NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain pose following their Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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The United States Tennis Association on Thursday announced the largest player compensation package in professional tennis history, reaching $108 million at the 2026 U.S. Open.
This represents a 20 percent increase from the previous record set at the 2025 U.S. Open ($90 million) – the second consecutive year of a 20 percent increase and a 44 percent increase in total compensation over two years. Players across the event will enjoy significant increases, including the largest Grand Slam payments in history for Main Draw Singles Champions at $5.5 million and first-round singles payout at $140,000. The compensation package also includes a new Player Support Program seeded with an initial $2 million commitment in 2026, equally split between men and women players.
“This is a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes as the U.S. Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners,” tournament director Craig Tiley said. “We are proud to deliver record-setting prize money and expanded player benefits as well as providing a new platform to work together with players.”
The U.S. Open main draw runs Aug. 30-Sept 13.
New U.S. Open Player Support Program and Grand Slam Player Council
The four Grand Slams are aligned on the importance of supporting players throughout and after their playing careers. The U.S. Open will become the first Grand Slam to establish a Player Support Program. As part of the total 2026 compensation, the US Open committed an initial $2 million, equally split between men and women players, which will be held in an escrow account pending the finalization of details of the new program, with guidance and input from the newly formed Grand Slam Player Council. Designed to complement existing end-of-career pension funds, this new US Open program will bring a range of benefits for mid-career life events and retirement transitions. It will be built upon a simple definition of player eligibility without reliance on ranking tiers, making the program available to US Open main draw singles and doubles competitors.
Additionally, in a separate Grand Slam announcement today, the US Open joined the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon to form a new Grand Slam Player Council to give players a voice in on-court and in-tournament issues. The Player Council will also provide recommendations to the US Open to guide how the new US Open Player Support Program will be deployed.
“The US Open has a long history of listening to players, and this player support program and Council builds on that commitment. We look forward to working directly with players to better understand the opportunities and challenges they face, and to continue finding meaningful ways to support them both on and off the court,” said Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA.
More details on the programs will be forthcoming following further consultation with players.
Significant Increases Across All Rounds
Players throughout the tournament will see significant increases in payouts in 2026.
Champions of Women’s and Men’s Singles will earn $5.5 million, the highest-ever Champions prize for any tennis event
Main Draw Singles first-round payout will increase 27 percent to $140,000, the highest in Grand Slam history
Men’s and Women’s Qualifying first round payout will increase 16 percent to $32,000
Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles Champions to win $1,000,000 per team
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