"I don’t understand why we’re doing it": Daria Kasatkina finds constant equal prize money debate baffling, says it 'makes no sense at all'
WTAWednesday, 27 December 2023 at 21:00
Daria
Kasatkina spoke about gender equality in tennis and criticized the comparison
between men's and women's sports, considering that they do not compete against
each other. Although Grand Slam tournaments distribute equal prize money
between men and women, most events in the 250, 500, and 1000 categories still
have unequal payouts.
For
example, at the 2023 Citi Open, women's champion Coco Gauff received $120,150,
while men's champion Dan Evans took home $353,455, nearly triple the amount for
winning the same tournament.
Economic Disparities in ATP and WTA
The former
world No. 8 recently expressed her views on a Russian podcast, highlighting the
existing differences in tennis between men and women. "Comparing men’s and
women’s sports makes no sense at all. I don’t understand why we’re doing it;
we’re not competing with each other,” said Kasatkina. “I think the topic of
equal prize money was not invented by tennis players. We realize that this is
impossible nowadays,” she added.
“Comparing
men’s and women’s sports makes no sense at all. I don’t understand why we’re
doing it, we’re not competing with each other,” said Kasatkina.
“I think
the topic of equal prize money was not invented by tennis players. We realise
that this is impossible nowadays,” Kasatkina stated. “The WTA is not at the
rock bottom, but the current position is not great. Nearly all the players are
not happy, there is no progress in the organization and there is no marketing,”
Russian tennis player added.
“We are
trying to fight with the help of PTPA (Professional Tennis Players
Association), they have taken the role of a representative because we are not
lawyers, we don’t know the legal issues. They have professionals there who know
exactly what to do.’
“The WTA
Finals in Cancun was a crucial moment. The problem is that the whole internet
was laughing at the coolest WTA tournament with the best players, and it turned
into a joke.”
Top Earners in Prize Money for 2023
Looking at
the top five male tennis players in terms of prize money (Novak Djokovic,
Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, and Andrey Rublev), their
combined earnings total $49.7 million.
In
comparison, the top five female earners in prize money on the WTA, including
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula,
have a combined total of $36.2 million. For instance, former world No. 1
Sabalenka, the champion of the 2023 Australian Open, received less prize money
than the top four male players in the ATP.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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