The final Grand Slam of the 2021 season is here and while the players are aiming for one of tennis' greatest trophies, they'll also be vying for a big payday at the US Open.
Last year's tournament saw a decline in the overall purse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, with fans back in the stands to cheer — and jeer — the purse has risen not only beyond 2020s total but 2019's record payout as well.
Here's how the cash all breaks down:
What is the US Open purse for 2021?
The US Open's total prize money in 2021 is set at a record $57.5 million, which is $300,000 more than the pre-pandemic total of $57.2 million in 2019. Last year's tournament was decreased to $53.4 million due to the lost revenue without spectators.
How much money does the 2021 US Open winner get?
This year, the men's and women's singles champions will earn $2.5 million. That number is $500,000 less than the 2020 prize money earned by winners Dominic Thiem and Naomi Osaka.
However, the money doled out across the board has been adjusted. The 2021 US Open qualifying tournament saw its overall payout increase 66 percent over 2019. (There was no qualifying in 2020.) First-round losers in singles in 2021 will earn $14,000 more compared to 2020 while the Round of 64 thru the Round of 16 will see an increase between $14,000 and $17,000. Quarterfinalists in 2021 will earn the same as last year while semifinalists and finalists will see their total payouts drop $125,000 and $250,000, respectively.
"With the US Open’s greatest return — fans on-site and full draws across all competitions — we know that 2021 will be an historic year for this great tournament,” said US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster. “We determined our round-by-round prize money allocations by engaging in an open dialogue with the players and the management of both tours. We applaud their collective leadership in directing the 2021 US Open prize money to benefit the maximum number of players.”
Prize money breakdown for 2021 US Open
Men's and women's singles
| Place | Prize money |
|---|---|
| Winner | $2,500,000 |
| Runner-up | $1,250,000 |
| Semifinalists | $675,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $425,000 |
| Round of 16 | $265,000 |
| Round of 32 | $180,000 |
| Round of 64 | $115,000 |
| Round of 128 | $75,000 |
Men's, women's and mixed doubles
| Place | Prize money |
| Winners | $660,000 |
| Runners-up | $330,000 |
| Semifinalists | $164,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $93,000 |
| Round of 16 | $54,000 |
| Round of 32 | $34,000 |
| Round of 64 | $20,000 |
Here's how each major tournament breaks it down.
All figures in USD.
Australian Open prize money
- Total: $61.95 million
- Winners: $2.13 million
- Runners-Up: $1.16 million
- Semifinalist: $656,854.50
- Quarterfinalist: $405,704.25
- First round: $77,290
Wimbledon prize money
- Total: $48.18 million
- Winners: $3.2 million
- Runners-Up: $1.6 million
- Semifinalist: $813,114.53
- Quarterfinalist: $405,782.87
- First round: $61,951.58
US Open prize money
- Total: $57.5 million
- Winners: $2.5 million
- Runners-Up: $1.25 million
- Semifinalists: $675,000
- Quarterfinalists: $425,000
- First round: $75,000
French Open prize money
- Total: $41.95 million
- Winners: $1.69 million
- Runners-Up: $1.5 million
- Semifinalists: $800,000
- Quarterfinalists: $308,679
- First round: $72,630