MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open prize money is up 16% from last year and a record for the tournament, which begins Jan. 18.
On Tuesday, organizers of the season's first tennis tournament announced their biggest ever local currency prize fund, with a total of A$111.5 million ($75 million) for 2026. This figure has increased from A$96.5 million in 2025.
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The women's and men's singles champions will win A$4.15 million ($2.8 million), up 19% from last year.
The qualifying tournament's prize fund will increase by 16%, and organizers say all main draw singles and doubles players will receive at least a 10% increase.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said the increase “demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at all levels”.
“From increasing qualifying prize money by 55% from 2023 to increasing player benefits, we are ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for everyone involved,” Tiley said. “By supporting players at all levels, we are creating deeper talent pools and more compelling storylines for fans.”
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Associated Press
