The US Open has led the Grand Slams on prize money policy for half a century. In 1973 it became the first major to pay men and women equally, decades ahead of Wimbledon and the French Open, which equalised only in 2007. The 2026 increase is weighted deliberately towards singles and towards the early rounds: doubles and mixed doubles pay $1 million per winning team, while the first-round singles cheque rises 27 per cent. That matters because lower-ranked players who exit early carry the same travel and coaching costs as the champions, and a first-round payout often decides whether a season is financially viable. The extra $2 million paid into the pension fund follows sustained pressure from player bodies for retirement security. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka won the 2025 singles titles at Flushing Meadows.