2021 Australian Open prize money breakdown: Smaller cheques for winners, boost for first-round losers

Shahida Jacobs 25 Jan 2021 10:51 AM

Organisers have managed to keep the Australian Open prize money for the 2021 tournament steady at A$71.5m (about £40m) despite the coronavirus pandemic, but the champions will walk away with a significantly smaller cheque compared to 2020.

Last year’s winners Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin each boosted their bank accounts with A$4.12 million (approximately £2.2m) after being crowned singles champions, but the last players standing in 2021 will receive a cheque of “only” A$2.75m (roughly £1,5m) – a drop of more than 30%.

The runners-up will each win A$1.5m (about £847,000) while those who exit at the semi-final stage will walk away with a cheque of A$850,000 (£480,000).

There has been an increase in prize money for those who exit the tournament early on as first-round losers will receive A$100,000 (£56,000), an 11 per cent increase from last year, while those who lose in the second round will receive A$150,000 (£85,000).

The doubles champions will receive a cheque of A$600,000 (£339,000) per team and the mixed doubles winners will get A$150,000 (£85,000).

Those who exit at the doubles first round will earn A$30,000 (£17,000) and in the mixed doubles it will be A$6,250 (£3,500).

Full breakdown (A$1 = £0.56)

Round	Men’s singles	Women’s singles	Men’s doubles	Women’s doubles	Mixed doubles
Winners	£1,5m	£1,5m	£339,000	£339,000	£85,000
Runners-up	£847,000	£847,000	£191,000	£191,000	£48,000
Semi-finalists	£480,000	£480,000	£113,000	£113,000	£25,000
Quarter-finalists	£296,000	£296,000	£62,000	£62,000	£13,500
Fourth round	£181,000	£181,000	N/A	N/A	N/A
Third round	£121,000	£121,000	£37,000	£37,000	N/A
Second round	£85,000	£85,000	£25,000	£25,000	£6,700
First round	£56,000	£56,000	£17,000	£17,000	£3,500