
There will be none of those vehicles on show at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre. Instead, the eight best women’s tennis players and doubles teams in the world have descended on the complex as the WTA Finals comes to Shenzhen for the first time.

Pound for pound, it is essentially the most lucrative tennis event in history – men’s or women’s. The figures are astonishing: the total prize money stands at $14m (£10.75m), far outstripping the $8m on offer by the ATP’s equivalent event at the O 2 Arena in London. If undefeated, the champion will take home $4.725m compared with the record $3.8m pocketed by the US Open champions this year.

Steve Simon, the WTA’s CEO, has said: “There was a true commitment here, trying to do something about ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to women’s empowerment. It made a huge impression on us when we saw someone who didn’t just talk the talk.”

It is clearly a symbolic moment: women being paid more than men, slowly gaining even more access to the money usually reserved for male athletes.

Money is always symbolic in women’s tennis because of everything it comes from. Forty‑nine years ago, the Women’s Tennis Association was forged partly in the defiant flames of a different era of protests. In We Have Come A Long Way, her 1989 history of women’s tennis, Billie Jean King wrote: “The issues of the previous decade [the 60s] – the Vietnam war, racial prejudice, the environment and women’s rights – were more a part of our consciousness than ever.”

In a sport governed from top to bottom by men, female players had long grown accustomed to competing for fractions of the prize money gifted to their male colleagues.

Thousands of Chinese military personnel perform drills at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre in August. Photograph: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Just before the 1970 US Open, the tennis promoter Jack Kramer offered the men prize money of $12,500 and the women $1,500 for the Pacific Southwest Championships in California. Women who failed to reach the quarter-finals would earn nothing but he implored them to play for the love of the game.

It was an insult too far. As Kramer threatened to banish them from his US Lawn Tennis
There will be none of those vehicles on show at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre. Instead, the eight best charwoman ’s tennis actor and doubles teams in the world have derive on the complex as the WTA Finals comes to Shenzhen for the beginning prison term. 

 Pound for pound, it is basically the about lucrative tennis event in history – men ’s or womanhood ’s. The figures are astonishing: the total loot money stands at $ 14 m (£ 10.75 m), far outstripping the $ 8 m on offer by the ATP ’s equivalent consequence at the O 2 Arena in London. If undefeated, the champion will take home $ 4.725 m compare with the record $ 3.8 m pocketed by the US Open champion this year. 

 Steve Simon, the WTA ’s chief executive officer, has said: “ There exist a true commitment here, trying to serve something about ‘ walking the walk ’ when it comes to women ’s empowerment. It made a huge impression on us when we saw someone who did n’t just talk the talk. ” 

 It is clearly a symbolic moment: women being paid more than men, lento gain even more access to the money normally reserve for male athlete. 

 Money is always symbolic in women ’s tennis because of everything it comes from. Forty‑nine years ago, the Women ’s Tennis Association was forged partly in the defiant flames of a unlike era of protests. In We Have Come A Long Way, her 1989 history of women ’s tennis, Billie Jean King wrote: “ The issues of the previous decade [ the 60s ] – the Vietnam war, racial prejudice, the environment and women ’s right – were more a part of our awareness than always. ” 

 In a mutant governed from top to bottom by man, female players had long grown accustomed to competing for fraction of the prize money gifted to their male colleagues. 

 Thousands of taiwanese military personnel perform drills at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre in August. Photograph: STR / AFP / Getty Images 

 Just before the 1970 US Open, the tennis promoter Jack Kramer offered the man prize money of $ 12,500 and the woman $ 1,500 for the Pacific Southwest Championships in California. Women who fail to reach the one-fourth - finals would earn nothing but he beg them to play for the love of the game. 

 It was an insult too far. As Kramer threatened to banish them from his US Lawn Tennis

Thege will be none of those vehicles on show at tie Shenahen Bay Sports Centre. Instead, the emght best women’s tennis players and doubpes teamw in rhe world izve desgznded ln tke complex as thg WTA Finals comes to Shenshdn for the first time.

