In this Sept. 9, 2017, file photo, Sloane Stephens, of the United States, reacts after receiving the winner's award check after beating Madison Keys, of the United States, in the women's singles final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.The Canadian Press
Despite a loss in revenue from holding its marquee event without spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Wednesday that its overall compensation to players at this year’s U.S. Open will be US$53.4-million – which is 93.3 per cent of the roughly US$57.2-million awarded in 2019.
The U.S. Open women’s and men’s singles champions will each earn US$3-million, down US$850,000 – or 22 per cent – from the top prizes at the Grand Slam tennis tournament last year, part of a decrease of nearly US$4-million in total player compensation in 2020.
Defending U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal said Tuesday he didn’t want to travel during the pandemic and would not be entering the tournament. Also out of the field: Ash Barty, the No. 1-ranked woman.
The U.S. Open is set to start in New York on Aug. 31, as originally scheduled, something rare in the world of sports this year. Professional tennis was suspended in March because of the pandemic, leaving many players, coaches and others without a regular income.
The women’s tour resumed this week in Palermo, Italy. The men’s tour will pick up later this month.
In June, USTA chief executive Mike Dowse told The Associated Press that the loss of ticket sales, hospitality suites and other revenue sources in 2020 means the U.S. Open’s net income “will be down roughly 80 per cent.”
Still, first-round singles prize money will be going up 5 per cent, from US$58,000 to US$61,000, the only level where there is a jump. Paychecks for players who reach the second round (US$100,000) or third round (US$163,000) will remain the same.
The prizes then decrease in each round of singles: from US$280,000 to US$250,000 in the fourth, from US$500,000 to US$425,000 in the quarter-finals, from US$960,000 to US$800,000 in the semi-finals, and from US$1.9-million to US$1.5-million for the runner-up.
In doubles, the cut is deeper: The women’s and men’s championship pairings will split US$400,000, a drop of 46 per cent from last year’s US$740,000.
This year’s total includes US$1-million given to a previously announced player relief program jointly funded by the four Grand Slam tournaments, the International Tennis Federation and the ATP and WTA tours – to help with the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – along with US$6.6-million to make up for the USTA’s cancellation of its qualifying events and a reduction in size of the doubles fields.
Dowse said Wednesday the tournament’s player compensation this year “represents a commitment to supporting players and their financial well-being during an unprecedented time.”