Alexander Zverev and Nicolas Jarry are set to go head-to-head in the Italian Open final today (Sunday afternoon). And the two players are both set to walk away with more money than women’s champion Iga Swiatek and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka earned yesterday following their showdown in Rome.
Zverev has been in fine form on the Italian clay over the past nine days and hadn’t dropped a set ahead of his semi-final clash with Alejandro Tabilo. But he was forced to come from a set down to get the better of his Chilean opponent on Friday. The German, who lost to Dominic Thiem in the US Open showpiece event in 2020 and has reached six Grand Slam finals during his career, has been made favourite to lift the trophy in the Italian capital.
Jarry, meanwhile, secured his place in the final courtesy of his third three-set victory of the tournament as he ground out a win against American opponent Tommy Paul. The Chilean previously saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last eight.
According to the ATP website, the winner of the men’s final will be handed a cool £828,299, with the runner-up taking home £440,504. In contrast, Swiatek was awarded £601,679 for her victory, according to the WTA website, with Sabalenka seeing her bank balance boosted to the tune of £313,884.
The four Grand Slams offer equal prize money for male and female players, with the US Open leading the way in 1973. Australian Open chiefs have consistently offered the same prize money since 2001, with French Open and Wimbledon winners on the same footing since 2007.
Other events don’t necessarily offer parity when both men and women compete at tournaments. But last year the WTA announced plans to give women the same prize money as their male counterparts at WTA-ATP 1000 and 500 tournaments by 2027. The organisation then aims to ensure events where men and women don’t play at the same location are also equal in their pay by 2033.
Swiatek’s victory was the second time in three weeks she had defeated Sabalenka in a final after getting the better of the Belarusian at the Madrid Open.
And following her endeavours in Italy, the Pole told the crowd: “After Madrid I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I’m really happy that I was able to play consistently during the clay season. The final tournament is in front of us. I always enjoy playing here.”
