AGENCIES

The US Open has once again redefined the financial landscape of tennis, standing at the forefront of both tennis excellence and athlete advocacy.

In a bold move that reflects both growing player influence and the tournament’s continued commercial strength, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced a record-breaking $90 million in total player compensation for the 2025 edition -- the highest in the sport’s history and a 20% jump from last year’s $75 million.

At the heart of the increase is a landmark payout of $5 million each to the men’s and women’s singles champions -- up 39 percent from the $3.6 million awarded in 2024.

The move comes amid heightened demands from players for more equitable revenue sharing across all competition tiers. In March, 20 leading players -- including Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner -- jointly signed a letter to Grand Slam organisers urging greater transparency and inclusion in decision-making.

The tournament, long a leader in equality since introducing equal prize money in 1973 under the advocacy of Billie Jean King, continues to evolve.

The current $90 million figure also includes player accommodations, meals, and other non-performance-related costs, reflecting a more holistic approach to player support.