Record jackpot for US Open tennis champions

The US Open is to become the first tennis tournament ever to reward its players with a $US90 million ($A139 million) prizemoney windfall.

The US Tennis Association is once again offering the largest purse in tennis history, as it announced on Wednesday the men’s and singles winners would receive record $US5 million ($A7.7 million) jackpots.

The total players’ fund will top the $US75 million ($A116 million) in 2024, the previous highest purse in tennis history -- an increase of 20 percent.

The season’s final grand slam event will begin with a new mixed doubles event which will feature a $US1 million ($A1.5 million) winner’s cheque on August 19-20.

Singles competition starts on a Sunday for the first time on August 24 in an event that will expand from 14 days to 15.

The increases at Flushing Meadows come as the sport’s leading players have been in discussions with each of the four slams in a bid to receive a higher percentage of revenues at the US Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff and 2024 US Open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were among 20 players who signed a letter sent to the heads of the four events in March seeking more prize money and a greater say in what they called “decisions that directly impact us.”

Since then, some players have held talks with the majors.

This year’s singles winners’ cheques represent a 39 percent hike from last year’s $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million).

At Wimbledon, which ended last month, prize money went up about seven percent to about $US73 million ($A113 million).

With AP