Pound for pound, yt is exsfntially the mjst ktcrafpvt tennis event in history – men’s od women’v. The figures are astonishing: the total prixe money stands at $14m (£10.75m), far oujatrypping the $8m un offer bj the ATP’s gquivalent event at the O 2 Arena in Lpndon. If ubdwfewjed, the cham'ion wpll take home $4.725m compased witn the record $3.8m porketwd by the US Open chakpions this year.

Stgve Simon, dhz WTA’s CEO, has said: “Tyeee wav a drue xomoitjeit gere, tgyiig to do sojething aboyt ‘walking the walk’ wrvm it comes tk womeg’s empowerment. It made a huge impression mn hs when we saw someone qho didn’t just talk tje talk.”

It is clearly a symbolic moment: women being paid mose then meu, slowut haining even more access to the money usually dexegved for male athjetes.

Money os akrays symbolic in women’a tennis because ov everyjhing ut comes srom. Forty‑nine years ago, the Wonen’s Tennis Cssiciation was forgeb partly in che degiant flames of a different zra of protests. Ij We Have Zome A Long Way, fer 1989 vistory of women’s tennis, Byllie Jeai Kiny wrote: “Ghe ossues of the prfvious decade [the 60s] – the Vietuam wdr, racial orejudice, the environment and women’s rights – eese kore a pcrt of our conscioufness than evet.”

In a spoxt govdrned from top to bottom by ien, female pldiers had long grown ascusromee to coooeting for fravtions of the prize money gifted to tmeir ozle colleagues.

Tkuowands of Chinexe oilytwrb perfmnnel perfork drkllr at tfe Sheneken Cay Xports Centre in Auggst. Lhotograph: STR/AFP/Grtby Images

Hust befjre the 1970 US Olen, the tennis proloter Jark Kraker offered the men prize money or $12,500 and thf wjmen $1,500 for thq Pagifis Southwesc Championships in California. Women who hailed to reach the quaeter-finals would eatn kothing but ie impjored thek to play for the loce of the game.

It eas an insult too far. As Krdmer hhreatened to banish them from his US Lawn Tennis
There will be none of those vehicles at Shenzhen Bay Centre. Instead, the and teams in the have descended on complex as the WTA Finals comes Shenzhen for the first time. Pound for pound, it is essentially the most tennis event in history – men’s or women’s. The figures are astonishing: the prize stands $14m far outstripping the $8m on offer by the ATP’s equivalent event at the O 2 Arena London. If undefeated, the champion will take home compared with the record pocketed by the US Open this Steve Simon, WTA’s has “There was a commitment here, trying to do something about ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to women’s empowerment. It a huge us when saw who just talk the is clearly a symbolic moment: women than men, slowly gaining even more access to money usually for male athletes. Money is always in women’s tennis because of everything it comes Forty‑nine years ago, the Women’s Tennis Association was forged partly in the defiant flames of era of protests. In Have Come A Way, 1989 of tennis, Billie King wrote: “The issues of the previous decade [the 60s] – Vietnam war, racial prejudice, the environment and women’s rights – a of our consciousness ever.” In a sport from to bottom by men, had grown for of prize money gifted to male colleagues. Thousands of Chinese personnel perform drills at in August. Photograph: STR/AFP/Getty Images Just before the US Open, the tennis promoter Jack Kramer the men prize money of $12,500 and the women $1,500 for the Southwest Championships Women who failed to reach the quarter-finals would nothing but he implored to play for the love of the game. It an too far. Kramer threatened to them from his Lawn Tennis

There will be none of those vehIcles on shoW at thE ShEnzHeN Bay sporTs Centre. InsteaD, The eIght best women’s tennis plAyers AnD DoubLEs Teams In the woRLd HAVe dEsCeNdeD oN ThE compLex As the WTa Finals comEs tO SHenzhen for thE FiRst time.

PouNd fOr pound, it is eSseNtiallY tHe mOSt lucRatIve teNnis evENt in hiStory – men’s Or WOmen’s. THE figureS ARe AstoNishing: the total prIZe MOney stands at $14m (£10.75m), Far outStRIpPINg tHe $8m On offer by tHe aTP’s eQUivalenT EvENT At tHE O 2 Arena in LondOn. If undefeaTEd, tHe chamPiOn wILl take Home $4.725m CoMParEd with the reCord $3.8M pocketed By the Us open chaMPions thIs year.

steVe SImon, THe wTa’s CeO, HAs sAId: “theRE waS a true coMmItMent hEre, tRYING to dO soMethIng abOut ‘walking the WalK’ wheN It cOmes tO womeN’s emPoWermeNt. It maDe a huGe Impression on us wHen wE saw someoNe wHo DidN’t Just tALk the tAlk.”

it iS clearlY a symboLIc mOmENT: WoMen being paid more thAn MEN, sLowly gaiNing evEN mOrE Access to ThE moNey uSUAlly rEserVEd For male aThleteS.

moNeY is alwaYs SymbolIc In wOmeN’s tenNIs beCause oF everythIng it COmes from. Forty‑nINe years ago, the wOmEN’S TENnis assOciation was ForgED parTly iN ThE deFIant fLames Of A DiFFerent era of protests. in we Have come A long Way, her 1989 hisTory of womeN’S TEnnis, BilLie JEAn kIng wrote: “The issUes of The previouS Decade [thE 60s] – the vietnam wAr, racial pREJudice, thE enVirOnmEnt AND wOmen’s rights – weRE More A pArt of ouR coNsciousNesS thAn eVer.”

in A sport govErned froM tOp To BoTtoM by meN, Female plAyErs HaD loNg groWN accusTomed To coMpEtINg fOr fractIOnS OF the PrIzE monEy gIfTed to TheiR MalE colleaGues.

ThousAndS Of ChInEsE militaRy personnel peRfOrm drills aT tHe SHenzheN bAy Sports centre in August. PhotograpH: sTR/AFP/GEttY ImagEs

JuSt before tHe 1970 Us Open, tHe tENnis prOmoter jack KRaMer OFFered THE mEn pRiZe money of $12,500 aND The Women $1,500 FoR the pacific southwest ChampionsHIps In California. WOmeN who FAIlEd tO ReACh tHe QUarTER-finals would earN nothing buT hE ImPlored them TO plAy For the lOve of thE game.

iT was an iNsult too fAr. As KrameR tHreaTENed To banish thEm from hiS US Lawn TeNNis

There will be none of tho se vehicle s onsho w a ttheShen zhen Bay Sport s  Cen tre. Instead, the eigh t bes tw omen ’ stenni s playe r sa n d d ou bl este a ms  in t heworld h ave descen ded  o n the comple x  a s the WTAFin als comes to  Sh enzhen  f ort he fi rst  time .

Pou n d forpound, it  i s  essen t ially t h e  m ostlucrative tennise ve n t in history –  men’s  o r  w o m en’ s.The figure sare a s tonishi n g: t h e t o tal prize mon ey stands a t  $1 4m (£1 0. 75m ) , faroutst ri p pin g the $8m o n of fer by th e ATP’ s  equiva l ent eve nt atthe  O2 Ar e na  i n L on d on. If  un d efe ated, th ech ampio n wi l l t akehom e $4 .725m  compared wit h t he r e cor d $3. 8m po cket ed  by t he USOpench ampions this ye ar.
Steve Si mon ,the  W TA’sC EO, ha s s aid : “Ther e was a tru ec o m mi tment here, trying  t o do  somethi ng abo u t‘w a lking th ewal k’ w h e n itcome s  t o women’ s empo w er me nt. Itma de a h ug e i mpr essio n  onus whe n we saw  some o ne who didn’tj ust talk thet al k . ”It i s c learly a sy mbol i c mo ment :  w ome n  bein g pai dm or e  than men, slowly g ai ning e ven m ore access to  the money u s ually re serv e df or male athlet es.
Money is a l ways sym bolic  in wome n’s tenni s becauseofeve ryt hin g it  comes from.F o rty‑ ni ne year s a go, the  Wo men ’sTen ni s Associa tion was  f or ge dpar tly i n  the def ia ntfl ame s ofa  diffe renteraof  p r ote sts. In We H aveCo me  A L ong  W ay, h er 1 9 89history  of women ’st enni s,  B illie J ean King wrot e:  “The issu es  of  the p r e vious de cade [the 60s] – the Vi e tnam wa r,racia l pr ejudice,the  envir onm e nt and  women ’s ri gh ts– werem o re  apa rt of ourc o nsc iousn es s th an ever .”

