How much money did Aryna Sabalenka collect as she won her first US Open title?

Aryna Sabalenka secured a remarkable $3.6 million in prize money by winning her first US Open title, benefitting from a significant increase in the 2023 champion’s payout. This victory marked a moment of redemption for Sabalenka, who had previously come close to winning but fell short in her past attempts.

The Belarusian player reflected on last year’s tough defeat to Coco Gauff but managed to overcome her nerves to claim the title in New York. In a dramatic final, she fought back to defeat American Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. Sabalenka expressed her joy after finally winning the US Open, saying, “I’m speechless right now, because so many times I was so close to getting the US Open title. It’s a dream of mine, and finally I’ve got this beautiful trophy.”

She also praised Pegula’s performance, acknowledging the tough competition and predicting that her opponent would eventually win a Grand Slam title. Sabalenka admitted that the second set was especially challenging, saying, “That second set, I was literally praying to get this win. It means a lot.”

Reflecting on her journey to the title, Sabalenka expressed pride in her resilience. “I remember all those tough losses in the past here. I’m just super proud of myself, and I never say that, but I am. I’m super proud of myself and my team. No matter what situations we were faced with this season and in the past, we were able to go through it and get these beautiful trophies.”

The US Open prize money in 2023 saw a 20% increase, with both the men’s and women’s singles champions earning $3.6 million each, up from $3 million the previous year. The runners-up in both categories received $1.8 million. This year’s US Open champions earned slightly more than the 2024 Wimbledon winners, who took home £2.7 million, or about $3.4 million, which represented a nearly 15% increase from 2023.

For decades, there has been a debate in tennis over equal pay, particularly due to the difference in match formats: men play best-of-five sets while women play best-of-three. Despite this, tennis has long maintained a pay structure that offers equal prize money for men and women. This shift began over half a century ago, thanks to tennis legend Billie Jean King’s advocacy for equal pay. King’s efforts laid the groundwork for gender equality in tennis.

“When we dreamed about a tour, dreamed about equal prize money, we were thinking it would take a long time,” King said. She emphasized that their goal was not just to compete, but to be recognized for their achievements and to make a living through tennis. Reflecting on the struggles of early female players, she said, “As amateurs, we used to get $14 a day. We really wanted this. We wanted it for the future generations.”

The prize money breakdown for the 2023 US Open is as follows:

– Winner: $3,600,000
– Runner-up: $1,800,000
– Semi-finalist: $1,000,000
– Quarter-finalist: $530,000
– Round of 16: $325,000
– Round of 32: $215,000
– Round of 64: $140,000
– Round of 128: $100,000

Sabalenka’s victory is a testament to her persistence and hard work, marking a major milestone in her career as she finally lifts the coveted US Open trophy.