The 2024 Palermo Open is a WTA clay-court tournament that takes place in the heart of the Italian island of Sicily.
This tournament is part of the WTA 250 category and will run from July 15th to 21st. It will be played in the buildup to the Olympic Games, which will commence on July 27th at Roland Garros.
Some of the 32 women competing at this event will already have one eye on the Olympics, so it is highly important for them to refine their clay-court expertise as they will need to make the quick transition from grass.
The tournament organizers have done a commendable job of pooling a group of talented players led by former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina. This year's total prize money is $267,082, at least 3% higher than last year's pot.
Veteran Sara Errani is one of the most experienced players in the field as she bids to win on home soil for a second time (she won the Italian Open doubles title with Jasmine Paolini).
Paula Badosa is one of two wild cards, although her decision to play on the clay of Palermo and not the Olympics is surprising. The other wild card is Ajla Tomljanovic. Lucia Bronzetti, Clara Burel, Elisabetta Cocciaretto will also play.
The payout in the main draw begins in the first round. Players who don't win at least one match will still be compensated $2890. However, the ranking incentive at this stage is so low that they only gain 1 point.
For a second-round loss, players won’t leave Sicily empty-handed. They will pocket $4,040 and be awarded 30 points. Those with targets to go far must win successive matches to reach the quarterfinals, where they are guaranteed a paycheck of $6,608 and will receive 54 points.
The four semifinalists will each receive $11,610 and 98 points, while the two players who will contest the championship match stand to make the most in prize money. The beaten finalist will earn $20,830 along with 163 points.
The champion of the 2024 Palermo Open will earn $35,250. Aside from prize money and the trophy, she will also receive 250 points that could vault her ranking into the upper tier. The full breakdown of prize money and points overview can be seen below.
| Points | Prize Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 250 points | $35,250 |
| Finalist | 163 points | $20,830 |
| Semi-finalists | 98 points | $11,610 |
| Quarter-finalists | 54 points | $6,608 |
| 2nd round | 30 points | $4,040 |
| 1st round | 1 point | $2,890 |