Gender Pay Disparities in Professional Tennis: Structural Biases and Measures for Economic Equity

Abstract

Tennis is often perceived as a pioneer of gender pay equality. However, notable gender disparities in prize money still persist across many tennis events. This paper a) examines how the prize money between male and female professional tennis players has differed over the last 10 years; b) identifies potential reasons for why the pay gap exists; and c) proposes measures that could be taken to reduce the pay gap. The methodology consists of reading and analyzing articles and statistics on prize money received by male and female professional tennis players in various levels of tournaments. Results from research show that the ratio of WTA (women's tennis association) to ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) prize money increases as tournament level increases, and that systematically skewed consumer preferences play a key role. Some structural biases discussed include fewer points allocated to lower-level WTA tournaments, biased media coverage, scheduling discrimination, and a lack of female representation in related associations. Measures that could be taken to reduce the established prize money disparity include merging the WTA and ATP organizations, standardizing ranking points across equivalent events, and implementing gender quotas in organizations associated with professional tennis. These findings shed light on broader patterns of economic and social inequality in professional athletics.