The Australian Open has been a grand spectacle this year. As the first Grand Slam of the year, players have put their best foot forward, and after two weeks of intense action, it has neared its end. For all their effort, the players will be paid handsomely, as the prize pool has increased this year.
From Aryna Sabalenka to Rohan Bopanna, Melbourne Park has witnessed the best the sport has to offer. This year’s tournament will go down in history for the many records broken and created. In addition to sporting action, the organizers can also boast of the prize money being up 13% to AU$86.5 million. In this article, we will break down how much each player has earned.
Aryna Sabalenka defends her Australian Open title
Sabalenka took to the courts as the defending champion this year. She was one of the most dominant players throughout the tournament and signed as a champion again. Aryna took on Qinwen Zheng, a first-time major finalist, at the Rod Laver Arena for the silverware.
Sabalenka created several records during her title run this year. She is now only the second player, after Victoria Azarenka, to have defended the title successfully. Moreover, Aryna did so without dropping a single set.
BACK-TO-BACK! 🇧🇾🏆
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Qinwen Zheng to win the #AusOpen without dropping a set the entire tournament 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZCWoiQF2yF
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 27, 2024
For winning the women’s singles title, Aryna Sabalenka has earned herself a check of $3.15 million. As Zheng is the runner-up this time, she has won $1.725 million.
Each semifinalist will receive $990,000, while the quarterfinalists will make $600,000. The players who made it to the fourth, third, second, and first rounds will earn $375,000, $255,000, $180,000, and $120,000, respectively.
Rohan Bopanna wins his first doubles title
The Indian ace created a special record at Melbourne Park this weekend. At 43 years of age, not only did he become the oldest top-ranked player, but he also won his first-ever doubles title.
Bopanna and his partner, Matthew Ebden, took on Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men’s doubles final. The veteran duo of Ebden and Bopanna defeated their opponents 7-6, 7-5, in straight sets.
Look what it means to @rohanbopanna and @mattebden 😍
At 43, Bopanna has his FIRST Men’s Doubles Grand Slam title – and becomes the oldest to do so in the Open Era 👏👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/qs0JlrkMO7
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2024
For their efforts, the duo of Bopanna and Ebden will pocket a check of $730,000. The runners-up duo have earned themselves $400,000. The semifinalists and quarterfinalists will make $227,500 and $128,000, respectively. All those players who participated in the third, second, and first rounds will make $75,000, $53,000, and $36,000, respectively.
The mixed doubles champions
This year, the Australian Open saw Hseih Su-Wei and Jan Zielinski win the mixed doubles title. The pair took on Neal Skupski and Desirae Krawczyk and defeated them 6-7, 6-4, 11-9.
🏆 2024 MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONS 🏆
Su-Wei Hsieh & @zielaczekk save a championship point to claim the title over Krawczyk/Skupski 6-7(5) 6-4 11-9!@AustralianOpen | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gr3A66XYel
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2024
Su-Wei and Zielinksi will pocket $165,000 for winning the title, while Skupski and Krawczyk will make $94,000. The semifinalists and quarterfinalists will make $50,000 and $26,500, respectively. All those who played in the first and second rounds have earned $6,900 and $13,275, respectively.
The Australian Open has truly lived up to its name as the Happy Slam this year. January 28 will be the last of the two matches—the women’s doubles and the men’s singles.