French Open Champs Back to Pre-pandemic Pay; Total Prize Money Tops $50M

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2022 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with trophy after winning the men's singles final against Norway's Casper Ruud. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2022 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with trophy after winning the men's singles final against Norway's Casper Ruud. (Reuters)
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French Open Champs Back to Pre-pandemic Pay; Total Prize Money Tops $50M

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2022 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with trophy after winning the men's singles final against Norway's Casper Ruud. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 5, 2022 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates with trophy after winning the men's singles final against Norway's Casper Ruud. (Reuters)

Paychecks for the two French Open singles champions will return to the pre-pandemic amount of 2.3 million euros each — about $2.5 million — and the total prize money is rising to a tournament-record 49.6 million euros — about $54 million.

The French tennis federation announced Friday what it will be offering at the clay-court Grand Slam event. Qualifying begins May 22; main-draw play starts May 28.

The title winners in singles will get the same pay as in 2019, which was the high mark in Paris. During the coronavirus pandemic, those prizes dropped to 1.6 million euros in 2020 and 1.4 million euros in 2021, before going back up to 2.2 million euros a year ago. Total prizes sank during that span, too, including to 34 million euros in 2021.

This year's total represents a jump of more than 10% from 2022.

Losers in the first round of singles will get 69,000 euros — about $75,000 — which is a 50% hike from what they got in 2019, and an 11% increase from last year.

Losers in the first round of qualifying receive 16,000 euros — a little more than $17,000 — more than double what the 2019 payout was and up 14% from last year.

Money for wheelchair and quad tennis competitions rose 40% to 810,000 euros ($880,000), while women's and men's doubles payouts are 4% higher, including 590,000 euros ($640,000) to each winning pair.



Arsenal Goalkeeper Jack Porter, 16, Becomes Club's Youngest-ever Starter

Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Arsenal Goalkeeper Jack Porter, 16, Becomes Club's Youngest-ever Starter

Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jack Porter became Arsenal's youngest-ever player to start a first-team game when the 16-year-old goalkeeper made his debut against Bolton in the English League Cup on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
At 16 years, 72 days old, Porter surpasses club icon Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years, 177 days when he started against Rotherham in October 2003.
Porter was selected in place of first choice David Raya, who was ruled out with a thigh injury, Arsenal said.
Porter is an England under-17 international and was a substitute for Arsenal's game against Manchester City on Sunday.
He is the second-youngest player to represent Arsenal's first team.
Ethan Nwaneri holds that record after coming on as a substitute aged 15 years, 181 days in September 2022.
Nwaneri scored twice in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the third-division club.