Record US Open: $108 Million and a Player Council

The US Open announced on Thursday, August 20 a $108 million prize pool, the highest ever offered by a tennis tournament. That's 20% more than the $90 million in 2025, and 44% more than two years ago. The men's and women's singles champions will each take home $5.5 million, up from $5 million last year, while a first-round loser walks away with $140,000, a 27% increase.

The increase runs through the whole draw: $2.8 million for finalists, $1.45 million for semifinalists, $780,000 for quarterfinalists. First-round qualifying pay rises to $32,000, and every winning pair across the three doubles draws receives $1 million. Outside the prize pool, the USTA has set aside another $2 million for a Player Support Program split evenly between men and women, designed to sit alongside existing pension funds and cover the transition from playing career to post-career life.

At the same time, the four Majors announced the creation of a joint players' council, the Grand Slam Player Advisory Council, which will bring the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open to the same table with the players on court and tournament matters. It will also be the body that tells the US Open how to distribute the $2 million Player Support Program.

The announcement follows months of conflict. Players are asking the Slams to raise the share of revenue going to prize money to around 22% by 2030, up from roughly 16% today, and had gone as far as staging a media protest at Roland Garros in May.

"Having a seat at the table with the Slams is something we've wanted for a long time, so I'm really happy to see this council come together,"

said Ben Shelton.

Craig Tiley, named USTA CEO in February after years running Tennis Australia, called the package "a significant first step in a multi-year investment in the athletes." The tournament runs from August 30 to September 13 at Flushing Meadows.