Tennis used to be a sport of "gentlemanly" amateurs playing for silver cups and a pat on the back. Not anymore. If you look at the money winnings us open stars are taking home lately, it’s clear we are in a completely different era of professional sports. We are talking about life-changing, generational wealth handed out over a single fortnight in Flushing Meadows.
In 2024, the USTA (United States Tennis Association) pushed the total compensation to a staggering $75 million. That is a 15% jump from the previous year. It’s huge. Honestly, when you think about where the tournament started—offering a total purse of just $100,000 back in 1968—the trajectory is basically vertical.
But it isn't just about the winners.
The Breakdown of Money Winnings US Open Players Actually See
Most people focus on the big checks. The ones held up under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium while the confetti falls. In 2024, both the men’s and women’s singles champions walked away with $3.6 million each.
That is a lot of cash.
However, the real story—the one that actually matters for the health of the sport—is what happens in the earlier rounds. For a long time, if you lost in the first round of a Grand Slam, you barely covered your coaching fees and flight from Europe. That’s changing. Now, just showing up for the main draw and losing in the first round nets a player $100,000.
Think about that.
You could lose in 45 minutes and still clear six figures. This shift was intentional. The USTA, led by figures like CEO Lew Sherr, has been vocal about wanting to support the "middle class" of tennis. Professional tennis is notoriously expensive. You’re essentially a small business owner paying for travel, physios, and high-level coaching. Without that first-round bump, many players ranked 80th to 100th in the world would be operating at a loss.
Qualifying: The Grittiest Payday in Sports
The qualifying rounds are where the real drama happens. These aren't the household names. These are the grinders. In the most recent tournament, even players who lost in the final round of qualifying took home $52,000.
It’s a massive safety net.
If you're a player like Jannik Sinner or Aryna Sabalenka, $50k is a rounding error. But if you’re ranked 150th and struggling to pay for a hotel in Queens, that money winnings us open payout is the difference between continuing your career or moving back into your parents' basement to coach juniors at the local club.
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Equal Pay: The Legacy of 1973
You can't talk about the money at the US Open without mentioning Billie Jean King.
She's the reason the checks are the same for men and women. In 1972, Billie Jean King won the tournament and received $10,000 less than the men’s champion, Ilie Năstase. She basically told the organizers that if the prize money wasn't equal the following year, she wouldn't show up. And she got other women to back her.
The US Open became the first of the four Grand Slams to offer equal prize money in 1973.
It took the other majors—Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open—decades to catch up. Wimbledon didn't equalize its pay until 2007. It's a point of pride for the USTA. They were first. They set the standard.
Does the Money Impact the Quality of Play?
Some critics argue that the massive paydays for early exits might "soften" the competition. They're wrong. If anything, the increased money winnings us open offers has made the early rounds more cutthroat. When $100,000 is on the line for a single match, nobody is mailing it in.
You see it in the intensity.
Every point matters because every point is tied to a specific financial milestone. It’s a pressure cooker.
Where Does the Cash Come From?
You might wonder how a non-profit like the USTA generates $75 million just for the players, on top of the hundreds of millions it costs to run the event.
It’s the broadcast deals.
ESPN pays a massive premium for the rights to show every match. Then you have the sponsors. Rolex, Cadillac, Emirates, Ralph Lauren—the blue-chip brands are all there. Then there’s the "grounds" revenue. If you’ve ever paid $22 for a Honey Deuce (the tournament's signature cocktail), you’ve personally contributed to the prize pool. In 2024, the tournament broke attendance records, with over a million fans passing through the gates during the three weeks of play (including fan week).
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- Broadcast Rights: The primary engine of the purse.
- Sponsorships: High-end brands paying for visibility.
- Ticket Sales: Sold-out night sessions in Ashe.
- Merchandise & Concessions: Thousands of hats and cocktails sold daily.
Doubles and the "Forgotten" Payouts
Doubles players often get the short end of the stick. It’s the reality of the market. Singles is what draws the TV ratings.
