Roland Garros prize fund surpasses $50 million mark

The French clay Grand Slam in Paris increased its prize fund by 13.7% this year, taking it past the $50 million mark for the first time.

The prize fund of Roland Garros 2023 is 49.6 million Euros, equivalent to 53.3 million USD. Compared to last year, the organizers increased the prize fund by 6.5 million USD, thereby surpassing the prize fund of the Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the year, which divided 49.2 million USD for tennis players in January.

Philippe Chatrier main court at Roland Garros. Photo: RG

Like the Australian Open, the Roland Garros prize money increase is mainly aimed at the group of players who are eliminated early. The prize money for the first three rounds has increased the most, from 11 to 13%. Those who lose their opening match in the men's singles will take home $74,000, up $7,500 from last season. Prize money for the second and third rounds has also increased significantly, to $104,000 and $152,000, respectively.

Even the qualifiers received about 12% more prize money than last year, with the third-place qualifier taking home $36,500, $3,200 more than last year.

This year’s men’s and women’s singles champions will receive nearly $2.5 million, $107,000 more than the checks Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek received last year. This year’s finalists will receive $1.25 million, semifinalists will receive $677,000 and quarterfinalists will receive $430,000.

In terms of total prize money, Roland Garros is the Grand Slam with the second highest prize fund, just behind the US Open's $57 million. Wimbledon last year distributed a total of $49.5 million and has not announced this year's prize fund.

Roland Garros held its draw yesterday, May 25. The tournament will start its main draw on May 28 with Carlos Alcaraz as the top seed and Daniil Medvedev as the second seed. Defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew due to injury, while Novak Djokovic is the third seed.

In the women's singles, Swiatek is the top seed, ahead of Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. Swiatek is the reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion, Sabalenka is the Australian Open champion, and Rybakina is the current Wimbledon champion.

Vy Anh

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