Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek at centre of huge Italian Open change

The Italian Open has announced both the men and women will soon receive the same payday after Novak Djokovic won more than double Iga Swiatek after the 2022 final in Rome. Djokovic and Swiatek are both set to return this year in Rome for the Masters 1000 event, but last year's whopping pay difference sparked uproar within the tennis community.

In 2022, Rome champion Djokovic took home $1.35 million having won his first title in six months following a hiatus from tennis due to his vaccination status. The title was his sixth in Rome and the current World No.1 managed the feat without dropping a set during the tournament.

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On the women's side, Swiatek was in the midst of a remarkable season having defended her Italian Open title with a win over Ons Jabeur. Swiatek had won five titles in a row after lifting the trophy in Rome and was on a 28-match winning streak at the time.

However, the difference in pay between Djokovic and Swiatek for winning the same tournament was extraordinary. The Polish superstar won $540,000 for her efforts in Rome, which was a startling difference to Djokovic's $1.35 million payday.

This sparked tennis icon Martina Navratilova to call out the difference in pay at the Masters 1000 event. "The prize money in Rome stinks. Whatever happened to equal money in combined events," Navratilova asked last year.

However, in a statement, the Italian Open announced it would be working to introduce equal pay over the next few years. "For the first time in history we have started the process that over three years will lead to equal prize money between the women's and the men's tournaments," Italian tennis federation president Angelo Binaghi said at a presentation this week.

"We're talking about 8 million euros (nearly AUD $13 million) for each event," Binaghi added. "We can make this big leap because the first female CEO of a big bank in Italy has provided us with the necessary resources."

The Italian Open's pledge moves it in line with the grand slam tournaments that already offer equal pay for female and male athletes.

Novak Djokovic regains World No.1 ranking for clay season

In another twist before the clay court season commences at Monte Carlo, Djokovic has reclaimed the top rank in world tennis from Carlos Alcaraz, The young Spaniard regained the World No.1 ranking after defeating Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells.

However, Alcaraz stumbled against rival Jannik Sinner in the semi-final of the Miami Open and lost his ranking. Djokovic was unable to compete in either American tournament due to his vaccination status.

“For me it is like I lost the semi-final. I don’t think about that I lost the No.1, I lost the sunshine double. I don’t think about it,” Alcaraz said after the defeat. “Of course it’s a shame, you know, but I had an opportunity to get the sunshine double, but, I mean, I think I am gonna have more years to try to get it.

"But all I can think about is to improve my level to beat Jannik. Yeah, for me I just lost a semi-final of a tournament.”

Alcaraz recently withdrew from the Monte Carlo Open having suffered an injury during his Miami Open campaign. He follows Rafa Nadal as the other big name to withdraw.

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