The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that the 2026 U.S. Open will feature the highest total player compensation in tennis history, reaching $108 million. This marks a 20% increase over the previous year’s record of $90 million and represents a 44% rise in total payouts over two years. The boost in prize money will benefit all players, with the tournament offering unprecedented payouts for champions and early-round losers alike, including $5.5 million for the main draw singles champions and a first-round singles payout of $140,000.

In addition to increasing prize money, the U.S. Open is introducing a new Player Support Program with an initial commitment of $2 million in 2026. This initiative is designed to assist players throughout their careers and beyond, providing support for mid-career transitions as well as retirement planning. Importantly, the program will be accessible to all main draw singles and doubles competitors, regardless of ranking, and is structured to complement existing pension funds with broad benefits tailored to player needs.

A key development for players is the formation of the Grand Slam Player Council, a collaborative effort joining the U.S. Open, Australian Open, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon. This council will enable players to have a unified voice on in-tournament and on-court issues and will advise the U.S. Open on how to implement and refine the Player Support Program. Tournament director Craig Tiley emphasized this as the beginning of a multi-year investment to enhance the economic opportunities and overall experience for players at the U.S. Open.

The 2026 U.S. Open main draw is scheduled from August 30 to September 13. Besides the headline prize money increases, other substantial raises include a 27% hike in first-round singles payouts and a 16% increase in qualifying round payouts, with doubles champions receiving $1 million per team. The USTA leadership expressed a strong commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with players to ensure these enhancements deliver meaningful and lasting benefits both on and off the court.