Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are the top favorites to win the upcoming Australian Open.
The organization managed to slightly raise the 2021 prize money despite the global pandemic from $71,000,000 to $71,500,000 (Australian dollars). The tournament also embraced the global trend in tennis in diminishing the sometimes absurd prize money of the winners and finalists. The aim is to help the players that lost in the earlier stages of the tournaments. That will definitely help the players that may struggle financially.
While the slam winners will “lose” 33% of their prize money (in singles), the players that will lose in the first rounds had a good increase. Here the table.
|
PRIZE MONEY |
2020 | 2021 | % change |
| SINGLES | |||
| Winner | 4,120,000 | 2,750,000 | -33% |
| Runner-up | 2,065,000 | 1,500,000 | -27% |
| Semi-Finalists | 1,040,000 | 850,000 | -18% |
| Quarter-Finalists | 525,000 | 525,000 | 0% |
| Round of 16 | 300,000 | 320,000 | 7% |
| Round of 32 | 180,000 | 215,000 | 19% |
| Round of 64 | 128,000 | 150,000 | 17% |
| First Round | 90,000 | 100,000 | 11% |
| DOUBLES (per pair) | |||
| Winner | 760,000 | 600,000 | -21% |
| Runner-up | 380,000 | 340,000 | -11% |
| Semi-Finalists | 200,000 | 200,000 | 0% |
| Quarter-Finalists | 110,000 | 110,000 | 0% |
| Round of 16 | 62,000 | 65,000 | 5% |
| Round of 32 | 38,000 | 45,000 | 18% |
| First Round | 25,000 | 30,000 | 20% |
| QUAL SINGLES | |||
| Round of 32 | 50,000 | 52,500 | 5% |
| Round of 64 | 32,500 | 35,000 | 8% |
| First Round | 20,000 | 25,000 | 25% |
| Lucky Losers | . | 10,000 | |
| MIXED DOUBLES (per pair) | |||
| Winner | 190,000 | 150,000 | -21% |
| Runner-up | 100,000 | 85,000 | -15% |
| Semi-Finalists | 50,000 | 45,000 | -10% |
| Quarter-Finalists | 24,000 | 24,000 | 0% |
| Round of 16 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 0% |
| First Round | 6,250 | 6,250 | 0% |
Novak Djokovic in 2020
Ranked world no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 21st of November when he surrendered to Dominic Thiem 7-5 6-710 7-65 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This year Novak has a 41-5 win-loss record. Djokovic clinched 4 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open, in Dubai, in New York and in Rome. Novak was the finalist at the French Open.
Rafael Nadal in 2020
Now the world no.2, Rafael played his last match on the 21st of November when he lost to Daniil Medvedev 3-6 7-64 6-3 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
This year Rafael has a composed 27-7 match record. The Spaniard conquered 2 titles in 2020 in Acapulco and at the French Open.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal fought against each other 56 times. Their head to head is 29-27 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time when they squared off, Rafael Nadal won 6-0 6-2 7-5 in the final in Paris (French Open) on the 11th of October 2020.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
Naomi Osaka in 2020
Now ranked no.3, Naomi played her last match on the 12th of September when she overcame Victoria Azarenka 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the final of the U.S. Open to win her 6th career title.
During this season Osaka has a 16-3 record. Naomi has won 1 title at the U.S. Open. The Japanese was the runner-up in New York.
Serena Williams in 2020
Now ranked no.11, the American was supposed to play on the 30th of September. However, she conceded a walk over to Tsvetana Pironkova in the 2nd round of the French Open (draw).
This season Serena has a 17-5 record. The American conquered 1 title in Auckland.
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Osaka. The last time they fought against each other, Serena Williams won 6-3 6-4 in the quarter in Toronto (Rogers Cup) in August 2019.
Here the highlights.
