Emma Raducanu’s comments on prize money debate attract attention: ‘Never really going to take a stand’
Comments made by Emma Raducanu about WTA Tour prize money ahead of her Queen’s campaign earlier this month have attracted renewed attention after being shared on social media.
British No 1 Raducanu was part of a strong field at the WTA 500 Queen’s Club Championships, with the women’s event returning after a 52-year break from the WTA calendar.
Raducanu reached the quarter-final of the event, with German qualifier Tatjana Maria proving a surprise champion at the tournament.
The Brit earned $38,142 in prize money for reaching the last eight, while Maria took home $218,930 for her run to the title.
However, the winners of the ATP 500 event held at Queen’s this week will earn significantly more in prize money.
Quarter-finalists at the men’s event will take home €69,100, approximately $79,554, while the champion will be awarded €471,755, the approximate equivalent of $543,129.
The LTA, which manages both events, has committed to ensuring there is equal prize money at the two tournaments by 2029.
However, the topic of equal prize money between the ATP and WTA Tours has been raised frequently in recent years, with there often being a significant gap between the earnings of male and female players.
Raducanu was quizzed about tackling the issue ahead of her Queen’s campaign two weeks.
And, in comments first reported by Sky Sports Tennis and since reshared by the Tennis Weekly Podcast online, the 22-year-old admitted that she would “kind of roll” with any situation.
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She said: “There is obviously a big difference and I’m sure a lot players will kind of say their piece on it, but I just prefer not to get involved and just whatever the situation is I’ll kind of roll with it, but I’m never really going to take a stand either way.
“I don’t really get involved or kind of stay in the loop with all the boards and all the decisions and stuff. I kind of just get on with it, and I don’t feel like I really am playing for money.
“Of course, I need to sustain my team which is extremely expensive, and you know… with my kind of profile, coaches and team members kind of see that.
“So it is a very expensive sport, but it’s not my main motivator of why I play.”
Raducanu has earned over $5m in career prize money during her professional career, with a staggering $2,500,000 payout for her US Open triumph back in 2021.
All four Grand Slam tournaments pay male and female players equally, with Wimbledon and the French Open becoming the last two Slams to do so in 2007.
However, gaps still exist outside of the Grand Slam events.
At the Italian Open in May, a combined ATP and WTA 1000 event, men’s singles champion Carlos Alcaraz was awarded €985,030, while women’s singles champion Jasmine Paolini earned €877,390.
Speaking to The Times last year, Raducanu claimed the prize money gap was not “fair” to female players across the WTA.
“A lot of women’s players are technically better. They rely on speed, agility and brain rather than brute strength,” Raducanu commented.
“The prize money gap is huge on the ATP Tour, which I don’t necessarily think is fair, but equally playing three sets in the slams is a lot better than the men’s five, which is brutal.”
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