US Open singles champions to receive record $5.5m
What Happened
The US Open will pay its singles champions a record $5.5m this year, after the USTA raised total player compensation to $108m, up 20% from last year. The increase also comes with a new player support programme backed by an initial $2m commitment.
Financial Impact
The biggest rise is at the top of the draw, but the USTA is also pushing money deeper into the field: first-round singles players will get $140,000, while quarter-finalists, semi-finalists and runners-up will receive $780,000, $1.45m and $2.8m respectively. The move keeps the US Open ahead of the other grand slams on singles prize money, at least for now.
Competing Views
USTA CEO Craig Tiley cast the spending as a “significant first step” in a longer investment in players, saying the tournament is tennis’s most valuable platform for players, fans and partners.
The new support programme is to be shaped with guidance from the Grand Slam Player Council, which was created after players pressed for more input and a greater share of major-tournament revenue.
Next Trigger
Play begins next week, when the revised prize structure will come into force.