Tennis - Prize money disparity in Dubai event 'big step backwards', says Murray

Tennis - ATP 500 - Dubai Tennis Championships - Aviation Club Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - February 23, 2022 Britain's Andy Murray in action during his second round match against Italy's Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

(Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray said the difference in prize money at the Dubai Championships is a "big step backwards", with the men's singles winner set to receive five times more the amount as compared to the women's champion.

Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko took home $104,180 after winning the women's WTA 500 event by beating Veronika Kudermetova in the final last weekend.