The US Open may still be a week away, but the Flushing Meadows courts are already full of players as qualifying for the final major of 2024 is underway.

A host of rising stars and established players who have dropped down the rankings are competing in New York and the prize money up for grabs is impressive.

First round losers in US Open qualifying will collect $15,000, while players who make it through to the second round of qualifying are guaranteed $38,000.

If you make it to the third and final round of qualifying, that is worth $52,000 and a place in the first round draw at the US Open will ensure a $100,000 windfall.

This income is vital to players who struggle to finance their careers without the big prize money collected by the elite performers at the top of the game, with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic among those eager to see a wider spread of the money in tennis to lower ranked players.

“We have to do a better job, we have to create a better system for them (lower-ranked players) to make a living, at least break even,” says Djokovic. “If you’re 200 in the world, you can’t travel with a coach. This is not good enough.”

The finances from a Grand Slam qualifying can fund a player’s career for a few months, with former ATP performer Conor Niland telling Tennis365 the boost in qualifying prize money at the four major events has been a massive improvement for the game at the lower levels.

“Prize money had gone up a little since I retired and Grand Slam qualifying prize money has certainly improved, but the guys that don’t make it into the main draws for the big events are still struggling to get the fan experience or the profile to make a successful living out of it,” Niland told Tennis365.

“Golf has regional tours that mean you can make a name for yourself and earn enough money even if you are not competing against guys on the PGA Tour, but we don’t really have that in tennis. You are either in the top 100 or you are struggling to break even.

US Open News

The 7 American men to win US Open in Open Era – as current crop look to end 21-year wait

Jannik Sinner’s ‘biggest question mark’ ahead of US Open revealed by former British No 1

“There is very little difference between someone ranked 150 in the tennis world and 80, but your prize money falls off a cliff if you are at the bottom end of that range.”

“To be one of the top 200 people in the world at anything is pretty good, but unfortunately, only 128 guys get to play the Grand Slams in tennis.

“Even though there is very little difference between someone ranked 150 in the tennis world and 80, your prize money falls off a cliff if you are at the bottom end of that range. Wimbledon. And if you are not on that list, you are probably not making any money in tennis. That’s the reality.”

British player Marcus Willis has broken into the top 100 of the ATP doubles rankings in recent months, but he told Tennis365 the fight for prize money is an ongoing battle.

“Without a sponsor, it’s impossible for someone in my position to keep a career like this going,” Willis told Tennis365.

“There is a lot of travel, a lot of expense to get to these tournaments. Some weeks you have to take defeats on the chin and if you lose early in a smaller tournament, you might only get £600 and then you are out of pocket for that week.

“I have rent to pay every month and a young family to support, so you need backing from sponsors to fund this.

“I’ve had a lot of stress along the way. I’ve had sponsors drop out, others come in and that has been tough. Some people promise you certain things and then don’t deliver on them, so you find yourself needing another sponsor.

“Even after a year, I was up to around 200 in the world, so I didn’t want to stop then. Had I been still only 600 or 700 in the world at that point, maybe I would have stopped.

“There have been some really challenging times. You are sat in a hotel room on your own abroad and you are questioning everything. You either sink or swim at that moment and I’ve done a lot of swimming. More than I wanted to.

“Now I am planning my next few tournaments, it’s a nightmare trying to find doubles partners, finding time to get in the gym and get into better shape and looking forward to the next challenge. The tennis world never stops.”

Tennis is making efforts to filter more cash down to the players who need it most, but the big money will always go to the champions and this year’s US Open singles champions in the men’s and women’s draws will both receive a massive $3,600,000.

This year’s tournament will offer a total of $75 million in player prize money, with the sum representing a stunning 15% increase from 2023.

READ NEXT: He beat Roger Federer and faced Novak Djokovic – but Ireland’s greatest player wanted more