Alcaraz's $5 Million US Open Prize Faces Steep Tax Hit: How Much Will He Actually Keep?

Carlos Alcaraz secured his second US Open title and sixth Grand Slam championship by defeating Jannik Sinner on Sunday, earning a record prize money of $5 million. But it would incur significant tax deductions under US laws. The 22-year-old Spanish tennis star's victory, which marked his fourth win over Sinner in five meetings, came with the largest single payout in tennis history, part of the US Open's 20 percent increase in total prize fund for 2025.The historic prize money, however, will be substantially reduced due to US tax regulations. Alcaraz falls into the highest federal income tax bracket of 37% for earnings above $609,351, resulting in approximately $1.7 million in federal taxes.Additional New York state tax at 9.65% on earnings between $1.08 million and $5 million will further reduce his take-home amount to around $2.5 million. These deductions occur before accounting for usual player expenses like paying for his coaches, travel, accommodation and equipment.A tax treaty between Spain and the United States provides some relief for Alcaraz, ensuring he won't face double taxation in his home country.The match itself showcased Alcaraz's dominance, with the Spaniard delivering 42 winners compared to Sinner's 21. His performance included dropping only nine points behind his first serve throughout the match.Sinner managed to claim the second set, marking the only set Alcaraz lost during the entire tournament. However, Alcaraz quickly regained control in the third set, ultimately securing the victory despite Sinner saving two championship points.The victory improved Alcaraz's head-to-head record against Sinner to 10 wins in 15 meetings, including a 4-2 advantage in Grand Slam encounters, with two of these victories coming at the US Open.Both Alcaraz and women's champion Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Amanda Anisimova in the women's final, received equal prize money of $5 million, representing a 39 percent increase from the previous year's payout.