- Men and women receive the same amount
Tennis stars who fail to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open main draw will naturally be shattered – but the upside is they’ll receive $40,500 in prizemoney.
The staggering payday is a 16 per cent increase on last year, with a total of $111.5million up for grabs at Melbourne Park.
Local hope Bernard Tomic – who upset Bolivian Hugo Velasco in straight sets in the first round of qualifying on January 12, is now guaranteed to bank $57,000.
And if Tomic can send Great Britain’s Arthur Fery packing in his next match, he will earn $83,500.
Crucially, whoever wins three qualifying matches then enters the main draw.
Losers in the first round of the main draw collect $150,000, with the men’s and women’s singles champions both paid $4.15 million.
Tennis stars who fail to qualify for the Australian Open main draw will naturally be shattered – but the upside is receiving $40,500 in prizemoney (pictured, young gun Cruz Hewitt)
Local hope Bernard Tomic, who upset Bolivian Hugo Velasco in straight sets in the first round of qualifying, is guaranteed to bank at least $57,000
If Jannik Sinner can defend his Australian Open title, he will receive a whopping $4.15million in prizemoney as men’s champion
Other Aussies hoping to win through to the main draw include the likes of Jason Kubler, Dane Sweeny, Olivia Gadecki and Storm Hunter.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley recently stated the 16 per cent increase in prizemoney will aid the sport’s long-term growth.
‘It demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level,’ he said in a statement.
‘From boosting qualifying prizemoney by 55 per cent since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we are ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors.
‘By supporting players at all levels, we are building deeper talent pools and creating more compelling storylines for fans.’
Tiley’s announcement follows Tennis Australia recording more than $600million in revenue for past financial year.
According to Ticketmaster, reserved seats in Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday, February 1 start from $1449 per person.
Ground passes from January 18 can be snapped up from $65 per person, but access to the arena courts isn’t guaranteed.
No wonder they call it the ‘Happy Slam’ – the players are laughing all the way to the bank.
