New York ( Khyber Point)Tennis champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have both seen their record-breaking US Open prize money reduced by a hefty $2 million each due to taxes.
The two players were awarded $5 million each — the largest prize purse in Grand Slam history — after winning their respective titles at Flushing Meadows. However, following standard U.S. tax regulations, their take-home amount has now dropped to $3 million each.
Under U.S. federal tax laws, earnings above roughly $600,000 are subject to a 37 percent tax rate. For both Alcaraz and Sabalenka, that equated to about $1.85 million in taxes. Factoring in payments to coaches, agents, support staff, and travel expenses, the total deductions climbed to $2 million per player.
Fortunately, international tax treaties will save them from double taxation in their home countries. Spain has a tax agreement with the United States, sparing Alcaraz from paying additional levies upon his return. Similarly, Sabalenka, who now resides in Miami rather than Belarus, will also avoid further tax burdens.
Despite the cuts, neither player is expected to feel the pinch. With his sixth Grand Slam victory, Alcaraz has already amassed $53.5 million in career earnings, while Sabalenka ranks among the top earners in women’s tennis, with total winnings of $42.3 million.
Tax planning has long been a major consideration for elite athletes. Many top tennis stars and athletes from other sports choose to live in tax-free havens such as Monaco and the Bahamas to maximize their net earnings.
Even after the multimillion-dollar deductions, both Alcaraz and Sabalenka remain among the sport’s wealthiest and most successful athletes, with their recent victories further boosting their global standing.