Still, the money winnings us open provides for doubles teams is nothing to sneeze at. The winning team in 2024 split $750,000. It’s significant, but when you divide it by two and take out taxes and expenses, it’s a fraction of what the singles stars make. Mixed doubles is even lower, with the winning pair sharing $200,000.
Is it fair?
Probably not, considering the skill involved. But sports are an entertainment business, and singles is the main event.
The Tax Man Cometh
Here’s the part no one talks about: nobody actually keeps the full $3.6 million.
The IRS is the biggest winner at the US Open. Because the tournament is held in New York City, players are subject to federal taxes, New York State taxes, and even New York City non-resident taxes in some cases. Foreign players often have 30% withheld immediately.
Then there are the "player per diems."
The USTA provides a travel voucher and money for hotels/food, which was increased to about $600 per day in recent years. This helps, but for a player traveling with a coach, a hitting partner, and a physio, the costs still spiral. Most players are lucky to keep 40-50% of their gross winnings after taxes and team expenses are settled.
Comparing the US Open to Other Slams
The US Open usually leads the pack in terms of total purse.
Wimbledon and the French Open (Roland Garros) keep things competitive, but the sheer commercial power of the US market usually allows the USTA to outspend everyone else.
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| Tournament | Total Purse (Approx) | Singles Winner Payout |
|---|---|---|
| US Open | $75 Million | $3.6 Million |
| Wimbledon | $63 Million | $3.4 Million |
| Australian Open | $59 Million | $2.1 Million |
| French Open | $58 Million | $2.6 Million |
Note: These figures fluctuate based on exchange rates and yearly adjustments.
The Australian Open often feels like it pays less in USD because the Australian Dollar is weaker, but they have been very aggressive about increasing pay for the qualifying rounds to help lower-ranked players travel to Melbourne.
The Future of Money in Tennis
Where does it go from here?
There is a lot of talk about private equity and Saudi Arabian investment (the PIF) entering tennis. We’ve already seen it in golf with LIV. If a "Super Tour" ever forms, the prize money at the US Open might actually look small compared to what could be offered.
But for now, the US Open remains the gold standard for a "traditional" tournament payout.
It represents the pinnacle of the sport's commercial success. It’s a testament to the fact that tennis, despite its niche reputation sometimes, is a global powerhouse. When you see a young player from a small country break into the quarterfinals and realize they’ve just secured enough money to fund their career for the next three years, you see the real impact of these winnings.
It’s more than just a check.
It’s the freedom to keep playing. It’s the ability to hire a better coach. It’s the chance to stay in a hotel with a gym instead of a cheap motel an hour away from the courts.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Pros
If you’re following the money trail at the US Open, there are a few things to keep in mind to understand the "true" value of the win.
- Watch the Qualies: If you want to see people playing for their lives, go to the qualifying rounds. The stakes are arguably higher there than in a third-round singles match between two multi-millionaires.
- Understand the "Net": Remember that a $100k first-round exit is closer to $50k after the team is paid and the government takes its slice.
- Respect the Doubles: Those players are often the most technically proficient, even if they aren't making the $3 million checks.
- Follow the USTA Reports: They are a non-profit, so they eventually release data on where the tournament revenue goes, which includes grassroots tennis programs across the US.
The growth of the prize pool isn't just a vanity project for the USTA. It’s a necessary evolution in a sport that is becoming more global, more expensive, and more competitive every year. Whether the winner's check hits $4 million or $5 million in the next few years is less important than whether the 128th-ranked player in the world can afford to stay on tour. Based on the current trends, the US Open is making sure they can.
The next time you see a player collapse in joy after a first-round win, know that they aren't just celebrating the victory. They're celebrating a financial breakthrough that keeps the dream alive for another season.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge:
To truly understand the economics of the tour beyond the Grand Slams, research the ATP and WTA "Strategic Plans." These documents outline how prize money is distributed at smaller 250 and 500-level events, which provides a stark contrast to the massive payouts seen in New York. Additionally, tracking the "Break Even" point for professional players (typically around rank 100-125) will give you a much clearer picture of why the US Open's $100,000 first-round payout is so revolutionary for the sport's ecosystem.