Despite notable names like Britain’s Andy Murray and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic missing due to injury, the US Open has stayed true to form and has thrown up its usual blend of drama and entertainment thus far.
US tennis association (USTA) has announced another 10% increase in the total prize money pool of US Open which will take the total purse to record $50.4 million for 2017 tournament. Both men’s and women’s singles champions will pocket as much as $3.7 million each followed by $1.8 million for singles runners-up. We take a complete look at 2017 US Open tennis prize money breakdown.
US Open 2017 Prize Money Breakdown: With another 10% increase in the total prize money pool taking the total record $50.4 million, US Open becomes the highest paying grand slam outright. Singles competitions get 7.5% increase, followed by 8.5% increase for men’s and women doubles events. The biggest increase however comes for Qualifying event where 42.5% increase will see $2.9 million dollars distributed among players eliminated from 3 qualifying rounds.
All Time Record Prize Money
2017 will see increase in U.S Open prize money for the 6th straight year and that makes US open as the most lucrative tennis tournament for players. U.S Tennis Association had announced back in 2013 that tournament will see yearly increase in prize money to eventually reach $50 million by 2017 and that’s exactly how things panned out. Recent increase in Prize money see US open pip Wimbledon (which was hit hard by brexit) as the highest paying grand slam in the world.
Even the players participating in the qualifying rounds will get handsomely compensated with around $2.7 million distributed to the losing players of qualifying rounds 1,2 and 3. 1st Qualifying round losers will get around $7500 each, while second qualifying round losers will pocket around $15,000 each and the third qualifying rounds getting as much as $20,000 each.
“Five years ago, we committed to the players that total player compensation for players would reach $50 million at the U.S. Open, and we are honoring that commitment,” said USTA President Katrina Adams .
All told, singles payouts are up 7.5 percent per round, the overall doubles purse is up 8.6 percent and total winnings from the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament are up a whopping 49.2 percent to $2.9 million.
Those are all remarkable numbers on their own, let alone in a sport that’s made great strides to reward its men’s and women’s players equally. After all, the likes of Serena Williams (who’s sitting out the U.S. Open due to her pregnancy) and Maria Sharapova drive as much interest in and attention to tennis as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
But bigger money isn’t all the U.S. Open is doing to cater to tennis’ best and brightest. As Adams explained, per WTATennis.com:
“In addition to unprecedented prize money increases, players also will see a host of new amenities at this year’s tournament including upgrades to Player Dining, a more generous meal allowance, upgrades to all player workout facilities, and additional quiet room space. Our goal is to make every experience at the US Open, whether for the players, our fans, or our partners, the best, world-class experience possible.”
These amenities are more than just cursory upgrades to one of the great spectacles in sports. They also represent an important investment in the game itself by the USTA. With America’s tennis hegemony waning, particularly on the men’s side, it’s crucial to ensure the U.S. Open’s future as the crown jewel in the sport’s calendar as a means of driving interest among homegrown athletes.
The grounds of the US Open hold a total of 22 courts with four main show courts: Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand and Court 17, thirteen field courts and five practice courts.
The chart below shows the total breakdown of 2017 US Open Tennis Championship purse which will be awarded in different categories.
Anthony Nlebem
@AnthonyNlebem
