4 months ago
Tennis Australia has channelled a stock of its spectacular emergence successful gross backmost to players by announcing a $111.5m prize excavation for this year’s Australian Open, up 16% connected past year.
The uplift takes nan “happy slam” past Wimbledon, which offered $108m (£53.5m) in 2025, but still down nan US Open’s $134m (US$90m).
“This 16% summation demonstrates our committedness to supporting tennis careers astatine each level,” Tennis Australia (TA) main executive, Craig Tiley, said.
“From boosting qualifying prize money by 55% since 2023, to enhancing subordinate benefits, we’re ensuring master tennis is sustainable for each competitors.”
The winners of nan men’s and women’s singles will person $4.5m each, up 19% connected nan $3.5m from 2025.
Those who suffer successful qualifying bask a bump of 16%, meaning players who exit astatine nan earliest shape still return location $40,500. TA besides supports players done recreation assistance – which accrued 67% – and use initiatives.
The expanded purse follows an detonation successful TA’s gross successful 2025. Documents lodged pinch nan Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) and released successful December reported income successful nan twelvemonth to September astatine $693m, an summation of $102m connected nan preceding period.
The filing does not break down nan precise root of nan uplift, alternatively attributing astir of it to nan wide class of operations and events, which consists of payments from commercial, authorities and broadcast partners, arsenic good arsenic summons sales.
TA introduced strategies of “re-engineering summons types and pricing to amended lucifer user demand” and “build and monetise our audience” successful 2024. A caller broadcast woody pinch Channel Nine began past year, reportedly worthy astir $80m annually.
A emergence successful expenses to $681m almost matched gross growth, but income was capable to time off a nett surplus of $15.8m, up connected nan $7.4m reported successful 2024. A surplus of $62m successful 2023 was made imaginable by nan Victorian authorities forgiving a Covid-era indebtedness worthy $43m.
The accounts besides item nan effort by nan sport’s governing assemblage to go a task superior subordinate and startup backer successful nan arena of athletics and intermezo technology. TA’s acquisition of investments roseate to $66.1m from $20.7m successful 2024.
Recently, location person been heightened tensions pinch players astir pay and conditions connected tour. TA and nan Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) are reportedly finalising a colony pursuing an action successful nan US territory tribunal for alleged breaches of US antitrust law.
Australian officials declined to remark connected advancement connected Tuesday, but reiterated its position from precocious past twelvemonth that location person been “productive colony discussions”.
There are conflicting views wrong nan players complete nan guidance of tennis, heightened by this week’s withdrawal of Novak Djokovic from nan PTPA, a assemblage he co-founded successful 2020.
Compensation for Tiley and his elder executives past twelvemonth accrued to $11.1m, up 7% from $10.4m successful 2024.
