The staggering £3.7 million prize money awarded to Carlos Alcaraz for his 2025 US Open victory was not the sum the Spanish tennis sensation ultimately banked, according to a fellow professional. In a stark revelation, world number 20 Karolina Muchova has claimed the champion "didn't even get half" of the headline figure after taxes and deductions.
The Taxing Reality of Grand Slam Glory
Alcaraz secured his second US Open title last September, defeating Italy's Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final. Media reports universally celebrated the accompanying £3.7 million ($5 million) cheque as the largest single payout in tennis history, a sum matched by women's champion Aryna Sabalenka.
However, speaking to Forbes, Czech player Karolina Muchova lifted the lid on the less glamorous financial aftermath. "In New York, where Carlos Alcaraz won that amount this year, he won't even get half of it," Muchova stated. "You pay taxes in America and at home, so no one will actually see the amount we're talking about."
How the Prize Money Gets Slashed
The significant reduction begins with the United States tax code. As a non-resident earning income in the country, Alcaraz fell into the top federal income tax bracket. With earnings surpassing $609,351, he faced a federal tax rate of 37%.
This immediate deduction amounted to approximately £1.37 million, leaving him with around £2.33 million before even departing New York. The financial hit was compounded by New York state tax, which applies a rate of 9.65% on income between $1.08 million and $5 million.
While a double taxation treaty between Spain and the US exists to prevent the same income being taxed twice, Muchova's comments highlight the substantial initial outlay. Furthermore, the champion's final take-home pay is subject to typical professional expenses, which include:
- Manager and agent fees
- Coaching and support staff salaries
- Travel and accommodation for his team
- Physical conditioning and medical costs
The Broader Debate on Player Revenue Share
Muchova's insights feed into a wider discussion about how tennis profits are distributed. When asked if players deserve a larger share of Grand Slam revenues, she agreed emphatically. Her argument points to the expanding schedules of major tournaments, which now often start on Sundays, generating extra revenue for organisers.
"Compared to other sports, our share is very small," she noted. "People read that the winner of the US Open won $5m, but that's just one person out of 200, if you include the qualifiers."
This aligns with a BBC report indicating that in the previous year, players received only between 12.5% and 20% of total Grand Slam tournament revenue. The revelation about Alcaraz's actual earnings underscores the disparity between public perception and the net financial reward for even the most successful athletes in the sport.
The story of Alcaraz's prize money serves as a potent reminder of the complex financial landscape in professional tennis, where multi-million pound prizes are significantly diminished before reaching the champion's pocket.
