The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that the total cash prize money at this year’s US Open will exceed $25 million, a new record for the tournament and just like in the previous Grand Slam events this season, the early round losers will get a significant increase from their paycheck compared to a year ago.
Meanwhile, the top three finishers of the Emirates Airline US Open Series can earn up to $2.6 million in bonus prize money depending on how their performance during the series and at the US Open. This means aside from the total of $25.5 million, the US Open is actually paying up to $28.1 million.
“We recognize the mounting financial pressures associated with competing on the global professional tennis circuits and especially for those who do not reach the second week of the US Open. We believe the additional prize money, as well as how it will be strategically distributed, will help alleviate some of the pressure,” said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President.
The men’s and women’s singles champion at the US Open will receive $1.9 million each and could earn up to $2.9 million if each had won the US Open Series title.
Here’s the information provided at the USOpen.org website:
US Open Base Prize Money
The 2012 US Open purse includes an 11% overall increase in men’s and women’s main draw singles prize money over last year’s total. First round main draw singles prize money has been increased by 21%, and second round main draw singles prize money has been increased by 19%. In all, 224 of the 256 main draw singles players (87% of the main draw singles players) will receive an increase in prize money of at least 18%.
For the 40th consecutive year, the USTA will offer equal prize money to both men and women – a Grand Slam first and US Open tradition dating back to 1973. All players also receive per diem payments to help offset the cost of accommodations and other expenses.
For the singles winners of the 2012 US Open, the base prize amounts are as follows: $1.9 million for the US Open champions, $950,000 for finalists, $475,000 for semifinalists and $237,500 for quarterfinalists.
US Open Bonus Prize Money
The Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge rewards the top three men’s and top three women’s finishers each year with bonus prize money at the US Open and has resulted in the largest paychecks in tennis history for men (2007 – Roger Federer, $2.4 million) and women (2005, 2010 – Kim Clijsters, $2.2 million). The USTA will offer up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the US Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s singles finishers in the Emirates Airline US Open Series. Players must earn points in at least two Series events in order to be eligible for bonus prize money at the US Open. More than $7.7 million in bonus prize money has been awarded since the Series began in 2004.
The potential purse totals are as follows for the top three Emirates Airline US Open Series finishers, bonuses included::
For the 2012 Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge champions: $2.9 million for winning the 2012 US Open, $1.45 million for being a 2012 US Open finalist, $725,000 for semifinalists, $362,500 for quarterfinalists.
For the 2012 Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge second place finishers: $2.4 million for winning the 2012 US Open, $1.2 million for being a 2012 US Open finalist, $600,000 for semifinalists, $300,000 for quarterfinalists.
For the 2012 Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge third place finishers: $2.15 million for winning the 2012 US Open, $1.075 million for being a 2012 US Open finalist, $537,500 for semifinalists, $268,750 for quarterfinalists.
