Featured Image Credit: Photo: Getty
Topics: US Open, Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz
Ben McAleer
Aryna Sabalenka will have lost a huge amount of her record-breaking US Open prize money after her win over Amanda Anisimova at the weekend, exacting revenge upon the 24-year-old after the latter beat the former at the semi-final stage of Wimbledon earlier this summer.
Sabalenka beat American Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 in New York on Saturday as the 27-year-old claimed her fourth grand slam success.
The Belarusian star kept her cool to defeat Anisimova to her avenge her defeat in England eight weeks ago.
After her win, Sabalenka said: “After two finals where I completely lost control of my emotions, I didn't want to let that to happen again.
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“There were some moments where I was close to letting it go, but I kept calm."
Sabalenka also told Anisimova after the US Open final: "I know how hard these finals hurt. But you will enjoy it more after these tough losses."
Having beat Anisimova in the US Open final, Sabalenka earned a record-breaking $5m payout as she successfully defended her crown.
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However, despite her success, Sabalenka won’t take home the full $5m owing to US tax laws.
As a non-resident alien, Sabalenka must pay federal tax on income earned in the US, which includes prize money from tournaments such as the US Open.
The IRS generally mandates a 30% withholding on US source prize money for non-residents, unless a tax treaty applies.
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As the tournament takes place in New York, there is also state income tax applied, and combined with federal taxes, the tax rate may reach as high as 37%.
As such, a 37% tax would apply to Sabalenka’s $5m prize fund, so while a record-breaking payout at the US Open, the WTA World Number 1 will actually take home an estimated $3,150,000 following her success over Anisimova.
Similarly, the winner of the men’s singles final will also receive a $5m payout, though the same tax rules will apply, albeit only to Carlos Alcaraz.
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That’s because Alcaraz is a resident in Murcia, where he lives with his parents, and had to forego around $416,020 to the US government after his Cincinnati Open success earlier in the year.
Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, resides in tax-free Monaco, meaning he does not have to pay taxes on his earnings.
World number 1 Sinner will be aiming to defend his US Open crown on Sunday, where he’ll again take on Alcaraz as the duo meet for the first time since the Cincinnati Open final, and the pair face off with US President Donald Trump in attendance.
Illness forced Sinner to withdraw in the first set that saw Alcaraz claim victory, albeit in circumstances he won’t have wanted to win in.