The Australian Open will offer a record £55million prize pool at this year’s tournament – but players are said to be ‘disappointed’ as it does not represent a larger share of the Grand Slam’s total revenue.
The total prize pool of A$111.5 million represents a 16% increase from last year and is the largest player fund in the tournament’s history.
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The singles champions will receive $4.15 million (£2.05 million), a 19% increase on the amount 2025 winners Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner took home.
All singles and doubles players participating in the season-opening Grand Slam will receive a minimum 10% raise.
“This increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at all levels,” said Craig Tiley, chief executive of Tennis Australia.
The move comes after a group of leading players increased the pressure on Grand Slam tournaments in October on increasing prize money and better player welfare.
But they “will likely be disappointed” as their key demands regarding the Australian Open and other Grand Slam tournaments have been “largely ignored”, a source close to the playing group has told BBC Sport.
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Stars such as Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev are among the top 20 men’s and women’s players asking the four majors in the entire field to receive a higher prize-to-revenue ratio.
The group also wants more consultation on the structure of the sport, as well as an increase in contributions from Grand Slams to pension, health and maternity funds.
Although Tennis Australia’s 2025 accounts have not yet been made public, the Australian Financial Review reported the governing body – whose revenue is largely generated by the Australian Open – earned $697.2m (£346m) in total revenue.
This figure would mean that prize money from this year’s Australian Open represents around 16% of the organizing body’s revenue.
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In 2025, the US Open provided players with 16% of its revenue from the previous year, while Wimbledon (13%) and the French Open – which does not report its figures – offer a smaller share.
Major players have called for a gradual increase at each Grand Slam over the next five years, eventually getting closer to the 22% mark they get at some events on the combined ATP and WTA tours.
The increase in total prize money this year means the Australian Open offers more than Wimbledon (£53.5m) and the French Open (£47.5m) did in 2025, although it is still behind the US Open (£67.4m).
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 18.
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