize money for participants has not kept pace.

Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP, and Steve Simon, his counterpart at the WTA, have also supported this initiative. According to an article in the ‘New York Times’, both presented a detailed report to the Grand Slam organizers, underlining the importance of greater economic equity in professional tennis.

Possible boycott and its implications

Although not officially confirmed, some players have hinted at the possibility of boycotting future tournaments if satisfactory agreements are not reached. This type of action would not be new in tennis, as there have been significant boycotts in the past, such as that of the Williams sisters at Indian Wells due to incidents of racism.

The impact of a boycott could be significant, not only for the organizers, but also for the image of tennis as a global sport. The Grand Slams represent the most prestigious events on the circuit and generate millions of dollars in television rights, sponsorship and ticket revenue.

Support from players and the public

The initiative has received support from several players outside the top 10, who have also expressed concern about the inequality in prize money. In addition, some sectors of the public have shown sympathy towards the players, arguing that their effort and dedication deserve fairer compensation.

On the other hand, Grand Slam organizers have defended their position, pointing out that a significant portion of the revenue goes to the development of tennis at the youth and amateur level. However, the players feel that this does not justify the current disparity in prize money.

Next steps in negotiations

Negotiations between the players and the organizers are expected to continue in the coming weeks. According to close sources, the players are willing to explore all possible options to reach an agreement, including mediation by international bodies such as the ITF.

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The lawsuit has prompted a strong response from the ATP and WTA, which have vowed to vigorously defend their positions. Both organizations consider the legal action “regrettable” and unfounded, claiming that they have worked to improve players’ conditions through financial and structural reforms. However, the PTPA insists that these reform efforts have been insufficient and that the lawsuit is a necessary step toward achieving meaningful change in professional tennis.

THE CRISIS IN TENNIS

The lawsuit filed by the PTPA marks a turning point in the relationship between players and the sport’s governing bodies. The allegation that these organizations operate as a cartel has sparked intense debate over the sport’s economic structure and governance. The PTPA seeks not only to improve players’ earnings but also to ensure their well-being and autonomy in a system that, according to them, exploits and neglects their basic needs. Meanwhile, the ATP and WTA argue that they have implemented significant reforms to benefit players, including increased prize money and greater financial transparency.

The upcoming legal battle could have profound implications for the future of professional tennis. If the lawsuit succeeds, it could force structural changes in revenue distribution and ranking systems, paving the way for greater player autonomy. However, the ATP and WTA are determined to defend their position, setting the stage for a prolonged and complex legal battle.

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