The United States Tennis Association (USTA) unveiled a historic increase in prize money for this year’s U.S. Open, which begins Sunday in Flushing, New York. Total compensation has risen 20% to a record $108 million, up from $90 million last year and a 44% jump from 2024’s $75 million pool.
Under the new structure, every player in the 128‑player singles main draw will earn a minimum of $140,000 – the highest guaranteed amount in tennis history. Quarterfinalists will receive $780,000, semifinalists $1.45 million, and the runner‑up $2.8 million. The singles champions each take home a Grand Slam‑record $5.5 million.
Player support initiatives
In addition to the larger purse, the USTA introduced a player support program and created a Grand Slam Player Advisory Council. Both moves were praised by players who say they will help lower‑ranked competitors sustain their careers.
U.S. Open CEO Craig Tiley told reporters the tournament does not set prize money based directly on revenue. “We don’t use that number as a form of calculating how we compensate, because it can be fairly arbitrary from one event to another,” Tiley said, noting that the tours typically look at profit rather than gross revenue.
While the USTA emphasized its commitment to a “fair share” for players, it also made clear that a larger revenue‑share model is not on the table. Current Grand Slam events generally allocate about 15% of revenue to players, but players are pushing for a 22% share by 2030.
Player reactions
World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, a member of the WTA Players’ Council, said revenue sharing will remain a key discussion point for the new advisory council. “We still believe a revenue share is the best way, and now we’ll have much more open communication,” she told Front Office Sports.
Tiley added that roughly ten players have expressed interest in joining the council, underscoring the USTA’s desire for ongoing dialogue with athletes.
How the U.S. Open compares
By comparison, the 2026 prize pools for the other Grand Slam events were approximately $87.5 million at Wimbledon, $71.7 million at the French Open, and $79.3 million at the Australian Open.
The USTA’s approach aims to balance generous compensation with sustainable tournament operations, positioning the U.S. Open as a “player‑friendly” event while maintaining control over its financial model.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
