Winning the Australian Open isn’t just about lifting one of the most iconic trophies in tennis; it also comes with a massive financial reward. As the first Grand Slam of the calendar year, the tournament sets the tone for the season, drawing the world’s best players to Melbourne Park with prestige, ranking points, and a record-setting prize pool.
For the 2026 Australian Open, tournament organizers significantly raised payouts across every round, making it one of the most lucrative editions in history. Whether a player exits early or goes all the way to championship glory, the financial incentives are substantial.
The total prize money for the 2026 Australian Open stands at AUD $111.5 million, which is roughly $75 million USD. That represents nearly a 16% increase from 2025, the largest year-over-year jump in the tournament’s history.
Both men’s and women’s singles competitors receive equal prize money, continuing the Australian Open’s long-standing commitment to pay equity.
Tournament officials confirmed that every round saw an increase, with early-round players benefiting alongside the stars at the top.
Below is the full breakdown of prize money for the main singles draw, with figures converted into U.S. dollars for clarity:
- Champion: $2.7 million
- Runner-up (Finalist): $1.4 million
- Semifinalist: $835,000
- Quarterfinalist: $501,000
- Round of 16: $337,315
- Round of 32: $230,323
- Round of 64: $158,116
- Round of 128: $105,411
Winning the tournament provides not only a career-defining achievement but also a payday that rivals or exceeds earnings from many full-season schedules on tour.
The Australian Open has also boosted compensation for players competing in qualifying rounds, a crucial step for those trying to break into the main draw.
Qualifying Singles (men & women):
- Final qualifying round: $83,500
- Second qualifying round: $57,000
- First qualifying round: $40,500
For doubles teams, payouts are shared per team and also saw meaningful increases:
Doubles prize money (per team):
- Champions: $900,000
- Finalists: $485,000
- Semifinalists: $275,000
- Quarterfinalists: $158,000
- Round of 16: $92,000
- Round of 32: $64,000
- Round of 64: $44,000
The expanded prize pool reflects tennis’ ongoing push to better support players across the rankings, not just Grand Slam champions. Early-round prize money is especially important for lower-ranked professionals who rely on tournament earnings to cover travel, coaching, and training costs.
As tournament officials have emphasized in past announcements, the goal is to “reward players at every level of the competition while maintaining the Australian Open’s position as a global leader among Grand Slam events.”
With historic payouts, equal prize money, and significant increases across all rounds, the 2026 Australian Open reinforces why it remains one of the most desirable and financially rewarding stages in professional tennis.
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