This year’s Italian Open was a thrilling spectacle, mixing historic triumphs with intense showdowns. Jasmine Paolini made history by winning the women’s singles title—the first Italian woman to do so in 40 years—and then sealed a stunning double by claiming the doubles crown. On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz dethroned home favorite and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, ending his 26-match winning streak and setting the stage for Roland Garros. The tournament truly delivered on all fronts. Yet, fans are left lamenting one issue.
While Alcaraz ended Sinner’s 26-match winning streak and Paolini took home two trophies in the singles and doubles events, Sports Illustrated’s podcast host Myles David highlighted a glaring difference in their earnings. He wrote on X, “Carlos Alcaraz will receive €985,030 for winning the ATP1000 event in Rome. Jasmine Paolini will receive €877,390 for winning the WTA1000 event in Rome. They played at the same venue all week. They played best of 3 sets all week. Yet, they will NOT get paid the same .” This debate is far from new.
Complaints about the prize money gap at the Italian Open, especially between the WTA and ATP, have long persisted. Billie Jean King, a trailblazer for equal pay in tennis, recalled that in 1970 she won the Italian Open and earned $600, while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for the men’s title. This stark disparity has fueled controversy for decades.
Carlos Alcaraz will receive €985,030 for winning the ATP1000 event in Rome
Jasmine Paolini will receive €877,390 for winning the WTA1000 event in Rome
They played at the same venue all week. They played best of 3 sets all week. Yet, they will NOT get paid the same pic.twitter.com/hDUAQQfipZ
— Myles David (@TunedIntoTennis) May 19, 2025
In 2023, Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi announced a bold goal to close the gap by 2025, promising equal prize money for ATP and WTA players. “By 2025, we will have a women’s tournament with the same prize money as the men’s. We are not talking about small change, but eight million and 300 thousand euros,” Binaghi told La Stampa. “We can make this big leap because the first female CEO of a big bank in Italy has provided us with the necessary resources.”
However, the men’s total prize money still exceeds the women’s by about €2.05 million ($2.32 million USD), a fact that has not sat well with fans. Despite promises, the gap remains, sparking frustration and calls for true equality in tennis pay.
The prize money disparity causes uproar amongst tennis fans
Under David’s tweet, fans found common ground debating prize money equality. One fan wrote, “Yup, except for a few high profile events equal pay is largely a myth in tennis,” agreeing with the podcaster while acknowledging progress. All four Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) now offer equal prize money for WTA and ATP players.
Several combined ATP/WTA 1000 events like Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid also pay equally. The WTA aims for full pay equity across all combined WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2027 and standalone events by 2033. The Charleston Open has already committed to equal prize money by 2026.
Another fan raised doubts about the Italian Open’s promise of equal pay, writing, “It’s true that BNL Internazionali d’Italia had promised equal prize money. But in my opinion, it’s not fair. First of all, because they don’t attract the same audience. Second, because it’s not the same kind of tennis. Paolini loses 6-0, 6-0 badly, with every top100 ATP and barely scores any points. And she draws far less attention than all the top male players. So, I don’t know: if it’s about equality, then we should talk about equality in terms of interest, or in terms of tennis. Not equality just for the sake of it, without a clear reason.”
The Rome Masters final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner drew 6,014,000 viewers in Italy, with 46.4% of TVs tuned in. Last year, Sinner’s matches at the ATP Finals attracted over 5 million Italian viewers. The WTA reported a record global audience of 1.1 billion in 2024, with rising viewership in Italy, Spain, and Latin America. On the flip side, Paolini’s historic win at the Italian Open likely boosted local interest in women’s tennis.
Another fan bluntly said, “Carlitos sells more.” While exact stats are hard to find, Puntodebreak reported the 2025 Rome ATP final averaged 4,885,000 viewers, with a 38% share. Notably, Alcaraz, with four Grand Slams and a huge social media following (6.3M on Instagram, 849.2K on X), is a fan favorite. His thrilling 2023 Wimbledon win over Novak Djokovic drew a peak UK audience of 11.2 million on BBC One.
One fan pointed to popularity as the main reason for the pay gap: “When will you realize that it is ultimately ticketing and TV revenue that determines the size of prize payouts? Why should the ladies earn as much as men when viewership isn’t even close? It’s not about how much effort the players put in, it’s about the money the match generates!” Remember, Sinner’s first practice at Foro Italico drew nearly 5,000 fans, showing the hype around ATP players.
A witty fan commented, “Good point. Now do the comparison for the French Open.” Last year, both men’s and women’s singles champions received €2,400,000 (about $2.74 million), part of a total prize pool of €53.478 million (around $61 million). This year’s prize money rose 5.21% to €56.352 million (roughly $64.5 million). What’s your take on the prize money dispute? Will we see change soon? Share your thoughts below!
The post “Equal Pay Is a Myth in Tennis”- Italian Open Under Fire From Fans Over Unfair Prize Money Distribution appeared first on EssentiallySports.
