A Historic Payday at Flushing Meadows
The United States Tennis Association has announced that the 2026 US Open will offer $108 million in total prize money, making it the richest Grand Slam in the sport's history. That figure represents a 20% increase over the 2025 edition, where Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka lifted the singles trophies. Each singles champion this year will pocket $5.5 million, a 10% bump from last season's winners' checks.
Perhaps the most striking detail is how the increases are distributed. First-round losers will now earn $140,000, a jump of $30,000 and roughly 27% more than a year ago. That percentage increase is the highest in the draw and falls with each successive round, a deliberate shift from 2025 when the raises were weighted toward players deep in the tournament. Jessica Pegula had publicly criticized that earlier approach in a BBC interview back in March, calling it a structure that rewarded those who needed it least.
Players Win Key Structural Demands
Beyond the headline number, the announcement includes meaningful governance changes. A $2 million contribution has been ring-fenced into a player welfare fund, a long-standing demand from tour professionals. Player representatives had pushed for $4 million from each Grand Slam, so this is a partial step. The money will sit in an independent account while details are finalized.
The four Grand Slams have also jointly agreed to form a Grand Slam Player Council, another request from players who had staged brief media boycotts at the French Open and Wimbledon to press their case. USTA chief executive Craig Tiley called the prize fund "a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes."
TennisDraw users tracking the US Open draw will want to keep an eye on these developments as the main bracket takes shape.
