Not sure if you can blame it on COVID, but the prize money for the 2021 Australian Open for the men’s draw has been reduced significantly from this year.

The purse for the men’s singles champion is down 33% to AU$2,750,000 from the $4,120,000 that it was this year. The runner-up next year will walk away with a prize money check for $1,500,000, down 27% from $2,065,000 in 2020.

The semifinalists at the Melbourne Park will take home with a prize money of $850,000, which is 18% less than the assured payout of $1,040,000 at the last-four stage this year. However, the prize money for reaching the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open remains the same from this year, at $525,000.

Australian Open 2021: Increase in payouts for reaching rounds of 16, 32, 64

While the payouts for the business end of the year’s first Grand Slam has seen a decline, the prize money for reaching the rounds of 16, 32 and 64 have been increased by 7, 19% and 17% respectively. 

While those reaching the round of 16 will pocket $320,000 each, up from $300,000 this year, the ones failing to progress beyond the round of 32 will take home $215,000 each, marking a marginal increase from $180,000 in 2020.

Those falling in the first round will also see a 11% pay raise, from $90,000 this year to $100,000.

Australian Open 2021: Doubles champions to take home $600,000

The prize pool for the business-end of men’s doubles has also seen a decline as the championship winners will take home $600,000, down 21% from $760,000 this year.

The pair finishing runners-up will pocket $340,000, down marginally from $380,000 in 2020.

However, the purses for semifinalists and quarter-finalists remain unchanged from this year, at $200,000 and $110,000 respectively.

As with the men’s singles draw, here too, the payouts for those reaching the rounds of 16, 32 and 64 have seen a slight increase. Those reaching the fourth round will pocket $65,000, up from 62,000 this year, while those falling in the round of 32 will take home $45,000, a marginal increase from $38,000 this year.

Qualifying purse has been raised marginally from 2020

Those losing in the first round will also pocket an increased payout of $30,000, 20% more than $25,000 this year.

The championship winner in the mixed doubles category will also take home a decreased purse of $150,000 from $190,000 this year. The runners-up pair will pocket $85,000, down 15% from $100,000 this year. However, the qualifying purse has been raised marginally from this year.

Read More: Roger Federer to Drop Out of Top-5 Post Australian Open 2021 Withdrawal

The women’s purse in both the singles and doubles draw will be the same as the men’s.

Serb Novak Djokovic will be the defending men’s champion at the event next year, while American Sofia Kenin will defend her women’s title.