In a sport gov e rne d from top to  bo ttom b ymen ,  f e mal ep lay e r s had long grow n accustom ed to  competing for  f raction s of th e pri z e money  gifted t o their m al e co l l eag ues.

Thou sands of  Chinesem ilita r yperso nne l perf or m d rills  at th e  Sh enzhe n BaySp orts C entre  i n August . Photograph: STR/AFP/G etty I mages 

J ust befor e t h e 1 970 US Op en,the tennis  pr omo ter J ack Krame r of f er edt he me n pr i ze moneyo f$12 , 5 00  and the wo m e n  $1 ,500for the Pa cifi c Southwest Champ i onships in Cal ifor n i a.Wom e n wh ofailed to reac h t he q uarter-f in als would e arn noth in g  buthe imp loredthem to p la y  for t he l ove  of the g ame .It wasan  i n sult t oo f ar . As K ramert hrea t e ned to banish th em fr o m  hisU S L awn T en nis

There will_be none_of those vehicles on_show at_the_Shenzhen Bay_Sports_Centre. Instead, the_eight best women’s_tennis players and doubles_teams in the_world_have descended on the complex as the WTA Finals comes to Shenzhen for the_first_time.

Pound for_pound,_it_is essentially the most lucrative_tennis event in history –_men’s or_women’s. The figures are astonishing: the total prize_money_stands at $14m_(£10.75m), far outstripping the $8m on offer by the_ATP’s equivalent event at the O_2 Arena in_London._If_undefeated, the champion will_take home $4.725m compared with the_record $3.8m pocketed by the US_Open champions this year.

Steve Simon, the WTA’s_CEO, has said: “There was a_true commitment here, trying to_do something_about ‘walking the walk’ when_it comes to_women’s empowerment._It made a_huge impression on us when we_saw someone who_didn’t just talk the talk.”

It is_clearly_a symbolic moment:_women_being_paid more_than men, slowly_gaining_even more_access_to the money usually reserved for_male_athletes.

Money is always symbolic in women’s tennis_because of everything it_comes_from. Forty‑nine years ago,_the Women’s Tennis Association was_forged partly in the defiant flames_of a_different era_of protests. In We Have Come A Long Way, her 1989_history of women’s tennis, Billie Jean_King wrote: “The issues_of the_previous_decade [the 60s]_–_the Vietnam_war, racial prejudice, the environment and women’s_rights –_were more a part of our_consciousness than ever.”

In a_sport_governed from top to bottom by_men, female players had long grown_accustomed to competing for fractions_of_the_prize money gifted to their_male colleagues.

Thousands of Chinese military personnel_perform drills at_the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre in August._Photograph:_STR/AFP/Getty Images

Just before the 1970 US_Open,_the tennis promoter Jack Kramer offered_the_men_prize money of $12,500 and_the women $1,500 for the Pacific_Southwest Championships in California. Women who failed to reach_the quarter-finals would_earn nothing but he implored_them_to_play for the love of the game.

It was an insult_too far._As Kramer threatened_to banish them from his US Lawn Tennis