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

Australian Open general overview

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

Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.

Latest