Coco Gauff of the United States raises the champions’ trophy presented by Billie Jean King following her triumph over Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the Women’s Singles Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2023 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Centre on September 9th, 2023 in Flushing, Queens, New York City.
“Thank you Billie. For advocating for this,” is what Coco Gauff expressed as she received her substantial $3 million payment after claiming the 2023 US Open title. It has been nearly a year since this memorable ceremony captured the attention of fans, and the tournament continues to make strides in terms of prize money. Now that the three major tournaments have concluded, the US Open has introduced a remarkable update.
Esteemed reporter Jon Wertheim recently shared a development regarding the significant increase in compensation at the US Open compared to the previous season. Players such as Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic will vie for a record-breaking total of $75 million in prize money at the final Grand Slam tennis event of the year. This amount represents a substantial 15% surge from the $65 million awarded in 2023, which was recognized as the largest purse in tennis history by the US Tennis Association.
The champions of the men’s and women’s singles will each receive $3.6 million. The overall prize money includes funds to cover the players’ expenses. With this commendable boost, the US Open now claims the title of the highest-paying tournament among the four major championships. Wimbledon offered approximately $64 million in prizes this year, while the French Open and Australian Open provided around $58 million each.
Jon Wertheim shared an update on X, expressing his desire to reframe a certain statistic in terms of gross revenue. Another individual chimed in with the revenue breakdown from 2023, stating that the US Open made $514 million last year, with $75 million accounting for 14.5% of the 2023 revenue. This percentage has remained relatively unchanged over the past decade. While this increased compensation is positive for players like Gauff, fans are not pleased. They believe that the percentage of revenue allocated to prize money is still low, despite the large total prize amount.
Once Wertheim’s post gained traction on X, fans provided a shocking response to his question. Many expressed their dissatisfaction with the rising prices of passes for the upcoming event, which has not benefited the countless fans. One fan pointed out that the increase in compensation is directly proportional to the expenses demanded by the fans. They mentioned the rise in prices and amenities that fans have to pay for, including the high cost of Honey Duece drinks. According to Ticketmaster, even the first-round match costs range from $226 to $888.
Another fan complained about the significant increase in ground pass rates compared to previous years. The ground passes, which used to be priced at $28, are now being sold for $80, leaving fans frustrated. Tennis is known for charging high prices for match tickets, and a fan accused the USTA of being solely focused on making money. They mentioned the expensive grounds admission prices that fans have to pay, emphasizing the USTA’s lack of concern for the fans.
The price of a towel at the US Open was also a point of concern for fans. One fan revealed that beach towels from the tournament gift shop are priced at $74, highlighting the disparity between the increased prize pool for players and the high prices fans have to pay. Although the usual price range for a towel is $20-$54, it is hiked up during the tournament.
The rapid rise in compensation can be attributed to various factors. A fan pointed out that winners receive $3.6 million, while first-round losers only receive $100,000. They expressed a lack of sympathy for the participating players, as the majority of the money goes to big investors, following the principles of capitalism. Renowned brands such as American Express, Cadillac, and Emirates are official partners of the US Open and profit significantly from the tournament.
Photo from US Open Instagram
