US Open announces record US$108 million prize purse
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Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz with the US Open trophy after winning the final of men’s singles at Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on Sept 7, 2025.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- The US Open will offer a record US$108 million prize purse in 2026, a 20% increase from 2025, the largest in tennis history.
- Men’s and women’s singles champions will each earn US$5.5 million, a 10% rise and the highest Grand Slam singles prize ever.
- First-round payouts will increase by 27% to US$140,000, setting a new Grand Slam record, alongside the formation of a Grand Slam Player Council to address player issues.
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NEW YORK – The US Open will hand out US$108 million (S$137 million) in prize money at this year’s final Grand Slam, it said on Aug 20, marking the largest purse in tennis history and a 20 per cent jump from 2025’s total payout.
The men’s and women’s singles champions at the Aug 23 to Sept 13 major in New York will earn US$5.5 million each, which marks a 10 per cent increase from 2025 and is the largest Grand Slam payment in history for a main draw singles champion.
The compensation package also includes what tournament organisers said is a Grand Slam record for first-round payouts, which this year will increase 27 per cent to US$140,000.
The announcement, which included a Player Support Program seeded with an initial US$2 million commitment in 2026 that will be equally split between men and women players, was welcomed by players.
“These steps represent important progress in the ongoing conversations between players and the US Open over the past 18 months,” leading ATP and WTA players said, in a press release issued on their behalf.
“This is a substantial increase in prize money. While this is not yet tied to an agreed revenue-sharing formula, players remain committed to that principle and will continue to work with each of the Grand Slams towards that goal.”
The payout structure was revealed shortly after the sport’s four biggest tournaments announced the creation of a Grand Slam Player Council that is intended to give players a voice on a range of issues like prize money. REUTERS