Iga Swiatek wants reduction in pay disparity, urges WTA to expand its business and popularity

World number one Iga Swiatek wants a reduction in pay disparity, saying the Women’s Tennis Association needs to expand its business and popularity.

Iga Swiatek wants reduction in pay disparity. (Photo: AP)

By India Today Web Desk: The three-time Grand Slam winner and world number one Iga Swiatek urged the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to expand its business and popularity to reduce pay disparity.

Equal prize money is offered to men and women at all four Grand Slam tournaments. However, WTA tour events still have less prize money as compared to men’s tours which operate its own circuit.

Poland’s Swiatek said one of the priorities for the tour as it celebrates its 50th anniversary should be to provide events that attract more players, sponsors, organizers and fans.

“For sure, I’d like to see the WTA expanding business-wise, getting more popular, cutting the difference between WTA and ATP in terms of prize money and attracting fans,” Swiatek said.

According to Reuters, a report in The Financial Times said the ATP Tour as of midway through last year offered players 75 percent more prize money in tournaments – excluding the Grand Slams – than the women’s tour.

“Our tennis brings the same emotions as men’s tennis … There’s something you can find in women’s tennis that you’re not going to find on the ATP,” Swiatek said. “Right now, after a couple of years of hearing we’re not consistent, we’re actually consistent. There are top players who are playing great in most of the tournaments.”

America’s Jessica Pegula, who is a member of the WTA players council, echoed Swiatek’s views, saying the United Cup mixed team tournament was a way to achieve that. “I hope we can keep pushing for equal prize money at all events, being on TV more,” Pegula said.