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The USTA has officially announced a record-breaking USD$108 million (approx. AUD$166 million) worth of prize money for the 2026 US Open Tennis tournament. Representing a 20 per cent surge from 2025’s $90 million purse and a massive 44 per cent increase over 2024’s $75 million total, it stands as the single largest prize pool in grand slam history, setting a new benchmark above the Australian Open 2026 (AUD$111.5 million), Wimbledon 2026, and the French Open 2026.
More importantly, the historic payout has averted any threats of player protests. World stars, including reigning champions Carlos Alcaraz and Amanda Anisimova, along with top contenders Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, Coleman Wong, Jan-Lennard Struff, Markéta Vondroušová, and Ann Li, have welcomed the package and confirmed their participation on the 2026 US Open schedule. USTA has also committed an additional USD$2 million to a brand-new Player Support Program designed to fund benefits and complement pension schemes. Furthermore, all four grand slams have confirmed the establishment of a joint Player Advisory Council, giving athletes a formal voice in tournament governance for the first time after 18 months of negotiations.
The biggest story for tennis fans and competitors alike remains the life-changing cash at stake. From baseline $140,000 first-round match fees to the history-making $5.5 million champion paydays, here’s the complete, round-by-round breakdown of how the record-breaking 2026 US Open prize money is distributed across every draw.
Singles Prize Money at 2026 US Open
Singles payouts continue to reach historical heights. While the champion’s purse has risen 10 per cent year-over-year to $5.5 million (and up over 52 per cent from 2024’s $3.6 million figure), the USTA has pushed the largest percentage increases into the earlier rounds. First-round competitors now pocket $140,000 just for stepping onto the court, which is up from $110,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024, offering significantly better financial baseline support for lower-ranked tour pros.
Singles Winner
- 2026: $5,500,000
- 2025: $5,000,000
- 2024: $3,600,000
- 2023: $3,000,000
- 2022: $2,600,000
- 2021: $2,500,000
Singles Runner-Up
- 2026: $2,800,000
- 2025: $2,500,000
- 2024: $1,800,000
- 2023: $1,500,000
- 2022: $1,300,000
- 2021: $1,250,000
Singles Semifinalist
- 2026: $1,450,000
- 2025: $1,260,000
- 2024: $1,000,000
- 2023: $775,000
- 2022: $705,000
- 2021: $675,000
Singles Quarterfinalist
- 2026: $780,000
- 2025: $660,000
- 2024: $530,000
- 2023: $455,000
- 2022: $445,000
- 2021: $425,000
Singles Round of 16
- 2026: $480,000
- 2025: $400,000
- 2024: $325,000
- 2023: $284,000
- 2022: $278,000
- 2021: $265,000
Singles Round of 32
- 2026: $290,000
- 2025: $237,000
- 2024: $215,000
- 2023: $191,000
- 2022: $188,000
- 2021: $180,000
Singles Round of 64
- 2026: $190,000
- 2025: $154,000
- 2024: $140,000
- 2023: $123,000
- 2022: $121,000
- 2021: $115,000
Singles Round of 128 (First Round)
- 2026: $140,000
- 2025: $110,000
- 2024: $100,000
- 2023: $81,500
- 2022: $80,000
- 2021: $75,000
Doubles Prize Money at 2026 US Open
The $1,000,000 purse for winning doubles teams remains unchanged from 2025’s level, though it still stands 33.3 per cent higher than the $750,000 winners received back in 2024. While payouts across the quarter-finals and semi-finals match last year’s figures, early-round doubles competitors receive solid lifts, with first-round teams pocketing $35,000 (up from $30,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2024).
