The U.S. Open will see a substantial increase in prize money this year, totaling nearly $85 million across all events. The champions of the women’s and men’s singles will each receive a record-breaking $5 million, with the overall player compensation reaching $90 million, marking the highest amount in tennis history.
The U.S. Tennis Association revealed the prize money distribution for the upcoming Grand Slam tournament, which will kick off with a new mixed doubles competition offering a top prize of $1 million on August 19-20. The singles matches will commence on a Sunday for the first time on August 24, extending the tournament duration from 14 to 15 days.
These enhancements at Flushing Meadows, where the total compensation was $75 million last year, coincide with discussions among top players aiming to secure a larger share of revenues across the four major tournaments, including the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, French Open, and Australian Open.
In March, 20 players, including Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and the 2024 U.S. Open winners Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, signed a letter addressed to the organizers of the Grand Slam events, advocating for increased prize money and greater player involvement in decisions affecting them. Subsequently, negotiations have taken place between players and tournament officials.
The previous highest prize for a U.S. Open singles title was $3.85 million in 2019, which decreased during the pandemic. This year’s $5 million award represents a 39% surge from last year’s $3.6 million. Runner-ups in the singles events will receive $2.5 million each, with a corresponding 39% increase. Semifinalists will earn $1.26 million, reflecting a 26% raise.
At Wimbledon, which concluded recently, the prize money increased by approximately 7% to reach around $73 million, with the singles champions receiving about $4 million each. In New York, the winners of the women’s and men’s doubles will be awarded $1 million each, marking a new high for these events at the U.S. Open. Additionally, the total prizes for qualifying rounds are set to increase to $8 million, a 10% upsurge.
The $85 million prize pool for the 2025 U.S. Open encompasses singles, doubles, qualifying, and wheelchair events. The announcement follows the USTA’s earlier statement in May about the renovation of the main arena, Arthur Ashe Stadium, as part of an $800 million project hailed as the most significant investment in U.S. Open history.