By  Chalien Dantes

The Australian Open is cranking up the stakes this year with a record prize pool of £55 million, but some players are feeling underwhelmed by how little of the tournament’s overall revenue reaches the competitors.

The total prize money of A$111.5 million is a 16% boost from last year and represents the largest player fund in the tournament’s history. Singles champions will pocket $4.15 million (£2.05 million), a 19% jump on what Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner took home in 2025. Every singles and doubles player walking onto the Melbourne courts will see at least a 10% increase in earnings.

The increase comes after top players pushed for higher pay and better welfare in October, but many are likely to feel their main demands haven’t been met. Big names such as Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Alexander Zverev are among the top 20 players calling for a bigger slice of Grand Slam revenue for everyone competing. They’re also asking for more input on how the sport is run, along with expanded contributions toward pensions, healthcare, and maternity support.

Although Tennis Australia’s 2025 financial report isn’t yet public, the Australian Financial Review noted the organisation pulled in $697.2 million (£346 million) in revenue, most of it from the Australian Open. By that measure, the prize pool represents about 16% of revenue, a share similar to the US Open in 2025 (16%), higher than Wimbledon (13%), and likely above the French Open, which doesn’t release its figures.

The player group has proposed a gradual rise over five years, aiming to bring Grand Slam payouts closer to the 22% of revenue seen at combined ATP and WTA tour events. Despite the increase, the Australian Open still trails the US Open (£67.4 million) but surpasses Wimbledon (£53.5 million) and the French Open (£47.5 million) from 2025.

The 2026 Australian Open swings into action in Melbourne on 18 January.