Chloe KennedyAryna Sabalenka stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris today, May 26, 2026, to open her Roland Garros campaign against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. As the world number one and last year's finalist, the Belarusian is among the favourites to claim the €2.8 million winner's cheque from the tournament's €61.7 million total purse. But for Australian tennis fans, wealth advisers, and the handful of Australian professionals competing this fortnight, Sabalenka's journey raises a less-discussed question: what actually happens to Grand Slam prize money once it leaves the trophy ceremony?
Roland Garros 2026: The Biggest Prize Pot in the Tournament's History
This year's French Open carries a total purse of €61.7 million, equivalent to approximately AU$107 million — the largest in the tournament's history and an increase of roughly AU$13 million on last year's figures. The breakdown by round tells a compelling story about the economics of professional tennis:
- Winners (men's and women's singles): €2.8 million each
- Runners-up: €1.4 million
- Semi-finalists: €750,000
- Quarter-finalists: €470,000
- First-round losers: €87,000
Even a first-round exit at Roland Garros generates more than AU$150,000 in prize money. For the handful of Australian players in the draw, that income has immediate tax and financial planning implications under Australian law.
How Australia Taxes International Sports Prize Money
Australian tax residents pay tax on worldwide income — including prize money earned at overseas tournaments. A French Open prize is assessable income under the Australian Income Tax Assessment Act, regardless of where the cheque is issued.
For a player ranked highly enough to reach the second week, prize money can push total annual earnings into the highest marginal tax bracket (currently 45 cents in the dollar for income above AU$190,000, plus the 2% Medicare Levy). Professional tennis players generally operate through structures that help manage this liability, but the fundamentals apply to any Australian earning substantial prize money abroad:
Foreign tax credits are available, but must be claimed correctly. France levies a withholding tax on tournament prize money paid to non-residents, but Australian players can claim a foreign income tax offset against their Australian tax liability. Failing to claim this offset correctly means paying tax twice on the same income.
GST and ABN obligations apply. Many Australian professional athletes are required to register for GST once their sporting income exceeds AU$75,000 per year. Carrying an ABN and lodging quarterly Business Activity Statements becomes part of the administrative reality of a successful tennis career.
Timing of income recognition matters. Prize money is generally assessable in the tax year it is received, but the structure of prize disbursement — some tournaments pay weeks after the event — can affect which financial year an amount falls into.
Three Wealth Management Principles for Athletes at Peak Earning Age
Sabalenka is 27 years old — statistically near the peak of a women's tennis career in terms of both on-court performance and earning power. Australian athletes reaching similar peaks in any professional sport face a common wealth management challenge: how to translate concentrated income earned in a short window into long-term financial security.
1. Superannuation is often underutilised by professional athletes
Unlike salaried employees whose employers make compulsory superannuation guarantee contributions, self-employed athletes — including professional tennis players — must make their own contributions. Many high-earning athletes overlook this. A financial adviser can model the long-term compounding advantage of making voluntary concessional contributions during peak earning years, particularly given the tax deductibility of those contributions up to the annual cap.
2. Currency risk on overseas prize money is real
Prize money distributed in euros requires conversion to Australian dollars. Exchange rate movements can materially affect the final AUD amount. Athletes receiving large euro or USD prize payouts benefit from having a foreign currency account and working with advisers who understand hedging strategies — or at minimum, timing conversions to avoid unfavourable rates around tournament settlements.
3. Career-length financial planning is different from conventional planning
A professional tennis career typically generates most of its income between ages 20 and 35. The conventional financial planning assumption of 40 working years does not apply. Advisers working with athletes need to front-load investment and asset-building activity, stress-test scenarios involving early retirement due to injury, and model income replacement strategies for the post-playing years — whether that is coaching, commentary, endorsement income, or something entirely different.
What Sabalenka's Run Means for Australian Observers
Even if you are watching Sabalenka play in Paris rather than competing yourself, her Roland Garros campaign is a useful prompt to review your own financial situation. Prize money at any level — from local club tournaments to state-level competitions — has tax implications. Athletes at the start of their career who receive their first meaningful sporting income sometimes fail to lodge it, unaware it is assessable.
For those earning more seriously from sport, an annual review with a financial adviser or accountant who understands athlete-specific structures — particularly around superannuation, foreign income, and GST — is one of the highest-return investments an Australian sporting professional can make.
Sabalenka's path to the final last year showed what is possible for a player at the top of her game. For Australian professionals watching on, the off-court financial preparation that supports a long career deserves the same focus as the on-court preparation.
For official guidance on tax obligations for Australian athletes earning international prize money, visit the Australian Taxation Office guide for professional sportspersons.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified Australian financial adviser or accountant for advice specific to your circumstances.
