Australian Open 2026: Prize Money Breakdown

Bianca Richardson — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:32:55 +0000

The Australian Open 2026 is being held at Melbourne Park, from 18 January to 1 February 2026, with the preliminary rounds played from 12 to 15 January. It is the 114th edition of the Australian Open, the 58th in the Open Era and the first major of the year.

Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s singles champion. The defending women’s singles champion, Madison Keys, lost in the fourth round.

The total purse for the 2026 Australian Open is set at $75 million US, or $111.5 million Australian. It’s a 16 percent increase from last year.

That’s also the largest year-to-year increase in Australian Open history — and the 2026 tournament now has the second-highest prize purse in Grand Slam history, trailing only the 2025 US Open.

Winners of the men’s and women’s singles events will earn $2,793,365 (US) each. That’s an 18.57% increase from the 2025 reward, which was $2,198,928.

Men’s and women’s doubles victors will take home $621,977 (US), an increase of 11.11% from 2025’s tournament.

Additionally, first-round losers at the 2026 Australian Open will still make $100,965 (US), while a second-round appearance guarantees at least $151,448 (US).

Also Read: Top 4 Longest Winning Streaks In Tennis

Australian Open 2026: Prize money breakdown

Figures in USD

Men’s and women’s singles

Place	Prize money
Winner	$2,793,365
Runner-up	$1,447,165
Semifinalist	$841,375
Quarterfinalist	$504,825
Round 4	$323,088
Round 3	$220,609
Round 2	$151,448
Round 1	$100,965

Men’s and women’s doubles

Place	Prize money
Winner	$621,977
Runner-up	$335,176
Semifinalist	$190,048
Quarterfinalist	$109,191
Round 3	$63,580
Round 2	$44,229
Round 1	$30,408

Other Grand Slam Prize Money Breakdown

Totals from 2025 based on current conversion rates (USD)

French Open

Total: $63.84 million
Winners: $2.9 million
Runners-up: $1.45 million
Semifinalists: $784,983
Quarter-finalists: $500,569
First round: $88,737

Wimbledon

Total: $73.5 million
Winners: $4.07 million
Runners-up: $2.06 million
Semifinalists: $1.05 million
Quarter-finalists: $524,600
First round: $89,529

US Open

Total:$90 million
Winners: $5 million
Runners-up: $2.5 million
Semifinalists: $1.26 million
Quarter-finalists: $660,000
First round: $110,000

‘I Was Poisoned’: Novak Djokovic’s Explosive Claim Before 2022 Australian Open Deportation

Vishwajeet Jaiswal — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 07:31:33 +0000

Novak Djokovic’s Experience in Melbourne Hotel Detention

In a recent interview, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, revisited his traumatic experience from 2022, when his visa for the Australian Open was canceled. Detained in a Melbourne hotel, Djokovic claims he was poisoned by the food served during his five-day stay. While his statement sparked debate, experts suggest that food poisoning in such a setting is “possible but very unlikely.”

Novak Djokovic’s Poisoning Claim: Real or Exaggerated?

Djokovic stated that, after returning to Serbia, medical tests revealed “high levels of heavy metals” in his system, specifically lead and mercury. This led him to believe that the food served in his Melbourne detention may have been the cause.

However, experts like Damian Maganja from the George Institute for Global Health find this accusation “wild” due to the limited time Djokovic spent in detention. He pointed out that no other reports of food contamination had surfaced from that period, making the claim less credible.

Heavy Metals in Food: What Experts Say

Food contamination with heavy metals like mercury and lead is rare, especially in Australia. Dr. Barbara Cardoso, a nutritional biochemist from Monash University, explained that Australia’s exposure to lead and mercury is generally low. This is largely due to strict regulations phasing out lead from paint, petrol, and plumbing.

Djokovic, a vegan, likely consumed plant-based meals, which are less likely to be contaminated with mercury. “Mercury is mainly present in fish and shellfish,” said Cardoso, “and these foods are known to have minimal concentrations in Australia.”

Dr. Catharine Fleming, a public health expert, added that while food provision during the pandemic quarantine was poorly managed, connecting Djokovic’s symptoms to specific foods without clinical tests is challenging.

Expert Opinions on Djokovic’s Poisoning Claim

Expert	Expertise	Opinion
Damian Maganja	Research Fellow, Food Policy	“Possible but unlikely due to lack of other complaints.”
Dr. Barbara Cardoso	Nutritional Biochemist	“Australia has low exposure to mercury and lead contamination.”
Dr. Catharine Fleming	Public Health Lecturer	“Hard to prove causation between food consumed and poisoning.”

Djokovic’s Visa Saga and Public Reaction

Djokovic’s visa cancellation in 2022 caused international headlines. Initially barred from entering Australia for being unvaccinated, the decision was later reinforced by then-immigration minister Alex Hawke, citing potential risks to public health and social cohesion.

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios later criticized how his home country treated Djokovic, remarking, “we treated him like shit.” Kyrgios acknowledged that the visa situation was poorly handled, though he did not specifically comment on Djokovic’s poisoning claim.

Conclusions from Experts

While Djokovic’s claims have reignited debates, experts agree that the likelihood of food poisoning during his detention is slim. The lack of supporting clinical evidence, combined with the fact that Australia’s food safety measures are robust, make it improbable that Djokovic’s high metal levels originated from his brief stay in Melbourne.

Moving Forward: Djokovic’s Return to the Australian Open

As Djokovic prepares for the 2025 Australian Open, his experiences from 2022 continue to shape public opinion. While his poisoning claim may be unlikely, it underscores the stress and controversy surrounding his visa saga. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment on the matter but wished Djokovic well in his upcoming tournament.

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Australian Open – Sporting Scroll