- Overall prize money for the Australian Open 2024 was increased by 13%.
- There has been a significant increase in the qualifying and early rounds.
- The tournament kicks off on January 14, 2024.
For the 2024 edition, the prize money for the Australian Open has been raised by 13% to A$86.5 million ($59.04 million).
The participants who participated in the previous rounds and qualifications will stand to gain the most from the boost.
Over the past ten years, the Grand Slam prize money has more than doubled, although the distribution of the money is more equitable than in prior years.
“We’ve upped prize money for every round at the Australian Open with the major increases in qualifying and the early rounds of singles and doubles,” tournament director Craig Tiley said in a news release.
“We want to ensure Australia remains the launchpad for the global tennis season and the players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the Happy Slam.”
The combined prize money for the two singles champions is A$3.15 million, which is significantly less than what Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin won when they won the crowns at the most recent pre-COVID tournament in 2020.
However, those who lose in the first round will get a check for A$120,000, which is A$30,000 more than they would have in 2020.
A$31,250 will be awarded to players who participate in the first qualifying round in January; this is 20% more than they would have won at the competition this year.
This year’s richest Grand Slam was the U.S. Open, which offered $65 million in prize money. While the French Open offered 49.6 million euros ($54.89 million) and Wimbledon offered a total of 44.7 million pounds ($56.92 million).
Next year, the Australian Open main draw kicks off on January 14 and ends on January 28 with the men’s singles championship match.
