Queen's Club women's tournament to offer equal prize money by 2029
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Queen's Club Championships - The Queen's Club, London, Britain - June 21, 2024 A general view of the stadium during the men's singles quarter final between Britain's Billy Harris and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo REUTERS
Women's players will receive equal prize money to their male counterparts for competing at Queen's Club and Eastbourne by 2029, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said on Thursday.
The women's event will return to the Queen's Club Championships this year for the first time in over half a century.
The prize money for the women's event will be $1.415m, the highest for a WTA 500 event of its draw size on the tour, but still less than half of the men's prize money of 2.5 million euros ($2.87 million).
In a statement, the LTA said it would "fully close the gap between WTA and ATP prize money at these events no later than 2029.
"This year the WTA 500 prize money at the (Queen's Club) Championships will rise to a record $1.415m...
"Whilst the WTA 250 prize money at the Eastbourne Open will rise to $389,000 – making this the highest paying WTA 250 event anywhere on the tour."
The Queen's Club women's event will be held in the first week of the grasscourt season from June 9-15 and will feature Australian Open champion Madison Keys, former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina and 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The WTA 250 event in Eastbourne will take place from June 23-28, in the week before Wimbledon.
"We are making significant increases this year to the women's prize money at Queen's and Eastbourne and want to achieve equal prize money as soon as possible," LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said in a statement.
"The LTA is committed to growing women's tennis, both at professional and grass-roots level and this move is an important part of that commitment."
On Thursday, Japanese four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and world number three Jessica Pegula of the United States withdrew from the Queen's Club Championships. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Honoured' Novak Djokovic hints at possible Roland Garros farewell after semi-final loss
PARIS – Novak Djokovic suggested he may well have bidden adieu to Roland Garros after the 38-year-old was defeated in the semi-finals by Jannik Sinner on June 6. Following his 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) loss to world No. 1 Sinner, the Serb stopped briefly on his way off Court Philippe Chatrier and took a moment to 'show his gratitude' to the Paris crowd. 'This could have been the last match ever I played here... That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end,' said three-time champion Djokovic. 'But if this was the farewell match of Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd. 'Not the happiest because of the loss, but I tried to show my gratitude to the crowd.' Djokovic has on occasion had a fraught relationship with the Parisian public, but hailed the backing he received against Sinner. 'I don't think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world. So very, very honoured to experience that,' he added. However, the Serb allayed fears he would be calling time on his career just yet. He stills stands on the brink of history after his latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title was foiled. One more Major victory would take him beyond Margaret Court and into outright-first on the list of players with the most Grand Slams. 'At the moment I will try to stick with the plan what I had, which is play the Grand Slams,' he said. 'Those tournaments are the priorities of my schedule, my calendar. Wimbledon and US Open, yes, they are in plans. That's all I can say right now. Those two, for sure. For the rest, I'm not so sure.' Despite the latest setback, Djokovic insisted he still has the record in his sights and hoped it will be seventh time lucky when Wimbledon starts on June 30. 'I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready,' he said. 'I guess my best chances (of winning) maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another Slam, or faster hard court, maybe Australia or something like that.' Djokovic has won the title at Wimbledon seven times and is the the most dominant men's player in the history of the Australian Open with 10 victories in Melbourne. When asked how long he had been considering his future at Roland Garros, Djokovic cryptically replied: 'Not long. I don't know. I don't know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
Djokovic still undecided on next year's French Open after semi-final defeat
Djokovic still undecided on next year's French Open after semi-final defeat PARIS - Novak Djokovic has yet to decide whether his French Open semi-final defeat against world number one Jannik Sinner was his final appearance at Roland Garros, the 24-time Grand Slam winner said on Friday. "This could have been the last match ever I played here. I don't know," Serbian Djokovic told a press conference after losing 6-4 7-5 7-6(3) on court Philippe Chatrier. "I don't know what tomorrow brings in my career. Wimbledon is next. Twelve months at this point in my career is a long time. Do I wish to play more? Yes I do." Djokovic, 38, won the French Open three times, last lifting the Musketeers' Cup in 2023. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
Ruthless Sinner downs Djokovic to reach maiden French Open final
PARIS :World number one Jannik Sinner defeated record-chasing Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6(3) in a clash of generations on Friday to set up a blockbuster French Open final showdown with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Playing a younger, modern version of himself, the 38-year-old Djokovic looked every bit his age for a while on Court Philippe Chatrier as Sinner used his blistering forehand to send the Serbian chasing the ball left, right and centre. But the former Serbian world number one, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, showed he thrived on the grandest stage and threatened a comeback only to miss three set points in the third. The Italian, who recently came back from a doping ban, stood firm in the tiebreak and wrapped up the contest on his second match point. He will face a sterner test in Sunday's final against Alcaraz, who advanced when his semi-final opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired injured at the beginning of the fourth set.
