The champions of the 2025 U.S. Open will each take home a historic $5 million, the largest single prize in tennis history, thanks in part to the collective advocacy of top players including American star Coco Gauff.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced the landmark decision. It also boosts total player compensation to a record-breaking $90 million, a 20% increase from 2024.
This significant pay surge is being hailed as a direct result of a unified player front. In March 2025, a group of approximately 20 elite players, including Gauff, Novak Djokovic, and the 2024 U.S. Open champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, sent a joint letter to the leadership of all four Grand Slam tournaments.
The letter called for a higher percentage of tournament revenue to be allocated to prize money. Additionally, it called for players to have a more influential voice in decisions that directly impact their careers.
The USTA’s announcement demonstrates the resounding success of that push. The $5 million champion’s check represents a staggering 39% increase from the $3.6 million awarded to the winners last year.
The previous high for a U.S. Open singles title was $3.85 million in 2019, with amounts decreasing in subsequent years due to the global pandemic.
Coco Gauff and other competitors to financially benefit
The significant financial enhancements extend throughout the tournament draw, underscoring a commitment to rewarding all professional competitors. The singles runners-up will now receive $2.5 million, also a 39% increase, while semifinalists will see their earnings rise by 26% to $1.26 million. Even players who exit in the first round will receive $110,000, a 10% raise from the previous year.
Doubles and mixed doubles have also seen unprecedented gains. For the first time, the winning teams in the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles events will each split a $1 million prize.
This move by the U.S. Open further solidifies its position as the most lucrative of the four major tournaments, significantly outpacing Wimbledon, which awarded its 2025 singles champions approximately $4 million.
The decision not only sets a new benchmark for player compensation in tennis but also highlights the growing power and influence of athletes like Coco Gauff who are actively shaping the future of their sport, ensuring that its financial success is more equitably shared with the stars on the court.
The 2025 U.S. Open will begin with its main draw on Sunday, August 24, in Flushing Meadows, New York.
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