WTA Chair Valerie Camillo On Schedule Changes, Equal Prize Money And Tennis Growth

Summary

CNBC's Alex Sherman interviews WTA Chair Valerie Camillo about the business of women's tennis. They discuss planned 2027/2028 calendar changes, player commitments and welfare, equal prize money, star power, fan engagement, pickleball, sports betting, the Saudi PIF partnership, Serena Williams' return, and making the WTA Finals a defining event in women's sports.

• WTA Chair Valerie Camillo says the tour will announce 2027 calendar changes and more substantive 2028 changes, focused on player commitments and tournament needs.
• She frames women's tennis as the top global women's sports property, with worldwide reach, star athletes, legacy, and over one billion viewers.
• Camillo sees parity and uncertainty in women's tennis as a fan-engagement advantage.
• She says pickleball and other racket sports can feed the tennis ecosystem rather than hurt it.
• The WTA expects its partnership with the Saudi PIF to continue, including the maternity fund.
• Sports betting and prediction markets are treated as fan engagement but require integrity protections.
• Camillo highlights irreplaceable live sports experiences as a reason investment money is flowing into sports.