Australian Open prize money purse receives boost for record high

The champions of the men's and women's divisions in the first Grand Slam of the year will each receive a prize of Aus$3.150 million (£1.68 million). This year, players who are eliminated in the earlier rounds, including the qualifying rounds, will receive higher payouts than ever before.

Those who are eliminated in the first round will receive Aus$120,000 (£64,300), which is a 13 percent increase from the previous year. Players who make it to the second round will also receive a similar increase, with a prize of Aus$180,000 (£96,400).

Even players who are knocked out in the first round of qualifying will receive a significant amount of Aus$31,250 (£16,700).

Overall, an additional Aus$10 million (£5.35 million) has been allocated for the 2024 event, ensuring that the best players in the world are appropriately compensated.

Tournament director Craig Tiley emphasized the importance of supporting players' careers and setting them up for success throughout the year.

The tournament, which begins on January 14th at Melbourne Park, has seen a substantial increase in prize money over the past decade, more than doubling the amount awarded to players.

This investment aims to maintain Australia's position as the starting point for the global tennis season and provide players with the necessary resources to perform at their best and enjoy the Happy Slam.