And, with the added burden of expenditure on health protocols, has led to a reduction in prize money down to 50 per cent of levels before the pandemic. “It’s about finding the right balance between enough prize money for players, especially for lower-ranked players to survive, and also for tournaments to continue,” Straka said. The WTA had to fund the entire prize money of $565,530 for its season opener in Abu Dhabi from its own funds. “The reduction in prize money levels that are in place for 2021 is not something anyone wants to see,” WTA CEO Steve Simon told Reuters. Gaudenzi said that even in the worst case scenario, the ATP was still tracking to deliver 2021 prize money levels of about $180 million, 23 per cent less than 2019.

Source: The Star March 11, 2021 08:37 UTC