Money talks. In professional tennis, it screams. If you've ever watched a night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, you've seen the glitz, the neon lights, and the celebrities in the front row. But behind the sweat and the 130 mph serves lies a massive financial machine. People always ask about the US Open purse because the numbers are frankly staggering. We aren't just talking about a nice paycheck here; we're talking about generational wealth handed out over a single fortnight in Queens.
Last year, the total compensation hit a record $75 million. That is a lot of zeros.
It’s wild to think that back in 1968, the total prize money was only $100,000. Arthur Ashe, the man the main stadium is named after, couldn't even take his $14,000 winner's check because he was an amateur. He got a $20 daily stipend instead. Imagine that. Today, just stepping onto the court for a first-round match nets a player $100,000. You can lose in an hour and still walk away with a six-figure sum.
Breaking Down the US Open Purse Numbers
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) doesn't just throw all that cash at the winner. They spread it out, though the top is definitely heavy. For the 2024 season, the men’s and women’s singles champions each pocketed $3.6 million. That’s a 20% jump from the previous year. If you win, your life changes. Even if you're already rich, three and a half million dollars is "buy a new villa in Monte Carlo" money.
But the real story is in the early rounds.
Tennis is an expensive sport. You have to pay for coaches, physios, flights, and hotels. For a player ranked 80th in the world, the US Open purse is basically their lifeblood for the rest of the year. Making the second round earns you $140,000. Third round? $215,000. By the time you hit the Round of 16, you’ve secured $325,000.
Honestly, the pressure in those early rounds is sometimes higher than the final because that money determines if a lower-ranked player can afford to keep playing on the tour next season.
Doubles and Mixed Doubles: The Smaller Slice
Doubles players always get the short end of the stick. It’s a bit of a sore spot in the locker room. While the singles winner gets millions, a winning doubles team splits $750,000. That’s $375,000 each. It’s great money, sure, but compared to the singles stars, it’s peanuts. Mixed doubles is even lower, with the winning pair sharing $200,000.
Most fans don't realize that the USTA also provides per diems. Players get $600 a day for hotels and a few hundred for food. It sounds like a lot, but New York City in August is pricey.
Equal Pay: A Legacy of the US Open
You can't talk about the US Open purse without mentioning 1973. That was the year the US Open became the first of the four Grand Slams to offer equal prize money to men and women. Billie Jean King basically told the tournament directors that if the pay wasn't equal, the women wouldn't show up. She had a sponsor ready to bridge the gap.
The tournament blinked.
Since then, the US Open has led the charge. While the French Open and Wimbledon took decades to catch up (only doing so in 2007), Flushing Meadows has been consistent for over 50 years. This equality is a huge part of the tournament's brand. It’s why the women's final often sells out just as fast as the men's.
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Where Does All That Money Come From?
You might wonder how a non-profit like the USTA generates $75 million just for prize money, let alone the hundreds of millions more needed to run the event. It’s a mix of three massive pillars:
- Broadcasting Rights: ESPN pays a fortune to be the exclusive home of the tournament.
- Sponsorships: Look at the backdrops. Rolex, Emirates, JP Morgan, American Express. These brands pay top dollar to be associated with the "prestige" of New York tennis.
- The Grounds: If you've ever bought a Honey Deuce cocktail at the US Open, you know they aren't cheap ($22 or more!). Between ticket sales, merchandise, and overpriced chicken fingers, the revenue is massive.
Total revenue for the event now pushes toward $500 million. When you look at it that way, the $75 million US Open purse starts to look like a fair, maybe even modest, slice of the pie.
The Tax Man Cometh
Here is the part nobody talks about: the players don't actually keep all that money. Not even close.
If an international player wins the $3.6 million, the US government takes 30% right off the top for federal withholding. Then there is the New York state tax. After paying their team—coaches usually take 10% to 15% of prize money—and covering travel expenses, a player might only see half of that "headline" number.
It’s still a fortune, but it’s not the full $3.6 million hitting their bank account.
Why the Purse Keeps Growing
The "arms race" between the Grand Slams is real. The Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open are constantly trying to outdo each other. If Wimbledon raises its prize pool, the US Open almost always responds by going higher. They want to be the biggest, the loudest, and the richest.
The USTA has also started putting more money into the qualifying tournament. Even if you don't make the main draw—if you lose in the first round of qualifying—you still get over $25,000. That is a massive shift from ten years ago. It helps the "middle class" of tennis survive.
Financial Reality for the Winners
For the Alcarazes and Gauffs of the world, the US Open purse is actually just a bonus. Their real money comes from Nike, Head, or Barilla. But for someone like Botic van de Zandschulp or a qualifier who makes a dream run to the quarterfinals, this tournament is their entire financial security.
One good run in New York can fund a career for three years.
Actionable Financial Takeaways for Fans and Aspiring Pros
If you’re tracking the business side of tennis or wondering how this affects the sport, here are the real-world implications of the current prize structure:
- Watch the Qualifying Rounds: The intensity is insane because the difference between winning and losing is $20,000+, which is a make-or-break amount for those players.
- Follow the "Rankings Jump": Large purses allow players to hire better coaches. A deep run at the US Open often leads to a higher ranking and better seeding in future tournaments, creating a "snowball effect" of earnings.
- Consider the Costs: When you see a first-round loser getting $100,000, remember they likely spent $40,000 just to get through the summer hard-court season with a team.
- Support the Doubles: They play for a fraction of the singles prize money but often provide the most entertaining, fast-paced matches on the outer courts.
The US Open purse isn't just about the trophy; it’s the engine that keeps the professional tour running. Without these massive payouts, the grueling travel and training required to be a top-100 player simply wouldn't be sustainable for most athletes. Next time you see a player collapse in joy after a second-round win, know they aren't just celebrating the points—they're celebrating a massive boost to their livelihood.