The director of the Australian Open has confirmed that there will be a prize money increase in next year’s Australian Open to support players at all levels.
Craig Tiley has confirmed that the current $44 million mark will be surpassed with the aim of increasing the prize money for players who participate in the qualifying rounds and/or go out in the early rounds of the tournament. The exact details concerning how much the prize money will be raised by is yet to be confirmed.
“You can expect an increase and to what extent we will be able to tell you in the next week or two,” Tiley told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
“Generally it’s lagged behind for the players ranked 100 to 200 so we’ve stepped up by offering more prize money in qualifying and the first two rounds and that’s the direction we will continue to go because we believe there needs to be a larger group of players professionally who make good money.”
Talks are currently ongoing regarding how much the money will be raised in 2017. Tiley has confirmed that he is currently consulting with both the WTA and ATP.
“We’ve been working with both the WTA and the ATP on the distribution, and once that’s finalised in the next week or so we’ll be able to announce [the prizemoney details],” Tiley was quoted by smh.com.au as saying. “You can expect an increase; to what extent we’ll be able to tell you then.”
Tiley’s pledge to increase prize money continues the trend of grand slam tournaments expanding their payout. At this year’s US Open the prize money was increased by 10% to $46.3 million. Meanwhile, Wimbledon increased theirs to £28.1 million (just over $35 million) in June.
Since 2013, the Australian Open has seen an increase of almost 50% in the tournament prize money from $30 million to $44 million. This year the tournament broke their attendance record with 720,363 fans, an increase of almost 17,000 compared to their second highest tally.
Next year’s tournament will get underway on January 16th with Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber aiming to defend their titles. It will be the 105th edition of the event.
Chart illustrating the increase in main draw prize money at the Australian Open for singles players (2013-2013)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Winners | $2,300,000 | $2,430,000 | $2,650,000 | $3,100,000 |
| Runners-up | $1,150,000 | $1,215,000 | $1,325,000 | $1,550,000 |
| Semifinalists | $437,000 | $500,000 | $540,000 | $650,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $218,500 | $250,000 | $270,000 | $340,000 |
| Round of 16 | $109,250 | $125,000 | $135,000 | $175,000 |
| Round of 32 | $54,625 | $71,000 | $75,000 | $97,500 |
| Round of 64 | $33,300 | $45,500 | $50,000 | $60,000 |
| First Round | $20,800 | $27,600 | $30,000 | $34,500 |
| Total | $18,685,600 | $22,006,800 | $23,870,000 | $28,796,000 |
Source: ausopen.com (note: figures doesn’t include prize money awarded in doubles or qualifying draws)
