US Open prize money hits a record, Bencic unexpectedly advances to profit $830,000

The prize pool for tennis Grand Slam tournaments is breaking new records. This year, the US Open surpassed a total prize money of $90 million for the first time, becoming the most generous single event in tennis history. This change has brought unprecedented opportunities to professional players.

Belgian player Belgaerts is a direct beneficiary of this wave of benefits. He was originally scheduled to face the UK’s Draper, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, in the second round. However, Draper withdrew due to an arm injury, allowing Belgaerts, who is ranked 48th, to automatically advance to the third round without playing. This unexpected turn of events added $83,000 to his prize earnings—jumping from $154,000 in the second round to at least $237,000 in the third round.

For professional tennis players, Grand Slam events represent a key window for annual income. Belgaerts himself is a typical example: before the US Open, his annual prize money had already reached $850,000, with career total earnings of about $2.3 million. If he defeats the 31st seed in the next round, his prize money will reach $400,000. For players not ranked at the top, this is enough to sustain the operation of their entire training team.

Former top 50 player Matler explained the essence of this phenomenon: Grand Slam tournaments provide the most concentrated financial support for non-seeded players throughout the year. This income is sufficient to cover coaching fees, international travel, and other major expenses, providing basic professional security for mid-tier athletes.

The upgrade of the US Open is of profound significance. The singles champion’s prize money increased from $3.6 million last year to $5 million, a 39% rise. This adjustment reflects the rising commercial value of professional tennis and also marks a reevaluation of player compensation in Grand Slam events.

Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and leader of the Association of Tennis Professionals, expressed approval of this progress but believed there is room for further optimization. Before the tournament, he stated that while it is gratifying to see Grand Slam events willing to increase the prize pool, the system can still be improved in the long run. Djokovic pointed out that considering the commercial scale of tennis and inflation factors, the prize increases in Grand Slam tournaments should keep pace with industry development. He put forward this view after defeating American player Svedi in four sets in the third round.

Currently, the profitability of Grand Slam events is increasing. The success of this year’s US Open is a testament to that. As commercial revenue grows, industry insiders expect the prize pools of such top-tier events to continue rising, thereby improving the overall economic ecosystem of professional tennis.