The US Open will offer a record prize fund of $108 million (£79.2 million) in 2026, reflecting a 20% increase from the previous year. Each singles champion will receive $5.5 million (£4.03 million), marking a 10% rise from 2025. First-round losers will walk away with $140,000 (£102,667), an increase of $30,000 or 27% from last year.
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The prize pool includes a $2 million (£1.47 million) contribution to a welfare fund, an initiative advocated by leading players from all Grand Slam tournaments. In a significant step for player representation, the four Grand Slam tournaments announced the establishment of a Grand Slam Player Council, responding to player demands. Some players previously limited their media appearances during the French Open and Wimbledon to emphasize their concerns.
Players have been advocating for each Grand Slam to allocate 16% of its revenue to prize money, rising to 22% by 2030. While it’s possible that the US Open has achieved this target, the US Tennis Association (USTA) has not yet released its financial statements for 2025. Player representatives have also not had access to this data. However, if the US Open's revenue grows by 10% from the 2024 total of $559.7 million (£410.5 million), anticipated prize money could meet player expectations at $98.5 million.
USTA Chief Executive Craig Tiley described the prize fund as a "significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes." World number three Jessica Pegula commented earlier that last year's increases primarily benefited higher-ranked players, while this year’s increases are concentrated more on first-round participants.
Additionally, there are increased rewards for the mixed doubles event, where the winners will still share $1 million, but first-round prize money will be doubled for all participants. Player representatives requested each Grand Slam to allocate $4 million in benefit payments this year, and the USTA will reserve this money from the overall prize fund. The money for a new US Open player support program will be kept in an independent account while details are finalized.
The Grand Slam Player Council will launch after the US Open, focusing on athlete input regarding tournament matters. The specific framework for the council is still to be determined. Players have been invited to apply and will have the opportunity to discuss specific prize money issues directly with the relevant Grand Slam organizations.
Player representatives expressed their appreciation for the recent announcements, highlighting the "substantial increase" in prize money. They anticipate that this progress will lead to a genuinely representative forum for player consultation, while continuing to work on earnings and player welfare. The US Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 30.