What is the US Open 2024 court speed? All you need to know

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is all set to host its 144th edition of the US Open, beginning on August 26, as Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff look to hold on to their singles titles. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center's acrylic hardcourts are a significant shift from the red dirt of Roland Garros after it hosted all the tennis action at the recently concluded Paris Olympics.

The International Tennis Federation classifies courts according to its Court Pace Ratings (CPR). It ranges from Slow to Fast. Here is what US Open Tournament Director and Chief Executive, Stacey Allaster had to say about the court speeds (via Tennis Now):

"We aim for the Court Pace Rating to be medium-fast... According to the ITF, medium-fast is 41 to 44 [on the CPR scale]. All 17 courts have been surfaced and the average CPR right now is 42."

Allaster noted that this was a calculated decision made for an optimal output after factoring in feedback from the players and the ideal court speed that offers a balance of offence and defence.

"That’s where we like it to be at the start of the tournament so that as we ease into it, it gets closer to the [aim]. We take feedback from the players... We know that that specific court speed gives players the right balance for the style of play that’s successful. So, that’s what goes into that decision and where we sit today as we wait for the first balls to be hit."

This speed will undoubtedly take getting accustomed to as players begin practicing at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center this weekend. The athletes have also been using the US Open ball at the Cincinnati Open ahead of the season's final Major to familiarize themselves with it.

Funnily enough, the Cincinnati Masters itself has recorded a significant increase in its speed as the Court Pace Index (CPI) has showed a shift from the Grandstand (outdoor) court's 34.6 medium-slow in 2023 to the 42.5 medium-fast in this year's edition.

Several athletes including Jack Draper and Alexander Zverev have commented on the rapid nature of Cincinnati's courts. Draper on his Cincinnati debut was left stunned by the nature of the courts and said (via tennis365):

"The Cincinnati courts are the fastest I have ever played on in my life."

Similarly, the vicious, unforgivingly direct speeds of Flushing Meadows in New York will take some getting used to, and the players will need all the headstarts they can get.

---

2024 US Open set to make tennis history with largest-ever prize pool

The US Open has been the most lucrative tournament in the tennis calendar for a while now, and it will now further its standing as the USTA has announced another increment in its prize pool.

With a staggering $75 million purse for the singles competition, a 15% increase from last year's $65 million, this will be the biggest total prize money in the sport's history. Further, the tournament's 144th edition will award its singles winners $3.6 million, a $600,000 increase from last year, while its runner-up will take home $1.8 million.

The tournament held in New York will also increase the payouts per round as semifinalists will exit with a million dollars, quarterfinalists $530,000, $325,000 for a fourth-round exit, $215,000 for the third, $140,000 for the second round, and a whopping $100,000 for the opening round. This is the highest-ever payout for a first-round loser at any Grand Slam.

The US Open will increase its prize money for the doubles side of the tournament as well - men's, women's and mixed doubles. Their prize money will witness a 200% increase in its increment as it goes from a 9% surge in 2023 to 18% in 2024. The men's and women's doubles winners will receive $750,000 per team while the mixed doubles champions will earn $250,000 each.

To give you an idea, the total payouts at other Grand Slams this year ranged from roughly $56 million to $64 million. The All England Championships, also known as Wimbledon, had the highest prize money of the three, with the Australian Open paying the lowest of the lot.

Tennis' biggest names including Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff will surely be vying for a chance to win the coveted US Open and earn themselves some good money while at it.