British tennis star Emma Raducanu finds herself on the cusp of making history once more, as the prize pot for this year’s US Open reaches record-shattering levels. Should the 22-year-old manage to reclaim the title at Flushing Meadows this September, she could collect a staggering £3.7 million—the largest single champion’s payment in the sport’s history.
Raducanu’s meteoric rise to international stardom began just four years ago, when, as an unseeded teenager, she stunned the tennis establishment and the sporting world by clinching the US Open crown in 2021. That breakthrough earned her £1.8 million in prize money at the time, yet the sum on offer this year has now more than doubled, underlining the escalating financial rewards at the sport’s pinnacle.
Tournament officials announced earlier this week that both male and female singles champions are now poised to receive this record grand slam payout, overshadowing even the lucrative rewards dished out by other major tournaments. The prize fund’s upward momentum has been rapid; for comparison, Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner each pocketed £2.7 million from their 2024 victories in the Big Apple. This season’s overall US Open prize money pool stands at a formidable £67 million—a remarkable £11 million increase from the previous year—demonstrating the tournament’s growing commercial appeal.
The considerable boost in winnings is not reserved solely for champions. Every player progressing into the main draw and facing a first-round exit is set to walk away with a compensation package of £82,000. In a notable development, the newly-introduced Mixed Doubles Championship winners will also benefit, alongside the triumphant men’s and women’s doubles pairs, all of whom are slated to share £750,000 in prize money.
While Wimbledon remains a celebrated fixture on the tennis calendar, this year’s All England Club event, despite offering its own record-breaking £53.5 million prize fund, still lags some £13.5 million behind the offerings of its American counterpart. The leap in US Open riches not only marks a new high in tennis, but intensifies competition among players, with significant financial stakes now amplifying the drama on court.
Raducanu returns to New York in search of a renaissance, having recently appointed esteemed Spanish coach Francisc Roig to guide her through the upcoming challenges. Roig, renowned for his work with Rafael Nadal, joins Raducanu’s corner at a decisive time. His experience and tactical nous are considered pivotal as Raducanu targets a deep run and looks to improve her ranking in time for the year’s final Grand Slam.
Support for Raducanu has also been forthcoming from Mark Petchey, who has offered guidance since March, although his full-time involvement has been curtailed by broadcasting responsibilities across the US summer circuit. Nevertheless, the British contingent is hopeful that the addition of Roig can reinvigorate Raducanu’s campaign just in time for the high-stakes events in Cincinnati—the last significant warm-up before the US Open.
Raducanu’s preparations have been marked by both promise and challenges. She faced a setback at the Canadian Open, where she was eliminated by Amanda Anisimova. However, given her proven resilience and ability to surprise her critics, expectations remain high that she could again find her best form when it matters most.
Tennis observers note that the expanded prize fund not only reflects heightened interest and investment in the sport, but symbolises the increasing parity between men’s and women’s competitions on the global stage. For Raducanu, victory in New York would not only secure a substantial financial windfall, but cement her legacy as one of Britain’s most outstanding tennis champions of the modern era.