US Open 2026 Prize Money Breakdown: Men’s and Women’s Payouts
NEW YORK — The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has shattered all historical records for professional tennis payouts, announcing a total player compensation package of $108 million for the 2026 US Open.
Scheduled to take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows from August 30 to September 13, 2026, the final Grand Slam of the year will feature a 20% increase in total prize money compared to the $90 million awarded in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year of 20% growth, representing an incredible 44% total expansion in player compensation over the past two years.
From singles champions taking home multi-million dollar payouts to significant bumps for early-round qualifier competitors, the 2026 purse reflects a concerted effort by tournament organizers to support players across all ranking tiers.
Breakdown of Key Highlights
- Historic Singles Payouts: Both the Men’s and Women’s Main Draw Singles Champions will receive $5.5 million each. This is the largest single-tournament winner’s check in tennis history.
- Early-Round Support: Main draw first-round losers will earn $140,000, a 27% increase from 2025 and the highest first-round payout ever offered at a Grand Slam event.
- Qualifying Boost: Competitors falling in the first round of qualifying will receive $32,000, up 16% from the previous year.
- Doubles Milestones: Winning teams across Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles competitions will take home $1,000,000 per team.
- Player Support Program: Beyond standard prize money, the USTA is seeding a brand-new player welfare initiative with an initial $2 million commitment split equally between men and women players.
Round-by-Round Prize Money Breakdown
Men’s and Women’s Singles
Singles play represents the vast majority of the tournament purse. Payouts are equal for both men and women across every round.
| Round | USD ($) | EUR (€) | GBP (£) | AUD ($) |
| Champion | $5,500,000 | €5,005,000 | £4,235,000 | $8,415,000 |
| Runner-Up | $2,800,000 | €2,548,000 | £2,156,000 | $4,284,000 |
| Semifinalist | $1,450,000 | €1,319,500 | £1,116,500 | $2,218,500 |
| Quarterfinalist | $780,000 | €709,800 | £600,600 | $1,193,400 |
| Round of 16 (R4) | $480,000 | €436,800 | £369,600 | $734,400 |
| Round of 32 (R3) | $290,000 | €263,900 | £223,300 | $443,700 |
| Round of 64 (R2) | $190,000 | €172,900 | £146,300 | $290,700 |
| Round of 128 (R1) | $140,000 | €127,400 | £107,800 | $214,200 |
(Note: Currency conversions are based on standard exchange estimates: 1 USD ≈ 0.91 EUR, 0.77 GBP, and 1.53 AUD.)
Qualifying Singles (Men’s and Women’s)
Players fighting through the qualifying tournament to earn a spot in the main draw will also experience substantial financial gains.
| Round | USD ($) | EUR (€) | GBP (£) | AUD ($) |
| Final Qualifying Round (R32) | $66,000 | €60,060 | £50,820 | $100,980 |
| Second Qualifying Round (R64) | $48,000 | €43,680 | £36,960 | $73,440 |
| First Qualifying Round (R128) | $32,000 | €29,120 | £24,640 | $48,960 |
Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles Prize Money
Doubles competition continues to feature lucrative rewards in 2026. Figures listed are paid per team.
Men’s & Women’s Doubles
| Round | USD ($) | EUR (€) | GBP (£) | AUD ($) |
| Champions | $1,000,000 | €910,000 | £770,000 | $1,530,000 |
| Finalists | $500,000 | €455,000 | £385,000 | $765,000 |
| Semifinalists | $250,000 | €227,500 | £192,500 | $382,500 |
| Quarterfinalists | $125,000 | €113,750 | £96,250 | $191,250 |
| Round of 16 (R3) | $80,000 | €72,800 | £61,600 | $122,400 |
| Round of 32 (R2) | $50,000 | €45,500 | £38,500 | $76,500 |
| Round of 64 (R1) | $35,000 | €31,850 | £26,950 | $53,550 |
Mixed Doubles Highlights
The 2026 US Open maintains high payouts for the mixed doubles field, anchored by top stars.
| Round | USD ($) | EUR (€) | GBP (£) | AUD ($) |
| Champions | $1,000,000 | €910,000 | £770,000 | $1,530,000 |
| Finalists | $500,000 | €455,000 | £385,000 | $765,000 |
| Semifinalists | $250,000 | €227,500 | £192,500 | $382,500 |
Pioneering the Grand Slam Player Support Program
Beyond match-by-match payouts, the 2026 package introduces an unprecedented player welfare initiative.
The USTA is establishing a dedicated Player Support Program, funded by an initial $2 million commitment in 2026. Split 50/50 between men’s and women’s pools, these funds will be held in escrow as details are finalized alongside player representatives.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ $108M TOTAL COMPENSATION │
└──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┘
│
┌───────────────────────┴───────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ $106M Direct Payouts │ │ $2M Player Support Fund │
│ (Singles/Doubles/Quals)│ │ (Escrow Account Pool) │
└─────────────────────────┘ └────────────┬────────────┘
│
┌────────────┴────────────┐
▼ ▼
50% Men ($1M) 50% Women ($1M)
Unlike traditional post-career pension programs, the US Open initiative is designed to assist players during mid-career life events as well as their ultimate retirement transitions. Crucially, access to the fund will not be limited by ATP or WTA ranking tiers—making it available to all players who compete in the US Open main draw singles and doubles events.
To oversee these changes and give athletes a stronger collective voice, the four major tournaments (US Open, Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon) have united to form a new Grand Slam Player Advisory Council. The council will advise on both in-tournament playing conditions and the rollout of athlete support funds.
Global Grand Slam Comparison
The US Open’s record-breaking pool strengthens its position as the most lucrative event in international tennis. Here is how total prize pools compare across the four majors in 2026 (in USD equivalents):
- US Open: $108.0 Million
- Wimbledon: ~$83.5 Million (£64.2M)
- Australian Open: ~$75.0 Million (A$113.0M)
- Roland-Garros (French Open): ~$69.5 Million (€53.7M)
“This is a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes,” noted USTA CEO Craig Tiley. “The US Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis.”
