Sinner, Keys take home record Australian Open prize money

A clinical Jannik Sinner swept past Alexander Zverev to retain his Australian Open title on Sunday, January 26, 2025, and cement his status as the world's most dominant player, becoming the first Italian to win three Grand Slams.

He beat Alexander Zverev for $2.2 million in prize money. Runners-up took home $1.2 million from Melbourne. 

The Australian Open prize money is up 11% from last year, though prize pools have been increasing across the board. The tournament purse was about $60.5 million this year, a more than 11% increase over last year’s pool. 

Last year the US Open distributed a record $75 million in player compensation, a 15% increase from 2023. Wimbledon’s 2024 prize purse totaled $62.4 million—11% higher than in 2023—and about $3.3 million for the singles champs. French Open singles winners received $2.5 million last year—4% more than in 2023, while total prize money totaled about $56.2 million, 7.8% higher than in 2023.

The 23-year-old Sinner came through a tense battle between the world's top two players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration.

In doing so, he became the first Italian, man or woman, to win three Grand Slams, surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli's two.

The victory also thrust him alongside Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to successfully defend their Melbourne Park titles this century.

But it proved more misery for Germany's Zverev, who remains one of the world's best players never to taste Grand Slam glory, falling short once again in his third big final.

Ice-cool Sinner proved to be a tower of mental strength in Australia, with his defence coming against the backdrop of an ongoing doping case after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol last year.

Hanging over his head has been a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against his exoneration, with the global body seeking a long ban.

A hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for April.

But he cast all the worries aside to notch a 19th career title and extend his incredible win streak to 21 matches.

Last Saturday, Underdog Madison Keys upset Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final to win her first Grand Slam crown at the age of 29.

The American Keys ended world No 1 Sabalenka's dream of becoming the first woman for 26 years to win a third successive Melbourne Park singles crown.

Keys yelled in delight and wiped away tears on securing the title after withstanding a fierce fightback from the Belarusian two-time defending champion.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 champion, buried her head in a towel after her 20-match win streak at Melbourne Park was ended.

For 19th-seeded Keys, it was the culmination of a 15-year journey from teenage prodigy to major winner.

The American had been tipped as a future world No 1 after winning her maiden WTA Tour match at the age of 14.

She made her first major semifinal at Melbourne Park 10 years ago as a 19-year-old but a decade on she can finally call herself a Grand Slam champion.

Keys becomes the fourth oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968.