Fifty Years Equal Pay For Play: U.S. Open Prize Money To Reach Record $65M
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 08:35PM By Barry Janoff
August 8, 2023: As a fitting exclamation point to the U.S. Open celebrating 50 years of awarding equal prize money to men and women, organizers said today that the 2023 Grand Slam’s overall player compensation would total $65 million, an all-time high for the tournament.
This year's total — an 8% increase from 2022's then-record $60 million — includes $3 million each awarded to the men's and women's singles champions.
That sum is a 15% increase from the $2.6 million won in 2022 by men's and women's singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, respectively.
By comparison, 2023 Australian Open participants played for a prize pool of $52.135 million, including $2 million each for the men’s and women’s singles winners, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, respectively.
At the Roland Garros Grand Slam in Paris, Djokovic and Iga Świątek each earned $2,892,882 from a total $62,364,064 prize pool.
Wimbledon had a record $56.5 million prize pool, with winners of the men’s (Carlos Alcaraz) and women’s (Markéta Vondroušová) singles each earning $2,954,747.
The 2023 U.S. Open — Aug. 28-Sept. 10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York (ESPN, Tennis Channel) — will also see a significant increase in player per diem for all competitors.
According to event organizer the U.S. Tennis Assn., "Travel vouchers of $1,000 have been introduced, and all players will now receive either an additional hotel room, or see their hotel allotment doubled from $300 to $600 per day, if the player chooses to lodge at another accommodation.”
In addition, players will see an increase in meal allowance as well as racquet stringing for all players.
This assistance will be provided to all players, both in the main draw and qualifying, in men's and women's singles; men's, women's and mixed doubles; and men's, women's and quad wheelchair events, according to the USTA.
In 1973, the U.S. Open was the first of the four Grand Slams to offer the same purse for men and women, with each competing for total purses of $100,000, with a $25,000 payout to both the men’s and women’s singles champions.
According to the USTA, “Billie Jean King became the pioneer for equal prize money when she won the women’s singles title at the 1972 US Open and unequivocally demanded that the following year’s U.S. Open pay men’s and women’s players equally.
“King’s ultimatum set the tone for a momentous year ahead, which first saw the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association.”
In 1973, men and women competing at the U.S. Open played for total purses of $100,000, including a $25,000 payout to both the men’s and women’s singles champion.
“The USTA is incredibly proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of awarding equal prize money at this year’s U.S. Open, and to honor Billie Jean King’s efforts to make this a reality,” Brian Hainline, USTA chairman and president, said via the organization.
“No individual has done more to secure equality for female athletes than Billie Jean King. Her impact goes far beyond the tennis court, and there is no better time to celebrate her legacy than on the anniversary of this historic milestone.”
“It’s not just about the money, it’s about the message,” said Billie Jean King via the USTA. “Every generation does have to fight for equality and freedom.”
Full player compensation breakdown at the 2023 U.S. Open:
Main Draw Singles
• Champion: $3,000,000
• Runner-Up: $1,500,000
• Semifinalists: $775,000
• Quarterfinalists: $455,000
• Round of 16: $284,000
• Round of 32: $191,000
• Round of 64: $123,000
• Round of 128: $81,500
Main Draw Doubles (per team):
• Champions: $700,000
• Runners-Up: $350,000
• Semifinalists: $180,000
• Quarterfinalists: $100,000
• Round of 16: $58,000
• Round of 32: $36,800
• Round of 64: $22,000