Controversy surrounds the Italian Open after a broken promise made to stars and their prize money. Two years ago, president of the Federation of Italian Tennis (FIT) Angelo Binaghi pledged that the Rome tournament would offer equal prize money by 2025.

However, that year has arrived, and there is still a disparity between the amount of money received by male and female players. Binaghi has plenty to answer for after making the exciting announcement that WTA stars have been clamouring for.

Binaghi told Italian outlet in 2023: "By 2025 we will have a women's tournament with the same prize money as the men's. We are not talking about small change, but eight million and 300 thousand euros."

Binaghi claimed that the CEO of the tournament's title sponsor, Elena Goitini of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, would play a key role in facilitating such a change.

"We can make this big leap because the first female CEO of a big bank in Italy has provided us with the necessary resources," Binaghi added.

The WTA said that they were "excited for the commitment" that the Rome event had made, but that pledge has not been fulfilled.

The 2025 male champion will walk away with £831,192, while the female equivalent will only bank £740,363.

-WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid have been offering equal prize money for several years, with Rome expected to follow in their footsteps. But there is a £91k gap between what the two victors will earn for winning the same tournament.

The runners-up will earn £442,054 (ATP) and £385,404 (WTA). Semi-finalists get £245,586 (ATP) and £202,838 (WTA).

The Italian Open is trending in the right direction. When Binaghi made his vow, the ATP winner that year was , who took home £932,650. WTA champion , by comparison, claimed just £440,269.

and were , with the latter saying: "It's really frustrating. It's time for change."

But the tournament chief has broken his vow and questions again will be raised regarding the pay disparity in Italy this week.

Full Italian Open prize money

Winner: £831,192 (ATP), £740,363 (WTA)

Runner-up: £442,054 (ATP), £385,404 (WTA)

Semi-finalist: £245,586 (ATP), £202,838 (WTA)

Quarter-finalist: £139,796 (ATP), £105,224 (WTA)

Round of 16: £76,328 (ATP), £55,785 (WTA)

Round of 32: £44,659 (ATP), £32,329 (WTA)

Round of 64: £26,069 (ATP), £17,901 (WTA)

Round of 128: £17,568 (ATP), £11,096 (WTA)