The Grand Slam tournaments are introducing a Grand Slam Player Council to give players a stronger voice on on-court and tournament issues, with input from a newly formed Player Council aimed at boosting player revenue and participation.

In response to player concerns, the slams announced a joint increase in prize money and established a Grand Slam Player Advisory Council to facilitate direct communication between players and the tournaments.

The US Open is underway with Fan Week and qualifying rounds running from late August, leading into the main draw at the end of the month.

Carlos Alcaraz returns to the ATP tour at the US Open after a wrist injury, signaling a comeback with notable media attention.

The US Open prize structure includes a record singles champion’s purse of 5.5 million dollars, as part of a 20% rise in total player compensation to 108 million dollars for the tournament.

Milestones in the prize ladder include 140,000 for entry into the main draw, 780,000 for a quarterfinalist, 1.45 million for a semifinalist, and 2.8 million for the runner-up.

Overall prize pool is up 20% from last year and 44% since 2024, with play beginning next week.

The USTA has launched a new player support program with an initial 2 million dollars, split equally between men’s and women’s players, to provide benefits and supplement pension funds, guided by the Grand Slam Player Council.

USTA CEO Craig Tiley framed these steps as a multi-year investment in athletes and emphasized the Open as a premier economic opportunity for players, fans, and partners.

The prize increase is presented as a response to players’ calls for higher compensation and as part of broader efforts to ease unrest over earnings and governance.

Top players, including Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, have been involved in ongoing campaigns criticizing slam decisions, arrangements, and governance.

An advisory council will launch after the US Open to provide a forum for player welfare and input on related issues.