US Open prize money hits record $90M, biggest in tennis history

Record Prize Pool Set for U.S. Open

The U.S. Open is set to make history by offering the largest total prize pool in the history of tennis when it kicks off in New York later this month. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced that it will distribute a staggering $90 million to players, marking a 20% increase from the $75 million awarded last season. This significant boost places the U.S. Open far ahead of the other three Grand Slam tournaments, with Wimbledon distributing approximately $71 million, the French Open around $65.5 million, and the Australian Open about $63 million this year.

This year’s men’s and women’s singles champions will each receive $5 million, a substantial increase from the $3.6 million won by Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in 2023. The prize money increases are not limited to the top tiers of competition. According to the USTA, all rounds of all events will see double-digit percentage increases in prize money for every player in 2024.

New Mixed Doubles Format

One of the most notable changes this year is the introduction of a new-look mixed doubles event at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which will take place the week before the singles main draw. To encourage top singles players to participate in mixed doubles, the USTA has introduced a $1 million prize for the winning team and $400,000 for the runners-up in a shortened 16-team format.

The mixed doubles entry list includes eight of the top-10 men’s players and six of the top-10 women, with two more teams still to be awarded wildcard entries. This move aims to elevate the profile of mixed doubles and provide additional opportunities for players to earn significant prize money.

Player Concerns and Legal Challenges

Despite the impressive increase in prize money, some players have raised concerns about whether they are receiving a fair share of the revenue generated by the professional tennis tours and Grand Slams. Novak Djokovic, one of the sport’s most prominent figures, expressed his views during a news conference earlier this year in Australia. He noted that in major American sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, baseball, and NHL, players typically receive around 50% of the revenue. In contrast, he argued that tennis players receive a much smaller share.

For many lower-ranked singles players, simply making it into the main U.S. Open draw and losing in the first round can still result in a payout of $110,000, which often represents the bulk of their annual prize money. However, reports from the Athletic earlier this year indicated that players earn between 10% and 20% of the total revenue generated by the four biggest tournaments.

Legal Action and Advocacy

In response to these concerns, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organization co-founded by Djokovic, filed an antitrust lawsuit earlier this year against the sport’s governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA. The lawsuit seeks to address what the PTPA sees as unfair financial practices within the tennis industry.

Prize Money Breakdown

Here is a detailed breakdown of the prize money for this year's U.S. Open:

Men's and Women's Singles

• Champion: $5 million
• Runner-up: $2.5 million
• Semifinals: $1.26 million
• Quarterfinals: $660,000
• Round of 16: $400,000
• Round of 32: $237,000
• Round of 64: $154,000
• Round of 128: $110,000

Men's and Women's Doubles

• Champion: $1 million
• Runner-up: $500,000
• Semifinals: $250,000
• Quarterfinals: $125,000
• Round of 16: $75,000
• Round of 32: $45,000
• Round of 64: $30,000

Mixed Doubles

• Champion: $1 million
• Runner-up: $400,000
• Semifinals: $200,000
• Quarterfinals: $100,000
• Round of 16: $20,000