Every January, the tennis players take to the courts at Melbourne Park in an attempt to win the first Grand Slam title of the year: the Australian Open. However, the players fight for more than just the title and ranking points that come with it. The Australian Open prize money is one of the biggest payouts on offer in the world of tennis, with over AUD $71 million up for grabs over the course of the two weeks.
In this article we’ve put together everything you need to know about the Australian Open prize money, from the way it is distribute amongst the players in singles and doubles events as well as how the prize money has changed over the years.
Australian Open Prize Money 2021 Breakdown
With the first Grand Slam event of the year expected to confirmed to take place between the 8th – 23rd February 2021, players are making their preparations to take to courts of Melbourne Park. The preparations for this years’ event have been a little different to usual, specially for those players quarantined in a hotel room and no access to tennis courts. Many will argue that the conditions simply won’t allow these professional tennis players to be at the top of their game. However, win or loose, they’ll be taking home a sizeable amount of prize money.
Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia and Director of the Australian Open tournament recently announced that the total prize money for the event will remain the same as last year, a staggering AUD $71.5 Million. Following in the footsteps of the US Open and French Open in 2020, Tennis Australia have decided that the reward at earlier stages will be increased. Tiley confirmed that players exiting in the first round of the singles event will take home an impressive AUD $100,000, up from AUD $90,000 in 2020.
Players making it into the second round will pick up AUD $150,000 and those making it into round three will walk away with at least AUD $215,000, up 17% and 19% respectively on the previous year.
Of course, with the total prize pool for the Australian Open remaining the same, someone has to take a cut on their pay check. The men’s and women’s singles champions will take home no less than AUD $2,750,000. That’s not a small amount of money by any stretch of the imagination, but it is 33% less than the winners prize money in 2020. The runner up and semi-finalists will meet the same fate, each taking home AUD $1,500,000 (down 27%) and AUD $850,000 (down 18%) respectively.
The men’s and women’s doubles events will see similar changes to the prize money breakdown, with players loosing in earlier rounds better off at the expense of those who have a more successful run in the tournament.
A detailed breakdown of the Australian Open Prize Money in 2021 can be found below:
Men's & Women's Singles
Men's & Women's Doubles - Per Team
Australian Open Prize Money 2020 Breakdown
Following the growing trend in the tennis industry, the Australian Open in 2020 saw significant increases in prize money at the earlier stages of the tournament, of course benefiting the lower ranked players. The prize money for each of the singles qualifying rounds increased by 25% or better and players able to reach the main draw but loosing in the first round would take home a healthy AUD $90.000, up 20% on the previous year.
Men's & Women's Singles
Men's & Women's Doubles - Per Team
Mixed Doubles - Per Team
Australian Open Prize Money 2019
Australian Open Prize Money 2018
Australian Open Prize Money 2017
Australian Open Prize Money 2016
Australian Open Prize Money 2015
Australian Open Prize Money 2014
Australian Open Prize Money 2013
Australian Open Prize Money 2012
Australian Open Prize Money 2011
Australian Open Prize Money Compared to Other Events
We know that the Australian Open prize money is one of the biggest prizes on offer in tennis, but how does it stack up when compared to other Grand Slam events? Well, the answer is pretty well in fact.
The staggering AUD $71 Million on offer in Melbourne is approximately equivalent to US $54.1 Million which is slightly less than the US $57.2 Million up for grabs at the US Open in 2019. However, it is more than the Wimbledon prize money and the French Open prize money.
Australian Open Prize Money Through the Years
It’s no surprise that the Australian Open prize money is currently the highest it has every been, but the rate at which it is increasing year on year is astonishing. Since the appointment of Craig Tiley as CEO of Tennis Australia in 2013, the event’s prize money has increased by at least 10% every year.
Sources:
2021 Australian Open Prize Money Data via ATP Tour Website.
Historic Prize Money Data via ausopen.com
Featured Image by Tourism Victoria via Flickr.
