MADRID, 15 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced Thursday a significant increase in investment in its World Tour, the main route to the highest professional level, which from 2025 will see increases in prize money for both men and women, and free hospitality for players.
According to the ITF in a press release, a record total of $35.3 million (more than €32 million) in prize money will be offered in 2025 across more than 1,100 tournaments played around the world, which represents a 20 percent increase on the total of $29.4 million (€26.7 million) available in 2024.
This increase is designed to help alleviate the difficult financial conditions experienced by many players by increasing their earning capacity and, for female players, reducing hotel costs, a key part of the budget.
Additionally, the 2025 structure will see a number of other improvements to women’s events, further narrowing the gap between women’s tournaments and their men’s equivalents such as mandatory hospitality at all W50 and W75 events to match the existing requirement at W100 tournaments, providing a total of 28,000 nights’ free accommodation for women, up from 5,000 in 2024. Equally, W50 and W75 will provide a minimum of three nights’ accommodation for main draw singles players and a minimum of two for doubles players.
“The ITF World Tennis Tour is a key part of the tennis ecosystem and is the primary pathway to the top level of the game. This announcement is further evidence of our drive to deliver enhanced prize money, higher standards and sustainable programming that makes the tour a fair and inclusive environment for players to fulfil their potential,” said ITF President David Haggerty.
For the president, “it is crucial that for yet another year” they have been able to improve “hospitality and accommodation for women” and that for “the fourth consecutive year” they have set a record in prize money, which reflects their “commitment to achieving gender parity at all levels.” “The progress we have seen on the ITF World Tennis Tour in recent years continues apace and we are excited about the future,” he said.
For her part, Portia Archer, WTA CEO, hailed the announcement as “welcome news.” “We applaud the ITF for its commitment to increasing prize money and the opportunities it creates for women on the World Tennis Tour, as well as implementing mandatory hospitality for more women’s events on the ITF. These improvements advance our sport in its efforts to create equal opportunities for all players, which is what we all strive to achieve,” she stressed.