ITALIAN OPEN REMAIN SILENT ON BROKEN PROMISE REGARDING EQUAL PRIZE MONEY

The Italian Open is one of the bucket list tournaments on the tennis calendar. (Getty/Antonietta Baldassarre)

Angelo Binaghi, president of the Federation of Italian Tennis (FIT), has so far refused to explain why his promise concerning equal prize money at the Italian Open hasn't come to fruition after two years.

In 2023, the 64-year-old announced a ground-breaking objective to close the gap and ensure players associated with the ATP and WTA would be offered the same financial rewards.

"By 2025, we will have a women's tournament with the same prize money as the men's. We are not talking about small change, but eight million and 300 thousand euros," Binaghi told Italian newspaper La Stampa.

"We can make this big leap because the first female CEO of a big bank in Italy has provided us with the necessary resources."

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As expected, the statement was well received by the WTA and welcomed the foreseeable change with open arms.

"With WTA's continued efforts to achieve equal prize money at all events, we are excited for the commitment that has been made by the Rome event to ensure this is in place by 2025," the statement read.

"We appreciate the unwavering commitment from the events who currently are paying equal prize money, and again, the commitment being made by Rome to make sure this is in place by 2025."

However, there has been no word from the Italian Open, despite tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg confirming he had attempted to contact the tournament multiple times.

The prize money disparity is still clear, with the men's winner set to take home €107,640 more than the women's champion, with the runner-up difference standing at €67,135.

Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur told The New York Times in May 2023: "I don't see why we have to wait. It's really frustrating. It's time for change. It's time for the tournament to do better."

Former world No.2 Paula Badosa also echoed Jabeur's disappointment.

"I don't know why it's not equal right now," she said. "They don't inform us. They say this is what you get, and you have to play."

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