Players at the Australian Open to receive record payments

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There’s a reason they call the Australian Open the “Happy Slam”, with the world’s best players set to compete for a record $86.5m prize pool at next month’s event in Melbourne.

The record-breaking figure is a 13 per cent increase on the total pool from 2023, with significant boosts for players who are eliminated in the early rounds.

Making the first round of qualifiers will net a player $31,250 – up from $26,000 – while it gets even better for those in the main draw, with $120,000 to go to players who are eliminated in the first round.

Semi-finalists will walk away with a whopping $990,000, the runners-up get $1.725m and the winners will receive $3.15m, $175,000 more than what Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka won this year.

Novak Djokovic won $2.975m for taking out the 2023 Australian Open, but that figure will rise for next year’s champion. Picture: William West / AFPSource: AFP

“We’ve upped prizemoney for every round at the Australian Open, with the major increases in qualifying and the early rounds of singles and doubles,” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.

“It is critical to the continued success of the Australian Open that we ensure that the best players in the world are compensated appropriately, as we know this allows players to invest in their own careers and in many cases helps set them up for success throughout the year.

“We want to ensure Australia remains the launch pad for the global tennis season and the players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the Happy Slam.”