Arena Sabalenka collected a stunning $3.6million from her US Open win, as she benefitted from a huge increase in the pay-out for the 2023 champion.

Sabalenka earned US Open redemption after she won the women’s title in New York.

The Belarusian suffered one of her darkest days when she lost last year’s final to Coco Gauff and she threatened a repeat of that wobble with some nervy moments.

Yet this was her time, as she stormed back in a dramatic second set to beat America’s Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5.

“I’m speechless right now, because so many times I was so close to getting the US Open title,” said Sabalenka.

“It’s a dream of mine, and finally I’ve got this beautiful trophy.

“It’s been a really difficult couple of weeks. Jessica played some amazing tennis and I’m more than sure that one day you’re going to get one Grand Slam, maybe more! Congratulations on a great summer.

“That second set, I was literally praying to get this win. It means a lot.

“I remember all those tough losses in the past here. I’m just super proud of myself, and I never say that, but I am. I’m super proud of myself and my team.

“No matter what situations we were faced this season and in the past, we were able to go through it and get these beautiful trophies.”

The prize money at the US Open has been given a 20 per-cent boost on the 2023 numbers, with the winners of the women’s and men’s singles draws earning $3.6 million each, a leap from the $3 million the two champions collected in 2023. The runners-up in the men’s and women’s draws will get $1.8 million each this year.

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This year’s US Open winners are earning more than the 2024 Wimbledon champions, who each took home £2.7 million, or just over $3.4 million, a bump of nearly 15% from 2023.

There has long been a debate about equal pay in tennis, with men playing best-of-five-sets and women’s matches played over three sets.

Yet despite the difference in workload, tennis is proud of a pay structure that ensures men and women are paid the same money, after a campaign promoted by tennis legend Billie Jean King changed the game forever a little over half a century ago.

“When we dreamed about a tour, dreamed about equal prize money, we were thinking it would take a long time,” said King.

“Firstly, that any girl in this world, if she were good enough, would have a place to compete. Not play, but compete.

“Number two, to be appreciated for our accomplishments, not only our looks. And number three, really important, to be able to make a living in tennis, the sport we had such a passion to play.

“As amateurs, we used to get $14 a day. We really wanted this. We wanted it for the future generations. We knew if we did well, it would help us a little. The real happenings were going to be to the later generations.

“It was a nightmare. It was really scary. I was really scared. But I kept thinking about the future. It’s very clear now, if you know the history, they’re living our dream.”

This is the breakdown of prize money at this year’s US Open:

Winner: $3,600,000
Runners-up: $1,800,000
Semi-finals: $1,000,000
Quarter-finals: $530,000
Round of 16: $325,000
Round of 32: $215,000
Round of 64: $140,000
Round of 128: $100,000