US Open: 53 million US dollars in 2018! Also the registration lists are out

As the American Tennis Federation USTA announced, the total prize money at the US Open 2018 is now 53 million US dollars – no other major pays out that much. The registration lists are also known as of today.

53 million US dollars in total prize money means an increase of a slim 57 percent since 2013! The year 2018 also marks the 45th edition since 1973, when the same prize money for men and women was introduced for the first time. And the 50th edition since the beginning of the Open Era in 1968.

The winners of this year’s individual competition will be rewarded with 3.8 million US dollars, in doubles there will be 700,000 US dollars for the winning team and in the qualifying tournament there will be a total of 3 million US dollars.

Kelly Clarkson will be singing at the opening ceremony. In 2002 Clarkson won the first edition of “American Idol”, the American (and more serious) counterpart to “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”. She is now a three-time Grammy winner.

The current world rankings were used for the main field cut. Six weeks before the tournament starts, the men’s team has six former winners in the main draw: Roger Federer (2004-2008), Rafael Nadal (2010, 2013, 2017), Novak Djokovic (2011, 2015), Juan Martin del Potro (2009), Marin Cilic (2014) and, thanks to his protected ranking, Andy Murray (2012).

The first 102 players of the current world ranking are currently directly in the main field – with the exception of Tomas Berdych, who is injured on his back and will miss the entire hard court season. On the German and Austrian side, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Peter Gojowczyk, Mischa Zverev, Maximilian Marterer, Jan-Lennard Struff, Florian Mayer, Yannick Hanfmann and, as one of three men via Protected Ranking: Cedrik-Marcel Stebe.

In the women’s singles, the main field cut is 101st – except for Sara Errani, who is currently banned. Six former Champs are directly in the main field: Serena Williams (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-2014), Venus Williams (2000, 2001), Maria Sharapova (2006), Sam Stosur (2011), Angelique Kerber (2016) and Sloane Stephens (2017).

From a German perspective, Julia Görges, Tatjana Maria, Andrea Petkovic, Carina Witthöft and – as one of four women via Protected Ranking: Laura Siegemund.

16 players will also qualify for the main draw, as will eight wildcard holders each. Qualifying starts in Flushing Meadows on August 21st and the main tournament runs from August 27th to September 9th.

If you want to be part of the US Open: Tickets are available here!