On January 5th, the prize money scheme for the 2025 Australian Open was announced. The champion of the singles event can earn 16 million RMB, and reaching the semi-finals will net 5 million RMB. Last year, Zheng Qinwen achieved a runner-up finish at the Australian Open.
Tennis has always been a sport with high prize money, and this year's Australian Open continues to offer substantial rewards. The scheme indicates that the champion can receive 3.5 million AUD (15.92 million RMB), the runner-up gets 1.9 million AUD (8.64 million RMB), and the semi-finalists are awarded 1.1 million AUD (5 million RMB).
Athletes who reach the quarter-finals will receive a prize of 665,000 AUD, while those who make it to the round of 16 will earn 420,000 AUD. The prizes for advancing through the first, second, and third rounds are 132,000 AUD, 200,000 AUD, and 290,000 AUD, respectively.
The Australian Open begins tomorrow, but the main draw starts on January 12th and concludes on the 26th. Yesterday, Zheng Qinwen participated in the countdown ceremony for the start of the Australian Open alongside the tournament director, highlighting her immense popularity at the moment.
Currently ranked 5th in the world, Zheng Qinwen is likely to reach the semi-finals if she performs normally. Last year, she made it to the final at the Australian Open, which was her first time reaching the final of a Grand Slam event. However, she fell short of the title with a 0-2 loss to Sabalenka.
Yesterday, Zheng Qinwen expressed her determination to win the championship this year: "Last year, I almost won a Grand Slam. My dreams extend beyond that; this is just the beginning."
In 2024, Zheng Qinwen achieved many breakthroughs on the court, leading to a new high in her prize money. Last year, the income of China's top female tennis player reached 20.6 million USD, making her the fourth-highest earning female athlete globally, following Gauff, Gu Ailing, and Swiatek.
This year's Australian Open features a total of 10 Chinese athletes. Besides Gu Ailing, Wang Xinyu, Yuan Yue, Wang Yafan, Wang Xiyu, Zheng Saisai, and Zhang Shuai will compete in the women's singles. On the men's side, three Chinese players—Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng, and Bu Yunchaokete—will participate in the competition.