ＷＴＡツアー、上位大会で男女同額賞金　３３年までの実現目指す

【マイアミＡＦＰ＝時事】女子テニス協会（ＷＴＡ）は２７日、ツアーカレンダーを再編し、男子ツアーと共催の大会の賞金を今後１０年間で同額にする計画を発表した。（写真は資料写真）
　ＷＴＡ １０００とＷＴＡ ５００の大会では、男子と合同開催の大会は２０２７年までに、別開催の大会は２０３３年までに同額賞金の実現を目指す。
　ＷＴＡ １０００の大会は年間１０大会に増加し、ＢＮＰパリバ・オープンやマイアミ・オープンなどの一部大会は、出場選手数を増やして２週間かけて開催する。ＷＴＡ ５００の大会数も１７に増やす。
　また、トップ選手がレベルの高い大会にコンスタントに出られるようにするエントリールールの変更も行う。
　ＷＴＡの選手会メンバーのドナ・ヴェキッチ（クロアチア）は「ＷＴＡツアーにとって画期的な瞬間だ」と計画を歓迎した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/28-17:06）

The WTA Tour announced plans Tuesday for a revised calendar structure that will lead to equal prize money at combined events with the ATP Tour over the next 10 years.
The plan would have top players consistently compete in top events with combined 1000 and 500 level WTA events attaining equal prize money by 2027 and single-week non-combined events reaching the goal by 2033.
The WTA will boost the number of 1000 level tournaments to 10 with several stretching to two weeks in length with larger draws as Miami and Indian Wells are now staged.
Rome made the jump for 2023 with Madrid and Beijing set to do so in 2024 and Cincinnati and Canada making the change in 2025 and attain equal prize money by 2027.
Other WTA 1000 events would be one-week tournaments at Doha and Dubai in February and a site to be determined in October with prize money equality reached within a decade.
Fifty years after the players found strength in unity, I'm proud the WTA continues to be a global leader focused on providing opportunities and hope that women in other sports and walks of life are inspired by its example, WTA founder Billie Jean King said.
New player entry rules would ensure top players compete at the premium-level events consistently.
The number of 500 level events will jump to 17 with stops in Tokyo, Brisbane, Charleston, San Diego, Washington, Seoul, Berlin, Adelaide, Abu Dhabi, Eastbourne, Monterrey, Strasbourg, Zhengzhou and Stuttgart plus the United Cup and two events in unrevealed markets.
This game-changing moment for the WTA Tour will align both tournament and player interests and help current and future generations of female tennis players, WTA Players' Council member Donna Vekic said. We are incredibly proud to be part of these developments and the legacy it will have on equal prize money.