WTA cuts mandatory events for top-50 players in 2027 and confirms equal prize money at every combined 1000
WTA cuts mandatory events for top-50 players in 2027 and confirms equal prize money at every combined 1000
The WTA 2027 schedule will ask considerably less of the world’s best players. The women’s tour announced on Thursday that top-50 players will contest fewer mandatory tournaments next season, part of a one-year pilot aimed at easing the strain of an overloaded calendar.
Under the current system, players ranked in the world’s top 50 must play the four Grand Slams, ten WTA 1000 events and six WTA 500 events each year. From 2027, the mandatory 500-level commitment drops from six tournaments to four, leaving a base playing commitment of 14 WTA events plus the four majors.
What changes in the WTA 2027 schedule
The headline reform is the lighter mandatory load, but the ranking mechanics change too. Players will be allowed to replace one eligible WTA 1000 result with a stronger result from a WTA 500 or WTA 250 tournament. In practice, a player who skips a mandatory 1000 event or loses early there can now count points earned at a smaller event instead of risking a zero.
The WTA said it will assess the impact of these measures before deciding whether to extend them into 2028. The move mirrors one made by the men’s tour in January, when the ATP reduced the number of mandatory 500-level tournaments for the world’s top 30 players from five to four, starting this season.
Equal prize money reaches every combined 1000
The pay announcement may prove the more lasting change. For the first time, the prize money at every “combined” WTA 1000 tournament will be identical to the corresponding men’s ATP event. Rome, the Canadian events and Cincinnati reach parity in 2027, joining Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing, which had already equalised pay.
The four Grand Slams have paid men and women equally since 2007, but the tier below lagged behind, with men earning considerably more at several events where both tours play in the same week.
A 55-tournament calendar across 26 countries
The 2027 calendar will feature 55 tournaments across 26 countries and territories. The season-ending WTA Finals move to a new home in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be staged in an NBA arena for at least three years from 2027. The tour also confirmed an expanded WTA 250-level tournament in Manila, riding the wave of interest around home player Alex Eala, and noted that three events in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar remain on the February calendar.
The changes were shaped by the Tour Architecture Council, a working group chaired by third-ranked Jessica Pegula after months of player complaints about schedule congestion and physical load.
“As players, we’re on the road most of the year, so having more flexibility in our schedules and commitments makes a real difference,” Pegula said. “The 2027 changes give us more ability to build our seasons around our own goals, competitively and personally. That’s an impactful step forward for players.”
Frequently asked questions
How many mandatory tournaments will top-50 players play in 2027?
Fourteen WTA tournaments plus the four Grand Slams: ten WTA 1000 events and four WTA 500 events, down from six 500s.
Can players skip a WTA 1000 event without penalty now?
Effectively, yes. One eligible WTA 1000 result can be replaced on the ranking by a stronger WTA 500 or WTA 250 result, softening the penalty for skipping or losing early.
Which tournaments will now offer equal prize money?
All combined WTA 1000 events. Rome, Canada and Cincinnati join Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing in paying the same prize money as the corresponding ATP events.
Is this a permanent change?
No. The WTA described the 2027 reforms as a one-year pilot and will evaluate their impact before deciding on 2028 and beyond.
