MELBOURNE: In January’s Australian Open, players will vie for a historic prize pool, as organizers revealed a 13 percent increase, elevating the total purse to Aus$86.5 million (US$59.0 million) on Friday.
The champions in the men’s and women’s categories of the inaugural Grand Slam of the year will each earn Aus$3.150 million, while participants who exited in earlier rounds or during the qualifying matches will see an increase in their earnings.
For those eliminated in the opening round, the payout rises to Aus$120,000, a 13 percent boost, while second-round players will also enjoy the same percentage increase, earning Aus$180,000.
Even competitors ousted in the initial round of qualifying matches will receive Aus$31,250.
This year, an additional Aus$10 million has been allocated for the 2024 tournament.
Tournament director Craig Tiley emphasized the significance of ensuring appropriate compensation for the world’s top players.
“We know this allows players to invest in their own careers and in many cases, helps set them up for success throughout the year,” he said.
“We want to ensure Australia remains the launchpad for the global tennis season and the players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the Happy Slam.”
The tournament’s prize money, kicking off at Melbourne Park on January 14, has more than doubled over the last ten years.
