What Is The Prize Money For The Women's Australian Open

Australian Open prize money 2021: How much money do Australian Open players earn?

After several years of rapid growth in the prize purse at Melbourne Park, it took a pandemic to rein in the potential earnings of the world's best tennis players.

The challenges of COVID-19 have seen the Australian Open singles winners' cheques cut by a third, from $AU4.11 million to $2.75 million.

Still a handy payday, but a significant haircut nonetheless.

MORE: Who was the last Australian to win an Australian Open singles title?

Interestingly, the total prize purse for the tournament - $80 million - is up nearly $9 million from last year, though the extra funds will be used to boost the pay for qualifier events and early rounds.

Tournament director Craig Tiley says the more even distribution was to help offset the significant costs incurred by players coming to Australia amid a pandemic.

"We have significantly reduced the winners' prize money cheques, but players like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams all agreed with spreading the prize money more evenly, providing the up-and-coming players an opportunity to earn more because it has been a difficult year," Tiley told The Hindu newspaper .

"We think it's a great initiative and I have had zero pushback."

Australian Open 2021 prize money: Men's and Women's singles

Winner	$2.75 million
Runner-up	$1.5 million
Semi-finalists	$850,000
Quarter-finalists	$525,000
Fourth Round	$320,000
Third Round	$215,000
Second Round	$150,000
First Round	$100,000
Third Round Qualifying	$52,500
Second Round Qualifying	$35,000
First Round Qualifying	$25,000

The $2.75 million taken home by the winners is the lowest total at the Australian Open since 2014.

Here's how the figures looked for last year's tournament.

Australian Open 2020 prize money: Men's and Women's singles

Winner	$4.1 million
Runner-Up	$2.05 million
Semi-finalists	$920,000
Quarter-finalists	$460,000
Fourth Round	$260,000
Third Round	$155,000
Second Round	$105,000
First Round	$75,000
Third Round Qualifying	$40,000
Second Round Qualifying	$25,000
First Round Qualifying	$15,000

Australian Open 2021 prize money: Men's and Women's Doubles

The Doubles winners' prize money has also taken a hit this year, though again, there's an increase in pay for those going out in the early rounds.

Here's how much each pair will take home.

Winners	$600,000
Runners-up	$340,000
Semi-finalists	$200,000
Quarter-finalists	$110,000
Third Round	$65,000
Second Round	$45,000
First Round	$30,000

Here's the breakdown of the Doubles prize money from 2020.

Australian Open prize money 2020: Men's and Women's Doubles

Winners	$760,000
Runners-up	$380,000
Semi-finalists	$200,000
Quarter-finalists	$110,000
Third Round	$62,000
Second Round	$38,000
First Round	$25,000

Australian Open prize money 2021: Mixed Doubles

Unfortunately for the Mixed Doubles players, their pay has either been cut or remained the same.

Winners	$150,000
Runners-up	$85,000
Semi-finalists	$45,000
Quarter-finalists	$24,000
Second Round	$12,000
First Round	$6,250

Here's the breakdown for Mixed Doubles last year, which saw the final four earn more than they will in 2021.

Australian Open prize money 2020: Mixed Doubles

Winners	$190,000
Runners-up	$100,000
Semi-finalists	$50,000
Quarter-finalists	$24,000
Second Round	$12,000
First Round	$6,250

The Australian Open is now in top spot among the Grand Slams in terms of total prize pool, though the changes in 2021 have seen the winners' money drop to third.

Here's how each major tournament breaks it down.

All figures in AUD.

French Open prize money

Total: $59 million

Winners: $2.5 million
Runners-Up: $1.25 million
Semi-finalist: $665,000
Quarter-finalist: $443,000

First-Round: $94,000

Wimbledon prize money

The Championships were cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but here are the 2019 figures.

Total: $67 million

Winners: $4.19 million
Runners-Up: $2.1 million
Semi-finalist: $1.05 million
Quarter-finalist: $524,000

First-round: $80,000

US Open prize money

Total: $69 million

Winners: $3.9 million
Runners-Up: $1.9 million
Semi-finalists: $1.04 million
Quarter-finalists: $550,000

First-Round: $79,000

Australian Open prize money year-by-year

2001 - $13,857,625

2002 - $16,500,000

2003 - $18,180,000

2004 - $19,000,000

2005 - $19,100,000

2006 - $19,300,000

2007 - $20,000,000

2008 - $20,600,000

2009 - $23,140,000

2010 - $24,094,000

2011 - $25,005,635

2012 - $26,000,000

2013 - $30,000,000

2014 - $33,000,000

2015 - $40,000,000

2016 - $44,000,000

2017 - $50,000,000

2018 - $55,000,000

2019 - $62,500,000

2020 - $71,000,000

2021 - $80,000,000