Andy Murray has called the difference in prize money at the Dubai Championships a “huge step backwards” as the winner of the men’s singles tournament will receive five times the amount of the women’s champion.
Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia took home $104,180 after winning the women’s WTA 500 event by beating Veronika Kudermetova in the final last weekend.
As a result of the men’s ATP 500 event, which ends on Saturday, the winner will receive a cash prize valued at $523,740.
“Obviously that’s a big step backwards, so it’s not a good thing,” Murray told reporters Wednesday after his 7-5, 6-2 loss to Jannik Sinner.
“Obviously, if they’re the same size events a week apart, that’s a pretty big discrepancy.”
Tennis is usually seen as the leader in the fight for equality in women’s sport, with equal prize money being paid to men and women at all four Grand Slams.
“There have been tournaments on tour, like the Washington event, for example, where the events are different sizes, and the prize money is different,” Murray said.
“I’ve also contested the tournament in Brisbane for the men, which is a smaller event compared to the women’s, and the prize money is flipped the other way.”
Murray’s comments come a day after the United States women’s national soccer team settled its class action lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) over equal pay, in which players they will receive a one-time payment of $22 million for retroactive payment.
The deal is contingent on a new collective bargaining agreement, and US Soccer has also committed to providing an equitable rate of pay going forward.
