The US Open made quite an impressive move with the prize pool. Back in 2024, the prize pool was $75M, where the champions earned $3.6M each. It was the highest-ever prize amount back then. But now, the purse is up by 20%, with a total pool of $90M. Needless to say, it’s a move that’s going to help the athletes even on the lowest tier. Well, the round of 128 will give $110K to the athletes, and the champions will get $5M each. Despite the phenomenal rise, stars like Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff decided to push back. But why? 

Of course, Djokovic, during the pre-US Open press conference, admitted that it was a step in the right direction. After all, the prize money is going to help the players across the board. But he doesn’t believe that the situation is ideal for the athletes. He claimed, “I think there’s still lot more room for improvement in that sense.” And the reason is aligned with the financial struggles of the tennis players. 

Djokovic said, “[It’s] important to understand that, you know, we live in very commercial world. Entertainment, sports business is very big. And for Grand Slams, they’re doing very well as well. So, US Open increased the prize money. Other Slams are doing it too. But they also have a bigger revenue than previous year. And then there’s the inflation part, which is a completely different topic, but important to take in consideration when you talk about this things. But again, overall, it’s definitely a positive step.” 

But what about Coco Gauff? Well, she had a similar view as well. Gauff admitted that the rise in the prize money was a great thing. But she also highlighted the fact that the revenue of the tournaments was also continuously rising with the additions like Mixed Doubles and Fan Week. Reflecting on this, she believed that “having that more of a percentage share of that revenue with the prize money” will be helpful for the tennis players. And her stance was strong for the women in sports. 

Coco Gauff continued, “I’m very grateful to be in the sport I am, especially being a woman in sport, knowing that other sports are nowhere near the opportunities that we have in tennis. But I do think it’s important that we address it not only for the future of our sport, but the future of others. And I know that the WNBA is trying to get to that point. And I would like to see that across all sports that, you know, the women are getting their fair share of revenue as well.”

Well, it wasn’t just Novak Djokovic who pushed back at the US Open’s $90M move. His legacy, which almost always has the players’ back, the Professional Tennis Players Association, also stood against the big guns. 

Novak Djokovic’s PTPA drops harsh shells as US Open announces $90M purse

Taking to X, the PTPA acknowledged that the 20% increase in the prize pool was a win for the players. But a single big payday doesn’t mean the world of tennis is free from issues. Novak Djokovic’s player association stated, “If players, fans, and the sport are going to thrive in the long-term, prize money increases must be part of broader, systemic solutions that tackle the sport’s most pressing issues.”

They highlighted that the year-round season pushed the athletes to the brink. It’s not just the longest season in sports, but it’s also relentless. Such routines give the players almost no time to recover and train. PTPA trashed the sport’s inconsistent anti-doping system, claiming that it was completely opaque. Despite the announcement of a large prize pool, tennis players don’t usually get major benefits. And despite the inflation, the prize money in many other tournaments remains stagnant. On top of that, the organizations tend to disregard the players’ voices when they talk about things that affect their livelihood. 

PTPA concluded, “Piecemeal solutions are not enough. As our legal work continues, the PTPA continues fighting for the holistic solutions that players, fans, and the sport deserve.” But that’s not where the story ends. Remember the LIV Golf Series? Despite its launch in 2022, players like Bryson DeChambeau have signed deals going beyond a whopping $100M. Even private tours like Euroleague Basketball and some Esports tournaments offer a huge sum of money to the athletes. 

Needless to say, tennis has a lot to catch up to. And with the rise in the US Open prize pool, we can certainly expect many more positive changes in the future, with the players’ best interest in focus.