For much of tennis history, winning a major title brought prestige, not an official paycheck. The sport’s prize money story changed when professionals were allowed to compete alongside amateurs in 1968. Since then, tournament purses have grown from modest sums to millions—but the path to fairer pay, especially for women and lower-ranked players, has been gradual.
Understanding tennis prize money history means looking beyond the champion’s cheque. Who was allowed to earn money, how tournaments split their purses, and whether players could cover the cost of competing have all shaped the game.
Before the Open Era: Prestige Without Official Prize Money
For decades, the biggest tournaments were restricted to amateur players. Under the rules, competitors could not accept prize money for playing. That did not always mean players had no income: some received help with travel or expenses, while others benefited from unofficial payments. But there was no open, formal system of tournament prize money like the one fans know today.
Professional players faced a different trade-off. They could earn money on professional tours, but they were barred from major amateur events such as Wimbledon. Rod Laver, for example, was unable to compete in the majors during part of his career after turning professional. The split kept many of the sport’s best players apart.
1968: The Open Era Begins
In April 1968, the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth became the first tournament to allow both amateurs and professionals to compete for prize money. This marked the start of the Open Era. Wimbledon followed that year with its first open championships.
At Wimbledon in 1968, the men’s singles champion received £2,000 and the women’s singles champion received £750. Those figures show how small early payouts were—and how far apart the men’s and women’s awards could be. Prize money also gave top players a more direct way to earn from their results, though the highest earnings were concentrated among champions and stars.
The change helped bring the sport’s leading players back together. Laver returned to the majors and won all four in 1969, completing his second calendar-year Grand Slam. His achievement carried extra meaning in the new era: the best professionals could now compete on tennis’s biggest stages.
Women’s Prize Money and the Push for Equal Pay
Women’s pay did not rise automatically with the Open Era. A key turning point came in 1973, when the US Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to award equal prize money to its men’s and women’s singles champions. Both champions received $25,000 that year. Billie Jean King was a leading voice in the campaign for equal pay, arguing that women’s matches deserved equal recognition.
Other majors took longer to match the policy. The Australian Open introduced equal prize money in 2001, the French Open followed in 2006, and Wimbledon did so in 2007. Equal pay at the majors is now established, but that does not mean every event on every professional tour offers the same prize money to men and women.
Equal champion cheques were also only one part of the issue. The full payout across a draw matters: players who lose early still have to pay for travel, coaching, accommodation and other costs. For a player outside the top ranks, a modest prize can disappear quickly into the expense of competing.
How Grand Slam Prize Money Has Grown
Modern major tournaments offer prize funds measured in tens of millions. The figures below show the scale of recent payouts. They are in different currencies, and the overall purse is not the same as the singles champion’s award.
| Tournament and year | Total prize fund | Singles champion’s prize |
|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon, 1968 | £26,150 | Men: £2,000; women: £750 |
| Wimbledon, 2025 | £53.5 million | £3 million for each singles champion |
| Australian Open, 2025 | AUD 96.5 million | AUD 3.5 million for each singles champion |
| French Open, 2025 | €56.352 million | €2.55 million for each singles champion |
| US Open, 2025 | USD 90 million | USD 5 million for each singles champion |
These numbers are nominal amounts, not inflation-adjusted comparisons. They also reflect different tournament budgets and currencies, so the largest champion’s cheque does not by itself show which event offers the most support to its full field. Each major awards money at multiple rounds, including to players who lose in qualifying or the opening round.
Prize Money Is Not the Same as a Player’s Earnings
A tournament cheque is only one part of a professional tennis player’s income. Sponsorships, appearance fees and other commercial deals can be important, especially for well-known players. For many players ranked outside the top tier, those opportunities are limited, so tournament earnings matter more directly.
Prize money is also not take-home pay. Players may need to cover coaching, flights, hotels, equipment and taxes. A long run at a major can change a season financially, while an early loss may leave a player with a payout that barely covers the trip. This is why discussion of tennis pay often focuses not just on champion bonuses, but on qualifying and early-round payments, as well as support across the wider tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did tennis start offering official prize money?
The Open Era began in 1968, when professionals and amateurs were allowed to compete together for prize money. The British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth was the first open event, followed by the first open Wimbledon that year.
Which Grand Slam first offered equal prize money?
The US Open was the first Grand Slam to award equal prize money to its men’s and women’s singles champions, doing so in 1973. The other majors adopted equal prize money later.
Do Grand Slam champions receive the entire tournament prize fund?
No. The total prize fund is divided among players in singles, doubles and other events, with payouts at different stages of the draw. The champion receives a portion, not the whole purse.
Does prize money include sponsorship income?
No. Prize money is paid by tournaments for results. Sponsorships and other commercial earnings are separate, and they vary widely from player to player.
Final Thoughts
Tennis prize money has moved from a system that barred professionals from the majors to a global sport where Grand Slam champions can earn millions. Equal pay at the majors was a major milestone, but the history is also a reminder that progress took pressure and time. For today’s players, the most useful measure is not only the winner’s cheque, but how much of the prize fund reaches the full field and helps make a career in tennis sustainable.
