Coco Gauff and Fellow Tennis Stars Help Secure Historic $5M Prize for U.S. Open Winners
Coco Gauff and 2024 U.S. Open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, and 20 or so other players sent a letter to the heads of Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian open in March asking for more say in “decisions that directly impact” the players, as well as an increase in the prize draw.
It seems like their pitch has had an effect. For the upcoming US Open tournament, starting in just a few weeks on Sunday, Aug 24, a record $5 million will be awarded each to the women’s and men’s singles champions. In addition, player compensation overall has increased 20% to $90 million, the most in tennis history, reports AP News.
According to the US Open Tournament, "The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing deep into the singles draws."
The 2025 prize draw of $5 million is a 39% increase from last year’s $3.6 million. The increase will also affect single players who make it to the finals with a $2.5 million payout each. Semifinalists will receive a 26% hike, making their take-home pay $1.26 million.
Many impactful players continue to be in discussions with the heads of each of the four major tournaments in a bid to receive a higher percentage of revenues.
Wimbledon’s prize money went up about 7% to about $73 million, taking the exchange rate into consideration at the time that the English major announced player payments. Wimbledon’s singles champions were paid roughly $4 million.
For women’s and men’s doubles each winner will receive $1 million, a new high for the U.S. Open doubles champions where total prizes for qualifying are going up to $8 million, a 10% increase.
The US Open will take place from AUGUST 18 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2025, at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY.