Jessica Pegula of the US serves to Russia's Veronika Kudermetova (not in photograph) during their match at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, on May 3, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

The organizers of the Madrid Open have apologized to the women's doubles finalists of this year's tournament following criticism for denying players the opportunity to make speeches at the trophy ceremony.

Singles world number three Jessica Pegula, who partnered Coco Gauff in their 6-1 6-4 defeat by Victoria Azarenka and Beatriz Haddad Maia, said on Sunday she was left disappointed after organizers did not allow the finalists to address fans.

The men's doubles finalists were allowed to do so following their match a day earlier and tournament organizers apologized to players and fans "who expect more of the Madrid Open".

We are working internally and with the WTA to review our protocols and are committed to improving our process moving forward ... We made a mistake and this will not ever happen again.

Gerard Tsobanian, CEO of the Madrid Open

"Not giving our women's doubles finalists the chance to address their fans at the end of the match was unacceptable and we have apologized directly to Victoria, Beatriz, Coco and Jessica," tournament CEO Gerard Tsobanian said.

ALSO READ: Pegula slams Madrid organizers after finalists denied speeches

Azarenka had said on Twitter that it was "hard to explain" to her son Leo why she was not able to speak at the ceremony.

"We are working internally and with the WTA to review our protocols and are committed to improving our process moving forward," Tsobanian said.

"We made a mistake and this will not ever happen again."

Ons Jabeur, of Tunisia, returns a shot to Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, (not in photograph) during the championship match at the Charleston Open tennis tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 9, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Equal pay

WTA Tour events, however, still often offer less prize money than those on the separate men's circuit. In the Rome tournament, the total "financial commitment" for the men is $9.51 million while for the women it is $3.5 million

Separately, world number seven Ons Jabeur said women players should not have to wait to receive the same prize money as their male counterparts at the Italian Open after tournament organizers announced plans to achieve pay parity by 2025.

Tennis has sought to be a leader in the battle for equality in the last couple of decades with equal prize money offered to men and women at the four Grand Slams.

WTA Tour events, however, still often offer less prize money than those on the separate men's circuit. In the Rome tournament, the total "financial commitment" for the men is $9.51 million while for the women it is $3.5 million.

ALSO READ: Swiatek: WTA must grow, continue push for pay equality

Italian tennis federation chief Angelo Binaghi said last month the event had started a process that would lead to equal prize money over three years, but Tunisian Jabeur called for immediate change.

"I don't see why we have to wait," Jabeur told the New York Times. "It's really frustrating. It's time for change. It's time for the tournament to do better."

World number seven Ons Jabeur said women players should not have to wait to receive the same prize money as their male counterparts at the Italian Open after tournament organizers announced plans to achieve pay parity by 2025

Reuters has contacted the tournament organizers for comment.

Both men's and women's competitors at the tournament - which is one tier below the majors - play best-of-three set matches and the draw for both events features 128 players.

Similar events at Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid offer equal pay for women, although they are listed as mandatory tournaments for players.

Spain's Paula Badosa said she did not understand why there was prize money disparity in Rome, which attracts some of the world's top names.

READ MORE: WTA working on better pay, considers extending Tour

"I don't know why it's not equal right now," Badosa said. "They don't inform us. They say this is what you get and you have to play."