WTA 1000 prize money “parity,” Alcaraz defends five-set tennis, the ATP/WTA antitrust lawsuit moves forward, and The Inner Game goes digital.
WTA announces 2027 calendar, equal prize money milestone, and player-tournament-led enhancements: For the first time, all combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award equal prize money, building on a core objective of the WTA since its founding more than 50 years ago. The tour will also introduce a series of changes developed through the Tour Architecture Council. The changes are designed to give players greater flexibility while preserving strong competition, compelling matchups and the world-class tournaments that define the Tour. Full Story: WTA
Women’s tennis tour announces prize money parity with men in ‘major milestone’: All combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award women equal prize money to the men from 2027, the Women’s Tennis Association has announced, with the Italian Open and other major events joining the rest of the category in offering the same payouts.. Full Story: The Guardian The operative word is “combined.”
Carlos Alcaraz says best-of-5-set tennis is the best, and fine, at Grand Slams: “The Grand Slams are playing best-of-five. If we take away that and play best-of-three, I think we are just killing the Grand Slams,” Alcaraz said ahead of the Japan Open. Full Story: The Athletic
Judge denies ATP, WTA and Grand Slam motions to dismiss antitrust lawsuit: Judge Margaret Garnett denied motions to dismiss the suit from the tours and the organizers of Wimbledon and the French and U.S. Opens Thursday. The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy between the bodies to deprive players and fans of the full benefits of competition, while locking the sport’s athletes into a system that is bad for their bodies and bank balances. Full Story: The Athletic
‘The Inner Game of Tennis’, a sports psychology bible, finds its modern mindset: As it turns out, there is now an app for this tennis mental game classic. I am testing out the 7 day trial and will have a review this Thursday. Full Story: The Athletic
What data from wearables reveals about how tennis affects heart health, recovery, and more: Oura’s data science team anonymized aggregate data from adult members across 11 global markets over a one-month period (July 17 – August 17, 2026). The analysis examined heart rate intensity, long-term Cardiovascular Age (CVA), and post-match overnight recovery metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resting Heart Rate (RHR). Full Story: KNSI Public Radio Spoiler alert! Playing tennis is good for cardiovascular health.
Only Ever Evonne: The Guardian posted an edited abstract of Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s autobiography which was recently released. Full Story: The Guardian At the moment, this title is only available on platforms that I do not typically use. That is enough justification to push out my review until the runup to the Australian Open.
Why Tennis Australia Is Running the Next Presidents Cup (Golf) in 2028: Tennis Australia will operate the majority of logistics for the 2028 Presidents Cup at iconic Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne—including ticket sales, hospitality, retail, concessions, and sponsorships. Full Story: Front Office Sports
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 9/30-10/11 | China Open | WTA 1000 | China |
| 10/7-18 | Rolex Shanghai Masters | ATP 1000 | China |
