The much-anticipated men’s singles final at the Australian Open will witness an epic showdown. Top seeds Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, both aiming for the title, will play with high intensity. The head-to-head record sees Zverev leading 4-2, although Sinner claimed their previous encounter in a gripping semi-final at the Cincinnati Open last year. Their previous encounter in a Grand Slam saw Zverev defeat Sinner in the 2023 US Open round of 16. While Sinner is aiming for back-to-back titles in Melbourne, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist Zverev is chasing his first Grand Slam. The duo will fight not only for the title but also for the enormous prize money the tournament has to offer.

The huge financial rewards on offer add intensity to this final showdown. The men’s singles and women’s doubles championships will be played on Sunday. This year, the prize money has increased at the Australian Open, making the competition even more rewarding.

The singles champions will be rewarded with a massive amount of $3.5 million each. That is a $350,000 increase in the amount as compared to last year. Meanwhile, the runner-ups will also receive an impressive $1.9 million. Since 2001, the Australian Open has been providing equal prize money for male and female players as it looks to set a strong example of equality in sports.

Meanwhile not as profitable as singles, but the men’s and women’s doubles champions will get $810,000 with each player splitting the amount. While the doubles runners-up will get $440,000.

Mixed doubles champions will receive $175,000 combined, while the runner-ups will split $97,750. With the growing popularity and the attractive prize money on offer, one can say that the sport is evolving and it won’t be a bad idea to call it the Golden Era for tennis. But who will bag the men’s singles title today?

A golden chance for Alexander Zverev or Jannik Sinner to bag big

The Australian Open 2025 is evidence of tennis’s growing financial rewards and prize money reaching record heights. The tournament’s prize pool now stands at $96.5 million, marking an 11.56% increase compared to 2024. Over the past decade, the prize money has increased by an astonishing 119%, highlighting the sport’s global growth and popularity.

This year, the singles champions will walk away with an 11% rise from last year’s amount. Even the players who exited in earlier rounds have seen significant financial boosts. First-round singles participants earned $132,000, while those advancing to the second round pocketed $200,000. Semifinalists received an impressive $1.1 million, ensuring considerable payouts across all stages of the tournament.

Although the Australian Open’s rewards are impressive, it still trails other Grand Slams in prize money. Last year, US Open winners took home $3.6 million each, making it the most rewarding. Wimbledon champions earned $3.43 million, while the French Open offered $2.61 million to the singles winners.

Beyond the Grand Slams, tournaments like the ATP Finals and WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia now offer even higher payouts, with champions earning up to $5.2 million. As tennis continues to evolve, the Australian Open remains a vital contributor to the sport’s golden age.