2021 US Open announces record prize money, $57.5 in total player compensation

The US Open is ready to set a new record in prize money and total player compensation. 

The previous record was set in 2019 but the new total player compensation of $57.5 million is set to break the record. 

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) worked with the ATP and WTA to design the prize money allocation. 

The US Open qualifying tournament is set to offer nearly $6 million in prize money, a 66% percent increase compared to 2019. 

Also, the first round prize money now stands at $75,000 -- a 23% increase compared to 2020. 

However, the previous prize money of $3 million for the winner was decreased to $2.5 million. 

Prize money was increased for each competition at the US Open -- the singles, doubles, mixed doubles and wheelchair competition. 

The US Open organizers didn't let the pandemic slow them down 

"Last year was a very difficult year for all of us, and the pandemic had a profound impact on the USTA’s financial health,” said Mike Dowse, USTA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. “Yet we worked—and continue to work—extremely hard to ensure that tennis would continue to thrive for the long-term at every level, and that work led to more than 4 million new and returning players participating in tennis in 2020. Our support of tennis is very broad, and touches every level of the game. The US Open is an unparalleled showcase for all that is so wonderful about our sport, and the players are an integral part of that. We are proud to return our player compensation to pre-pandemic levels.”

The US Open organizers think this will be a "historic year" for the tournament.

"With the US Open’s greatest return—fans on-site and full draws across all competitions—we know that 2021 will be an historic year for this great tournament,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis and US Open Tournament Director. “We determined our round-by-round prize money allocations by engaging in an open dialogue with the players and the management of both tours. We applaud their collective leadership in directing the 2021 US Open prize money to benefit the maximum number of players.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3Dg9IWX