In the last six years each of the four grand slams authorities has increased Prize Money pool and the trend started several years ago when ATP top men and women complained that they are not paid enough compared to other sports. Now US Open wants to take the total yearly prize money pool to around $50 million by 2018. Which kind of force other grand slams to increase the prize money every year as well.
- In 2018 Australia Open increased the prize money by 10% compared to last year which took the total pool to Aus$55 million (USD$42 million) where winners of mens & women singles pocketed $4 million each.
- French Open also increase the total prize money pool to €39 million ($48m) for 2018 event where singles winners will pocket €2.2 million euros. Increase in french open prize money is part of 4 years plan where every year French Open will get prize money hike of around 10% to 15%.
- Wimbledon also announced a 5% increase in the total prize money pool taking it to £31.6 million ($40.79m). Mens and women singles winners will get massive £2.2m million this year. Wimbledon lost the most lucrative grand slam title after brexit caused massive drop in GBP.
- US Open tennis championship became the most lucrative grand slam as authorities announced another 6% increase in total prize money pool for US Open 2018. The total pool now stands at $53 million where winners of both mens and singles event will pocket record breaking $3.8 million each.
If we compare all the grand slams prize money pool with current rate of currency conversion, US Open is the highest paying both in terms of total prize money pool and how much the singles winners take home. here is a detailed comparison of all 4 grand slams prize money pool in singles event.
| AUSTRALIAN | FRENCH | WIMBLEDON | US OPEN | |
| TOTAL | $42.7 million | $48 million | $45 million | $53 million |
| SINGLES WINNERS | $3.2m | $2.7 | $2.91m | $3.8m |
| Runner ups | $1.60m | $1.34m | $1.50 | $1.85m |
| Semi-finalists Losers | $850,000 | $670,000 | $725,750 | $925,000 |
| Quarter-finalists losers | $450,000 | $450,000 | $362,875 | $475,000 |
| 4th Round losers | $225,000 | $265,000 | $191,598 | $266,000 |
| 3rd Round losers | $112,500 | $155,000 | $116,120 | $156,000 |
| 2nd Round losers | $56,000 | $94,000 | $72,575 | $93,000 |
| 1st Round losers | $30,000 | $47,800 | $43,545 | $54,000 |
If your not a top ten player, you can barely earn a living in this sport.
You a idiot. For losing first round you made 50k. And free travel and stay. 50k in 2 days. People don’t make that all year. I make double that a month and yea it’s not a lot at all a year but you can eat on one and live w mom there kids
Over the past 7 years, we’ve provided housing for a Ladies $60,000 in Dothan, Alabama. We’ve kept at least 20 players that are playing in this year’s 2017 US Open MD as well as the Qualis.. We’ve learned over the years, unless you’re a consistent Top 80 player, you’re not making any money playing pro tennis. Most of the ladies we have housed are all in debt. Some may have sponsors but just for free rackets, shoes, clothing, etc… No one is paying for one way flight tickets to weekly pro tournaments to elevate their ranking points; and, no one is paying for food, rental cars, and coaches. Their expenses are at least 200K a year and that’s staying in Motel 6s!! And, if injuries occur, there’s no corporate sponsor paying them a monthly salary. We’ve kept three D1 NCAA Champs and they are basically broke. Can you imagine a Heisman Trophy winner not making a living in the NFL? In pro tennis, it’s the norm. In my view, after learning how all these great athletes struggle financially, I’d cut the prize money in half for both the Single Semis and Finals and distribute it to the 3 Qualifying Rounds where all our young great athletes are striving for that one big BREAK-THRU tournament! Just one person’s opinion!!
I don’t know where you think they have free travel and stay. I don’t think outside of the top 10 you eat your own lunch but outside the top 50 it’s not that easy to stay on the tour. Travel is not free, neither is hotel and we didn’t speak about your coach (you pay for his traveling too) and everything else…
Sadly, you’re the idiot. Players pay for their own travel in almost every instance except in smaller tournaments where a top player negotiates it as part of their appearance ‘fee’. This has been the case for decades.
Play in FOUR tournaments, get knocked out in the First Round in each, and walk away with better than $145,000 USD…………….beats driving a taxi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Losing in the first round in GS events guarantees that you will not be in any the next year
Not true in modern sports there are sponsors and nowadays even third class players got sponsors to promote.
Puts the ooped in stooped
I read somewhere that the total sum Djokovic was to collect in an open if he win the title was about $18Million. Might it be additions from sponsors & endorsements?
Yea….from endorsement of course. Where else?
Nice article. Thanks a lot for sharing this article.