US Open singles champions will earn $ 850K less in cash prizes in 2020

Despite a loss of revenue from holding its spectator-free marquee event amid the coronavirus pandemic, the US Tennis Association announced Wednesday that its total player compensation at this year’s US Open will be $ 53.4 million. – which is 93.3% of the approximately $ 57.2 million awarded in 2019.

US Open men’s and women’s single champions will each earn $ 3 million, down $ 850,000 – or 22% – from the top prizes in last year’s Grand Slam tennis tournament, part of a decrease of nearly $ 4 millions in total player compensation in 2020.

Reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal said Tuesday that he did not want to travel during the pandemic and did not enter the tournament. Also off the pitch: Ash Barty, the woman in first place.

The US Open will begin in New York on August 31, as originally planned, something rare in the sports world this year. Professional tennis was suspended in March due to the pandemic, leaving many players, coaches and others without regular income.

The women’s tour resumed this week in Palermo, Italy. The men’s tour will resume later this month.

The jackpot for singles in the first round at the US Open is going up 5%, from $ 58,000 to $ 61,000, the only level where there is a jump. The salaries for players who reach the second round ($ 100,000) or the third round ($ 163,000) will remain the same.

Prizes therefore drop in every single round: from $ 280,000 to $ 250,000 in the quarterfinal, from $ 500,000 to $ 425,000 in the quarterfinals, from $ 960,000 to $ 800,000 in the semifinal and from $ 1.9 million to $ 1.5 millions for the second place.

In the doubles, the cut is deeper: pairings in the women’s and men’s championships will divide $ 400,000, a drop of 46% from last year’s $ 740,000.

This year’s total includes $ 1 million given to a previously announced player rescue program, jointly funded by the four Grand Slam tournaments, the International Tennis Federation and ATP and WTA tours – to help with the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – together with $ 6.6 million to compensate for the cancellation by USTA of its qualifying events and a reduction in the size of the double fields.

USTA CEO Mike Dowse said that the compensation for tournament players this year “represents a commitment to supporting players and their financial well-being during an unprecedented period.”