Tennis prize money

WINNING IT is a singles champion's cheque at the majors, the Masters 1000s and the tour events, what a player who wins every match takes at the season-ending finals, and the champion nation's share at the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

The United Cup is paid a third way: a fee set by the player's ranking, then a separate figure for every singles win, mixed doubles win and tie won, so it has a page of its own.

Nine Masters 1000s put £85.3m up between them, 33% of the £257.2m the four majors carry. All nine of them together are worth barely more than the US Open is on its own.

The 16 put £34.6m up between them, from £3,019,586 at the China Open down to £1,674,038 at the Japan Open. All 16 together come to less than Roland Garros puts up on its own, at £52.8m.

The 28 put £16.3m up between them, from £894,895 at the Chengdu Open down to £507,752 at the Argentina Open. All 28 together come to less than Roland Garros puts up on its own, at £52.8m.

The 4 put £15.6m up between them, from £6,739,624 at the Women's China Open down to £2,748,092 at the Wuhan Open. All 4 together come to less than Roland Garros puts up on its own, at £52.8m.

The 16 put £16.3m up between them, from £1,729,323 at the Charleston Open down to £800,383 at the Pan Pacific Open. All 16 together come to less than Roland Garros puts up on its own, at £52.8m.

The 17 put £3.8m up between them, from £375,188 at the Women's Eastbourne Open down to £210,588 at the Women's Libéma Open. All 17 together come to less than the Paris Masters puts up on its own, at £5.2m.

It splits 9-0 one way and 4-0 the other, and the reason is the draw. A major puts 128 players in and pays all 64 who lose their opening match, so the first round costs more than the champion does at every one of them.