2-0! Third Grand Slam title! Zhang Shuai and her partner clinched the Australian Open women's doubles championship. How much prize money can they earn?

On January 31st Beijing time, the Australian Open pressed on with intense competition. The 4th seeded pair Zhang Shuai and Mertens overcame the 7th seeds Danilina and Krunic 2-0, winning the championship in straight sets. This victory represents Zhang Shuai’s third Grand Slam doubles title, making her the first player from mainland China to do so. At 37, she has become a tennis icon in China. Now, the question arises: what is the prize money for the women's doubles champion? How much will Zhang Shuai take home?

Zhang Shuai competed in three categories in this tournament. Although she exited early in singles and mixed doubles, her doubles performance was outstanding. Partnering with Mertens proved highly effective as they defeated various opponents to reach the final. In the final against Danilina and Krunic, an intense battle unfolded for the championship. It was uncertain who would emerge victorious, and the match was expected to be far from smooth sailing!

After the match started, Danilina and Krunic launched an aggressive attack, quickly gaining a commanding 4-1 lead and taking control. However, Zhang Shuai and her partner adjusted promptly, launching a 4-0 scoring run to seize a 5-4 lead and earn a set point. Both teams then engaged in a tug-of-war, reaching 6-6. Zhang Shuai’s team won the tiebreak 7-6 to take the first set. In the second set, Zhang Shuai’s pair showed a clear surge in momentum, dominating 5-0 to reach match point. Yet their opponents fought back fiercely, winning four consecutive games to narrow the gap to 4-5, reviving the suspense. At the critical moment, Zhang Shuai’s team withstood immense pressure to win the tenth game 6-4, sweeping the match 2-0 in straight sets and claiming the championship once again, standing atop the world stage!

According to the prize money distribution, the women's doubles champions will receive 810,000 Australian dollars, equivalent to 3.92 million RMB. Splitting evenly, each player earns about 1.96 million RMB, which is quite enviable. However, the doubles prize is only one-fifth of the singles champion’s earnings, which still feels somewhat low overall. This might be due to the lower attention doubles events receive. We hope these two can win more titles in the future—let’s wait and see!

Written by / Sports Novel