US Open sets $108 million purse as players address governance and diversity

Prize money expansion and player council

The U.S. Open allocated a $108 million prize purse for the 2026 tournament, while the four Grand Slams unveiled plans to form a joint player advisory council. The initiatives follow collective pressure from top competitors seeking a larger proportion of event revenue and direct participation in tournament governance. World number one Aryna Sabalenka and men's world number one Jannik Sinner previously restricted pre-tournament press conferences at the French Open and Wimbledon to 15 minutes to represent the approximate 15% revenue share directed to player compensation. Jessica Pegula, the world number three, noted that coordination between the men's and women's tours helped produce the advisory body and expanded player welfare contributions. Sabalenka expressed relief regarding the progress during pre-tournament interviews in Flushing Meadows.

We're super happy... that we're finally getting to the point where ⁠we wanted to be at the very beginning.

Participation and diversity metrics

Athletes in New York also reviewed demographic growth and international representation across professional and amateur tennis. Pegula pointed to the worldwide composition of player rosters and fan communities, citing the rise of competitors such as Qinwen Zheng of China and Alex Eala of the Philippines. In men's tennis, Frances Tiafoe and France's Arthur Fils contested the Cincinnati Open final, becoming the first Black players to compete against each other in an ATP 1000 tournament final. Amateur data from the USTA 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report showed 3.7 million Black Americans played tennis at least once in 2025, representing a rise of more than 450,000 from 2024. The same report indicated Hispanic and Latino players represented 19% of U.S. participants in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, while Asian and Pacific Islander representation remained unchanged at 11%.

Financial barriers in grassroots tennis

Grassroots accessibility remains a significant hurdle despite rising participation figures. Tiafoe noted that equipment, coaching, racquets, strings, and shoes present steep costs for families in underserved neighborhoods. Although the USTA provides outreach programs to broaden access, Tiafoe explained that the economic realities of tennis cannot be resolved immediately.

It's not something that's going to change overnight. Cost is cost, right? It's got to come from somewhere.

Pegula noted that competitors will closely evaluate the governance specifics of the new Grand Slam advisory council, including its membership criteria, institutional authority, and player welfare provisions.

Environmental distractions at Flushing Meadows

Tournament preparations at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also involved discussions over venue atmosphere and court conditions. British number one Katie Boulter, scheduled to play American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round, reported that cannabis smoke drifting from nearby Corona Park interfered with concentration on practice courts. Recreational cannabis use is legal for adults aged 21 and older across New York state, though smoking remains banned within tournament grounds. British qualifiers Harriet Dart and Fran Jones also reported encountering the odor on outside courts during qualifying rounds. Previous competitors, including Nick Kyrgios in 2022, Maria Sakkari in 2023, and Casper Ruud, had previously reported similar court distractions. The USTA stated that it is collaborating with local police and the municipal parks department to reduce smoking along the facility boundary ahead of the opening round on Sunday.