Australian Open prize money hits record £55m – but top players remain frustrated with this development.
The 2026 Australian Open has announced a record prize fund of £55 million – the largest in the tournament’s history. But despite the headline figure, many leading players believe the increase doesn’t go far enough.
Tennis Australia has hailed the 16% rise as a sign of its support for the sport, but player representatives say their calls for a fairer share of Grand Slam revenue have once again been overlooked.
Players push back against ‘unbalanced’ Australian Open revenue share
The new prize pool will see the singles champions take home $4.15 million (£2.05m) – a 19% increase on last year’s winners, Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner. And all singles and doubles participants will receive at least a 10% pay boost compared to 2025.
“This increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level,” said Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley, after unveiling the record prize fund.
But a source close to the players’ group told BBC Sport that the reaction among top professionals was less enthusiastic.
“They’re likely to be disappointed. Their key demands of the Australian Open and other Grand Slams have been largely ignored.”
Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Alexander Zverev are among those calling for a greater share of revenue to be distributed throughout the field, as well as improved pension and healthcare contributions from the Grand Slam tournaments.
Players want Grand Slams to match ATP and WTA revenue model
According to the Australian Financial Review, Tennis Australia generated £346 million in total revenue last year, meaning this year’s prize fund represents roughly 16% of its income.
That figure mirrors the US Open’s 16% allocation but remains below the 22% share that players receive at combined ATP and WTA events.
Wimbledon allocated around 13% of its revenue to players in 2025, while the French Open provided an even lower, undisclosed percentage.
Player representatives have asked for gradual increases over the next five years to bring the Grand Slams in line with tour-level events.
Despite the record figure, the disappointment highlights an ongoing rift between players and tournament organisers.
For many on tour, the issue is not just about prize money, but about being heard – and having a real say in how the sport is structured.
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