Tennis is a “sports of the kings” game that not only attracts royalty in the crowd but also offers lucrative rewards.
Wimbledon is one of the oldest existing tennis tournaments, but which are the highest paying tennis tournaments in the world?
Let’s find out.
Which Tennis Tournament Pays the Most?
US Open
- US Open Prize Money: $57.462.000
- Winners: $2.500.000
- Runner-Up: $1.250.000
- Semi-finale: $675.000
- Quarter-finale: $425.000
- First Round: $75.000
The US Open wasn’t always the tennis Grand Slam with the highest prize money, but in 2021, it has significantly increased its rewards, offering the highest prize money in tennis tournaments’ history.
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year, which has been held since 1978, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in late August.
However, the championship didn’t immediately become a Grand Slam tournament. It was established in 1881. Although it was first played on grass, the now-established grand slam is played on acrylic hard courts (on multiple locations aside from the main one).
The record of titles won at this tournament (16), set by Bill Tilden has not been broken to this day.
Australian Open
- Australia Open Prize Money: AUS $75,000,000 ($53,500,000)
- Winners: AUS $2,875,000 ($2,074,183)
- Runners-Up: AUS $1,575,000 ($1,136,291)
- Semi-finale: AUS $895,000 ($645,702)
- Quarter-finale: AUS $538,500 ($388,503)
- First Round: AUS $103,000 ($74,309)
The 2022 edition of the tournament is one of the most controversial in history, but at the same time, it has one of the most valuable prize money offers in the history of tennis.
The land down under’s greatest tennis gathering is in January, in the middle of Australia’s summer, and is the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. The tournament first took place in 1905 in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, on grass, and the hard surface was introduced later in 1988.
The ultimate winner of this tournament is Novak Djokovic, who has a total of 7 titles to his name.
Related: What does “Let” mean in tennis?
Wimbledon
- Wimbledon Prize Money: £35,016,000 ($48,240,317)
- Winners: £1,700,000 ($2,399,520)
- Runners-Up: £900,000 ($1,270,334)
- Semi-finale: £465,000 ($656,339)
- Quarter-finale: £300,000 ($423,445)
- First round: £48,000 ($67,751)
Wimbledon is the oldest existing tennis tournament in tennis that not only attracts the top-ranked players in the sport but opens new horizons for young professional athletes.
Played on grass since 1877 at Wimbledon stadium in London, this early summer tournament offers hefty prizes. In 2019, the winners got a record number of £2,350,000, when the tournament reached its peak in prize money, exceeding £38 million.
With 8 titles, Roger Federer holds the record for most Gentlemen’s Singles titles in the English tournament, while Martina Navratilova has won a record-breaking number of 9 titles in the women’s category.
French Open (Roland Garros)
- Roland Garros Prize Money: €34,367,215 ($39,050,607)
- Winners: €1,400,000 ($1,694,710)
- Runner-Up: €750,000 ($907,880)
- Semi-finale: €375,000 ($453,940)
- Quarter-finale: €255,000 ($308,679)
- First Round: €60,000 ($72,630)
The second Grand Slam of the season offers competitive prizes for both women (Suzanne-Lenglen cup) and men (La Coupe des Mousquetaires).
Although tennis originates in France, the Roland Garros prestigious tournament, which was established in 1891, is not the oldest out there.
Originally called the French Championships, the event takes place at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris in late May. It was named after an aviator war hero Roland Garros, and it is the single grand slam played on clay. The second Grand Slam of the season offers competitive prizes for both women (Suzanne-Lenglen cup) and men (La Coupe des Mousquetaires).
Game, Set, and Match
The most prize money offered in tennis tournaments varies each year, but these four grand slam tournaments are always the highest paying tennis tournaments in the world. The pandemic has brought losses but also an increase in prize purses in some of these, though they’ve still remained on top of the tennis world.
Every single professional player’s career is based on the performance in these tournaments, which are considered to be ‘the clash of tennis titans.’
You may also like: