L’Australian Open opens the Grand Slam tournament season and represents one of the most important events of the tennis year, both from a sporting and economic point of view. The 2026 edition is held at Melbourne Park and sets a new record. The total prize money for the 2026 Australian Open reaches 111.5 million Australian dollars, equal to approximately 63.6 million euroswith an increase of 16% compared to the previous edition.
How much does the winner of the 2026 Australian Open earn?
In singles, the champion and champion of the tournament will each earn 4.15 million Australian dollars, equivalent to approximately 2.38 million euros. Even those who reach the final without winning receive a significant prize, exceeding 2.15 million Australian dollars.
For players eliminated in the first rounds of the main draw, the compensation still remains significant. Exit in the first round guarantees 150,000 Australian dollars, approximately 86,000 euros, while those who reach the round of 16 exceed 480,000 Australian dollars. The figures:
- First round approximately 86,000 euros;
- Second round approximately 129 thousand euros;
- Third round approximately 188 thousand euros;
- Eighths approximately 275 thousand euros;
- Quarters approximately 430 thousand euros;
- Semi-finals approximately 717 thousand euros;
- Finalist approximately 1.24 million euros;
- Sample approximately 2.38 million euros.
The Italian scoreboard
The Italian team is numerous and varied in both men’s and women’s singles, as well as doubles competitions. In the men’s draw, there are nine Italians admitted directly to the main draw, plus any qualifiers.
Among the seeded teams they stand out Jannik Sinner e Lorenzo Musettisupported by Flavio Cobolli and Luciano Darderi. The group is completed by Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Berrettini, Matteo Arnaldi, Mattia Bellucci and Luca Nardi. The draw offers different situations: some Italians start with opponents who are approachable on paper, while others immediately face highly ranked players.
Matteo Berrettini, for example, faces a challenging first round against Alex De Minaur, while Arnaldi and Bellucci face Rublev and Ruud respectively. The draw is more favorable for Musetti, who makes his debut against the Belgian Collignon, and for Sonego, opposite the Spaniard Taberner.
In the women’s draw the focus is on Jasmine Paoliniseeded number 7, and on Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Paolini makes her debut against a qualified team and is placed in the upper part of the scoreboard, where she could meet the world number one in the advanced stages. Cocciaretto makes her debut against Julia Grabher and has a path that, if she advances, could lead her to challenge Iga Swiatek.
Australian Open, when Sinner plays
Jannik Sinner faces the 2026 Australian Open as the reigning champion and number 2 seed in the men’s draw. The draw places him in an opposite branch to the number one in the world ranking, making a possible challenge only in the final.
Sinner’s debut is expected in the first round against the Frenchman Hugo Gaston. It’s a match that, based on the previous ones, starts with the blue being one of the underdogs. His first official match of the tournament is scheduled on the start day of the main draw, scheduled for Sunday 18 January.
Looking at the possible path, Sinner, fresh from the 1 million dollar point, could face progressively more challenging opponents starting from the third round, with round of 16 and quarters that could put him up against high-level players such as Khachanov, Shelton or Ruud. In the semi-final, the most likely scenario involves a confrontation with one of Djokovic, Musetti or Fritz.
Worth a look
