The top players in the world are earning some serious cash in New York
The final grand slam of the 2026 tennis season is nearing its conclusion in Flushing, New York, where players will vie for the title of U.S. Open champion and their share of a record-setting purse.
The U.S. Open has increased its total prize pool by 20% for 2026, with $108 million up for grabs across all competitions. That includes a $5.5 million payout for the winners of the men’s and women’s singles competitions, which will give the two 2026 U.S. Open champions the biggest winnings in grand slam championship history.
This year, Elena Rybakina earned her first US Open title with a three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka. With the win, Rybakina earned that cool $5.5 million payday while Sabalenka took home $2.8 million.
The men’s title is still to be determined on Sunday when Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton battle for their first US Open title. Zverev took home his first career grand slam title at the French Open this year while Shelton has made his first grand slam final this week.
No. 11 Frances Tiafoe, who made it to his second US Open semifinal this year, Karen Khachanov, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff all earned $1.45 million for their appearances in the semifinals.
Every player that makes it into the 128-player singles draw will earn a minimum of $140,000, which is also a record for a tennis event. Reaching the quarterfinals earns players $780,000, while a trip to the semifinals guarantees a $1.45 million payday. The full payout breakdown for the singles competitions can be found below.
2026 U.S. Open prize money (men’s and women’s singles)
Total Purse: $108 million
Singles Purses: $37.84 million
| Round | Prize Money |
|---|---|
|
Champion |
$5,500,000 |
|
Finalist |
$2,800,000 |
|
Semifinalists |
$1,450,000 |
|
Quarterfinalists |
$780,000 |
|
Round of 16 |
$480,000 |
|
Round of 32 |
$290,000 |
|
Round of 64 |
$190,000 |
|
Round of 128 |
$140,000 |
The winning teams in the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles competitions will each split $1 million prizes as a team, with the runners-up earning $500,000.
The overall prize pool at the U.S. Open has increased 44% since 2024, as it has positioned itself as the highest-paying tennis tournament in the world.
