As the tour moves forward, players will now shift their focus to the next big challenge, with the rankings race heating up and fresh opportunities on the horizon…
Madison Keys made history at the 2025
Australian Open, securing the biggest
payday of her career after winning her
first Grand Slam title. The American’s
triumph in Melbourne saw her claim a
massive prize purse, but surprisingly, it
wasn’t a significant increase compared to
her runner-up earnings at the 2017 USE
two Open.
At 29 years old, Keys returned to the
Grand Slam final stage after an eight-
year hiatus, having previously fallen
short to Sloane Stephens at Flushing
Meadows. This time, however, she
emerged victorious after an incredible
run through the tournament, defeating
top players such as 10th seed Danielle
Collins, sixth seed Elena Rybakina, 28th
seed Elina Svitolina, and second seed Iga
Swiatek before facing defending
champion Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling
final.
Keys’ Impressive Victory and Earnings
In a dramatic championship match, Keys
secured a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory
over world No. 1 Sabalenka, cementing
her place among the sport’s elite. Her
reward? A staggering A$3,500,000 in
prize money, which translates to
approximately US$2,211,000 and
£1,780,000. This figure represents a
modest increase of just over 20% from
the US$1,825,000 she earned as the 2017
US Open runner-up.
Before the Australian Open, Keys had
accumulated career prize money of
US$18,854,583, but her latest win has
boosted that total to US$19,018,583. In
addition to the financial windfall, Keys
also collected 2,000 valuable WTA
ranking points, propelling her seven
spots up the rankings to No. 7—matching
her previous career-high position.
Aryna Sabalenka Holds Firm at
Despite falling short in her bid to defend
the title, Sabalenka managed to maintain
her grip on the WTA No. 1 ranking,
edging out Iga Swiatek. The Belarusian
star added 1,300 points to her total,
bringing her tally to 8,956 points,
ensuring she stays atop the leaderboard.
Her efforts in Melbourne also earned her
a paycheck of A$1,900,000, which
converts to approximately US$1.2 million
and £1.9 million.
Quarter-Finalists’ Earnings: Gauff, Svitolina, Pavlyuchenkova, and Navarro
Coco Gauff, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova,
Elina Svitolina, and Emma Navarro all
made it to the quarter-finals but fell
short of reaching the last four. Each of
them walked away with 430 ranking
points and a prize of A$665,000, which
equates to roughly US$420,000 and
£338,000.
Third-Round Performers: Raducanu, Pegula, Jabeur & More
Several notable names, including
Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, Danielle
Collins, Ons Jabeur, and Emma
Raducanu, saw their Australian Open
campaigns end in the third round. These
players each earned A$290,000,
approximately US$183,000 and £147,000,
along with 100 WTA ranking points to
add to their season totals.
First-Round Payouts and Qualifying Bonuses
Even those who exited in the first round
did not leave empty-handed. Each
received 10 WTA points (with an
additional 30 points for qualifiers) and
A$132,000, translating to about
US$83,000 and £67,000. Players who won
three matches in qualifying were
rewarded with an extra A$72,000
(US$46,000 and £37,000), adding a
lucrative bonus to their earnings.
Lucky Loser Eva Lys’ Impressive Run
One of the tournament’s standout stories
was Eva Lys, who entered the main draw
as a lucky loser and reached the fourth
round. Her performance earned her
A$420,000 (US$265,000 and £214,000), in
addition to A$49,000 (US$31,000 and
£25,000) from her efforts in the
qualifying rounds.
Conclusion
The 2025 Australian Open proved to be a
career-defining moment for Madison
Keys, who not only captured her first
Grand Slam title but also secured a
significant financial boost and a rise in
the WTA rankings. Meanwhile, other top
names like Sabalenka, Gauff, and
Raducanu also walked away with notable
earnings, highlighting the lucrative
nature of the season’s first major. As the
tour moves forward, players will now
shift their focus to the next big challenge,
with the rankings race heating up and
fresh opportunities on the horizon.
