US Open purse passes the $60 million mark

US Open

James Richardson
August 18, 2022

The total prize money on offer at the US Open Tennis Championships will rise past the $60 million mark for the first time in 2022.

Both the men’s and women’s singles champions will receive $2.6 million for going all the way in Flushing Meadows.

In a move that mirrors the restructuring of the purse at Wimbledon, the USTA have shifted the balance of prize money towards the earlier rounds, rewarding players who get through the qualifying rounds.

The total prize money for the US Open qualifying tournament has now reached the $6.26 million mark.

Players are set to receive $80,000 for reaching the US Open main draw and $121,000 for gaining the second round.

The singles winners’ prize money is still considerably lower than pre-pandemic levels despite the overall rise in payouts.

Back in 2019, the winners received $3.9 million however first-round losers received $58,000 and those eliminated in the second round earned $100,000.

Under the new prize money structure, the runner-up of the US Open gets $1.3 million.

Quarter-finalists will earn $445,000 and fighting through to the last four will see a player bag $705,000.

Winners of the doubles championship will earn $688,000 each.

A statement from the US Open read: “The 2022 US Open will award more than $60 million in total player compensation for the first time in the event’s history, topping the record-breaking $57.5 million number from 2021.

“Each round in every event will see an increase in the amount of prize money awarded, including $80,000 to each singles competitor in the main draw’s first round and $121,000 in the second round. These figures represent an 85% and 57% increase since 2016, respectively.

“Prior to the main draw, this year’s US Open Qualifying Tournament will distribute more than $6.25 million–a 223% increase from 2016, which totaled $1.94 million. Final round prize money for the US Open Qualifying Tournament will be $44,000.

“The USTA arrived at these numbers after conferring with the WTA and ATP Player Councils, with a focus on increasing winnings for players competing in earlier rounds.”

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The $60.1 million total purse is up from last year’s $57.5 million total, which was a prize total that was already more than the other three Grand Slam tournaments paid this year.

The full prize money breakdown for the main draw of singles and doubles is as follows:

Main Draw – Singles

Champion $2,600,000

Runner-Up $1,300,000

Semifinalist $705,000

Quarterfinalist $445,000

Round of 16 $278,000

Round of 32 $188,000

Round of 64 $121,000

Round of 128 $80,000

Main Draw – Doubles (each team)

Champion $688,000