2026 US Open Prize Money Disparity
At the 2026 US Open, the male singles champion earned approximately 52 cents for every dollar earned by the female singles champion when prize money is calculated against the time each player spent competing on the court.
Match Time and Set Structures
Elena Rybakina spent 12 hours and 4 minutes on court across seven rounds to claim the women’s singles title, averaging approximately $456,000 per match-hour. Alexander Zverev spent 23 hours and 11 minutes on court during his run to the men’s title, earning approximately $237,000 per match-hour. Put in comparative terms, Zverev earned just 52 cents for every dollar earned by Rybakina on a time-spent basis.
This financial discrepancy stems directly from a structural inequality built into Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Women play best-of-three-set matches, while men play best-of-five. A female champion must win 14 sets over seven rounds, whereas a male champion must win 21 sets—representing 50 percent more play.
On-Court Workload Comparisons
The structural difference impacts total sets, games, and hours played during a tournament run. Rybakina played 17 sets and 159 games on her way to the 2026 title. Zverev played 26 sets and 271 games, spending 11 hours and 7 minutes longer on court—or 92 percent more time—to secure the exact same $5.5 million championship prize.
While tournament officials do not illegally discriminate against male players and prize money is awarded for winning a tournament rather than as an hourly wage, the data documents a systematic divergence in workload. A male player can concede two sets and remain in the tournament, while a female player who loses two sets is eliminated.