The winners of the 2026 Australian Open will receive a landmark £2 million in prize money for the first time, as tournament organisers announce a significant boost to the total purse.
Record-Breaking Prize Pool Announced
Organisers of the first Grand Slam of the year have confirmed a total prize fund of £55.2 million, the largest in the tournament's history. This increase means the Australian Open now offers a bigger total purse than Wimbledon, though it remains behind the US Open.
If defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys triumph again in Melbourne, they will each collect £2.06 million. This represents a substantial rise from the £1.7 million awarded to the 2025 champions.
Prize Money Breakdown and Wider Impact
The financial rewards extend deep into the draw. Losing finalists will still take home over £1 million, providing a huge incentive for a deep tournament run.
Players who qualify for the main draw and lose in the first round will earn £20,000, while those who progress to the second round proper are guaranteed over £100,000. This increase comes as Tennis Australia reported a £50 million rise in revenues, reaching £344 million.
Despite this record for the Australian Open, the prize for winners in Melbourne remains well short of the £3.7 million awarded to the 2025 US Open champions.
Historical Context and Top Earners
The career prize money list in tennis continues to be dominated by the legendary 'Big Three'. Novak Djokovic leads with $191.3m, followed by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who have each earned over $130m.
Among active players, Carlos Alcaraz ($60m), Alexander Zverev ($58.1m), and Jannik Sinner ($56.6m) feature in the top ten. On the women's side, Serena Williams holds the highest career earnings at $94.8m, with current World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka the highest-ranked active female in tenth place.
The Australian Open begins on 12 January at Melbourne Park, with the finals scheduled for early February. Last year, Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets to claim the men's title, while Madison Keys overcame Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win the women's championship.