Doubles Winner (per team)
- 2026: $1,000,000
- 2025: $1,000,000
- 2024: $750,000
- 2023: $700,000
- 2022: $688,000
- 2021: $660,000
Doubles Runner-Up (per team)
- 2026: $500,000
- 2025: $500,000
- 2024: $375,000
- 2023: $350,000
- 2022: $344,000
- 2021: $330,000
Doubles Semifinalist (per team)
- 2026: $250,000
- 2025: $250,000
- 2024: $190,000
- 2023: $180,000
- 2022: $172,000
- 2021: $164,000
Doubles Quarterfinalist (per team)
- 2026: $125,000
- 2025: $125,000
- 2024: $110,000
- 2023: $100,000
- 2022: $97,500
- 2021: $93,000
Doubles Round of 16 (Third Round)
- 2026: $80,000
- 2025: $75,000
- 2024: $63,000
- 2023: $58,000
- 2022: $56,400
- 2021: $54,000
Doubles Round of 32 (Second Round)
- 2026: $50,000
- 2025: $45,000
- 2024: $40,000
- 2023: $36,800
- 2022: $35,800
- 2021: $34,000
Doubles Round of 64 (First Round)
- 2026: $35,000
- 2025: $30,000
- 2024: $25,000
- 2023: $22,000
- 2022: $21,300
- 2021: $20,000
Mixed Doubles Prize Money at 2026 US Open
Mixed Doubles underwent a massive restructuring between 2024 and 2025, when the champion’s purse skyrocketed 400 per cent from $200,000 to $1,000,000. That top prize holds firm for 2026, but the rest of the field sees significant gains. Runners-up and semi-finalists take home 25 per cent more than they did in 2025 (and five times what they made in 2024), while first-round teams double their payout from $20,000 to $40,000.
Mixed Doubles Winner (per team)
- 2026: $1,000,000
- 2025: $1,000,000
- 2024: $200,000
Mixed Doubles Runner-Up (per team)
- 2026: $500,000
- 2025: $400,000
- 2024: $100,000
Mixed Doubles Semifinalist (per team)
- 2026: $250,000
- 2025: $200,000
- 2024: $50,000
Mixed Doubles Quarterfinalist (per team)
- 2026: $120,000
- 2025: $100,000
- 2024: $27,500
Mixed Doubles 1st Round (per team)
- 2026: $40,000
- 2025: $20,000
- 2024: $16,500
Wheelchair Prize Money at 2026 US Open
After being cancelled in 2024 due to scheduling conflicts with the Paris Paralympics, wheelchair tennis returned in 2025 with a $1.6 million prize pool. In 2026, that commitment grows further, with total compensation reaching a record $2,309,200, which is a 44.3 per cent year-over-year increase.
- 2026: $2,309,200
- 2025: $1,600,000
- 2024: N/A (cancelled due to Paralympics)
Where Does the $108M Prize Pool Come From?
The US Open generates its revenue through a combination of sold-out ticketing, global television broadcasting deals, and high-value commercial sponsorships. Most of these earnings directly fund player compensation and welfare initiatives, while the remaining surplus is reinvested by the USTA into grassroots tennis development and community programs across North America.
While grand slam season opens with a deep pot at the Australian Open, the purse in New York operates on an unmatched scale. Both men’s and women’s Singles champions will take home a staggering USD$5,500,000 (approx. AUD$8,460,000), which is up 10 per cent from USD$5,000,000 in 2025 and a huge 52.8 per cent leap over the USD$3,600,000 awarded in 2024.
Crucially, equal pay remains guaranteed across all draws. Men’s and women’s Singles champions earn identical $5.5 million checks, while winning Doubles teams will share USD$1,000,000. Even players exiting in the first round (Round of 128) leave New York with USD$140,000, a 27.3 per cent bump from last year’s USD$110,000 payday and a 40 per cent increase over 2024’s USD$100,000 check, marking the largest first-round compensation in tennis history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Both the Men’s and Women’s Singles champions at the 2026 US Open take home a record USD$5,500,000 (approx. AUD$8,460,000) each. Winning Doubles teams share USD$1,000,000 per team (USD$500,000 per player), while Mixed Doubles champions also share a USD$1,000,000 paycheck.
Singles players who exit in the first round (Round of 128) receive USD$140,000 (approx. AUD$215,000) just for stepping onto the court. First-round Doubles teams earn USD$35,000 per team, while first-round Mixed Doubles teams take home USD$40,000 per team.
Yes, the US Open provides equal prize money across all men’s and women’s draws and has done so continuously since 1973. Male and female champions earn identical payouts across every round of the Singles and Doubles tournaments.
At USD$108 million (approx. AUD$166 million), the 2026 US Open purse is the largest in grand slam history. It stands well above the Australian Open (AUD$111.5 million), Wimbledon, and the French Open, offering singles champions more than double the winner’s check awarded at the Australian Open.
The purse is funded directly through commercial revenue generated by ticket sales, global television broadcasting contracts, and premier corporate sponsorships. Surplus revenue beyond player compensation and welfare programs is reinvested by the USTA into grassroots tennis infrastructure.
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