A men’s singles champion and a women’s singles champion can earn exactly the same prize money at a Grand Slam, yet that doesn’t mean men and women earn the same amount across professional tennis. The answer depends on which tournament you mean, how its prize fund is set, and whether you’re counting only on-court winnings or a player’s full income.
At the Grand Slams, singles prize money is equal
The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open award the same prize money to the men’s and women’s singles champions—and the same amount to players who reach corresponding rounds. A finalist gets the same payout as the other finalist, and a player knocked out in the first round receives the same round-of-exit prize.
Here are the singles champion payouts at the 2025 tournaments. The figures are in each event’s local currency, so they shouldn’t be compared without accounting for exchange rates.
| Tournament | Men’s singles champion | Women’s singles champion |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | A$3.5 million | A$3.5 million |
| French Open | €2.55 million | €2.55 million |
| Wimbledon | £3 million | £3 million |
| US Open | US$5 million | US$5 million |
Those are the champions’ checks, not the tournaments’ total prize funds. A tournament’s overall purse is divided among many rounds and events, including doubles and qualifying, so it’s a different measure.
Equal pay doesn’t mean equal match length
At Grand Slams, men’s singles matches are best of five sets; women’s singles matches are best of three. That can make a men’s match last longer, but prize money is awarded by round reached, not by minutes played, number of sets or points won. A woman who wins the women’s final receives the same singles champion’s prize as the man who wins the men’s final.
That distinction matters when people argue that longer matches should automatically bring a bigger payout. Players are competing in separate draws, and each draw has its own path to the title. Equal round-based prizes recognize the achievement of reaching that stage, rather than paying an hourly rate.
Prize money also isn’t a direct measure of how difficult a particular match was. A three-set final can be more physically and mentally demanding than a longer match that is one-sided. Tennis fans have seen plenty of women’s finals decided by tiny margins, just as men’s five-set matches can swing on one or two points.
How equal prize money became standard at the majors
The US Open became the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money to men and women in 1973, following pressure from players including Billie Jean King. King had argued that women deserved equal compensation for winning the same championship. Wimbledon was the last of the four majors to match the men’s and women’s singles prize money, doing so in 2007.
Today, equal singles prize money at the majors is an established policy. That doesn’t mean the wider tennis calendar has always followed the same approach—or that every professional tournament has the same-sized purse for men and women.
Outside the majors, the answer depends on the tournament
Many tournaments stage men’s and women’s events at the same venue during the same week. These combined events often offer equal prize money, especially at prominent tournaments, but equal pay isn’t automatic across the entire tour. Men’s and women’s professional tennis are organized through separate tours, and tournament budgets, categories and arrangements differ.
That makes comparisons between, say, an ATP event and a WTA event less straightforward than comparisons between the men’s and women’s draws at one Grand Slam. A similar-sounding event category doesn’t necessarily mean the same prize fund. Some tournaments also have only a men’s or only a women’s draw, so there may be no direct counterpart at that venue.
The WTA announced a roadmap in 2023 aimed at equal prize money at combined WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2027, and at standalone events in those categories by 2033. The schedule reflects how much the process can vary from tournament to tournament. Check the specific event’s published prize-money breakdown if you want to know what players are earning there in a particular year.
Prize money isn’t the same as total earnings
A player’s tournament winnings are only one part of their income. Endorsements, appearance fees, exhibitions and other business arrangements can also contribute. A famous player may earn far more from sponsorships than from a single tournament, while a lower-ranked professional may depend heavily on prize money just to cover the cost of travelling and competing.
There are also expenses behind the headline figures: coaching, flights, accommodation, training, equipment and, for many players, taxes in multiple countries. Reaching the early rounds of a major brings a meaningful payout, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a large personal profit after a season’s costs.
Men’s and women’s tennis can have different commercial profiles, and individual players’ popularity varies enormously. That helps explain why off-court earnings can be very different even when two champions receive equal tournament prizes. It does not change the prize-money rule at the majors: the winner of each singles draw gets the same amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men and women get the same money at all four Grand Slams?
Yes. At the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, men and women receive equal prize money for corresponding stages of the singles draw.
Why do men play best-of-five sets at Grand Slams if the prize is equal?
Prize money is based on the round a player reaches, not match duration. The different match formats don’t change the payout for the same stage of the tournament.
Are men’s and women’s prize purses equal at every tour event?
No. Many combined tournaments offer equal prize money, but it depends on the event. Men’s and women’s tours and tournaments have separate structures, so check the event’s own prize breakdown for a specific comparison.
Does equal prize money mean men and women earn the same overall income?
No. Prize money is only one source of income. Sponsorships, appearance fees, expenses and taxes can all differ between players, regardless of whether their tournament payouts are equal.
Final Thoughts
For the clearest comparison, look at the same tournament and the same round. At all four Grand Slams, men and women receive equal singles prize money, even though the men’s matches are longer in format. Across the rest of professional tennis, payouts vary by event, and prize money tells only part of the story of what players earn.
