📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻

Ultimate guide: Australian Open's $111m pay day

SEN  •  January 13th, 2026 1:28 pm
Ultimate guide: Australian Open's $111m pay day
  • Aus Open draw is Thursday 2:30pm AEDT
The Australian Open is back for another year and it’s the richest tournament in grand slam history!
This year’s prize pool totals $111.5 million which marks a 16 per cent jump in earnings across all stages of the tournament with the men’s and women’s winners set to pocket $4.15 million.
“This 16 per cent increase demonstrates our commitment to supporting tennis careers at every level,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.
“From boosting qualifying prize money by 55 per cent since 2023 to enhancing player benefits, we’re ensuring professional tennis is sustainable for all competitors.”
__Prize Money Breakdown: __
Men's and women's singles
  • Winner: $4.15M (+19%)
  • Runner-up: $2.15M (+13%)
  • Semi-finalists: $1.25M (+14%)
  • Quarterfinalists: $750K (+13%)
  • Fourth round: $480K (+14%)
  • Third round: $327.75K (+13%)
  • Second round: $225K (+13%)
  • First Round: $150K (+14%)
  • Qualifying per round:
  • Q3: $83.5K (+16%)
  • Q2: $57K (+16%)
  • Q1: $40.5K (+16%)
WHEN IS THE DRAW?
The Draw is set to take place on Thursday 15 January at 2:30pm AEDT with defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys set to take part alongside Todd Woodbridge and Jelena Dokic.
It will be live streamed across YouTube and you can follow live on SEN.
WHEN DOES THE MAIN DRAW START?
Play gets started on Sunday January 18 this year to ease pressure should rain delays or extreme weather force matches to be stopped.
Play on the outer courts will start at 11am and on the show courts between 11am and 1pm. Evening sessions will start between 5-7pm depending on the venue.
The finals across singles and doubles are scheduled for January 31 and February 1.
WHO WILL WIN?
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the absolute favourites in the men’s draw but you can never write Novak Djokovic off in Melbourne while Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will be heavily backed in the women’s draw.
SEN will be live from Melbourne Park throughout the tournament.
SEEDS
Men’s Singles
  1. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
  2. Jannik Sinner (ITA)
  3. Alexander Zverev (GER)
  4. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
  5. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
  6. Alex de Minaur (AUS)
  7. Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
  8. Ben Shelton (USA)
  9. Taylor Fritz (USA)
  10. Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
  11. Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
  12. Casper Ruud (NOR)
  13. Andrey Rublev (RUS)
  14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
  15. Karen Khachanov (RUS)
  16. Jakub Mensik (CZE)
  17. Jiri Lehecka (CZE)
  18. Francisco Cerúndolo (ARG)
  19. Tommy Paul (USA)
  20. Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
  21. Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
  22. Luciano Darderi (ITA)
  23. Tallon Griekspoor (NED)
  24. Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)
  25. Learner Tien (USA)
  26. Cameron Norrie (GBR)
  27. Brandon Nakashima (USA)
  28. Joao Fonseca (BRA)
  29. Frances Tiafoe (USA)
  30. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
  31. Valentin Vacherot (MON)
  32. Corentin Moutet (FRA)
Next in line: Tomas Machac (CZE)
Women’s Singles
  1. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
  2. Iga Swiatek (POL)
  3. Coco Gauff (USA)
  4. Amanda Anisimova (USA)
  5. Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
  6. Jessica Pegula (USA)
  7. Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
  8. Mirra Andreeva (RUS)
  9. Madison Keys (USA)
  10. Belinda Bencic (SUI)
  11. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)
  12. Elina Svitolina (UKR)
  13. Linda Noskova (CZE)
  14. Clara Tauson (DEN)
  15. Emma Navarro (USA)
  16. Naomi Osaka (JPN)
  17. Victoria Mboko (CAN)
  18. Liudmila Samsonova (RUS)
  19. Karolina Muchova (CZE)
  20. Marta Kostyuk (UKR)
  21. Elise Mertens (BEL)
  22. Leylah Fernández (CAN)
  23. Diana Shnaider (RUS)
  24. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
  25. Paula Badosa (ESP)
  26. Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
  27. Sofia Kenin (USA)
  28. Emma Raducanu (GBR)
  29. Iva Jovic (USA)
  30. Maya Joint (AUS)
  31. Anna Kalinskaya (RUS)
  32. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
Next in line: Lois Boisson (FRA)
__AUSSIES __
(note Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the singles draw but will play men's doubles)
Men
No.6 Alex de MinaurAlexei PopyrinAdam WaltonAleksandar VukicThanasi KokkinakisTristan Schoolkate
WILDCARDS
James DuckworthJordan ThompsonChristopher O’ConnellRinky Hijikata
Women
No.30 Maya JointDaria KasatkinaAjla TomljanovicKim Birrell
WILDCARDS
Priscilla HonTalia GibsonEmerson JonesTaylah Preston

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