Editor-in-Chief, Padel Earnings
Singles Winner
Winner
Gap
Gap
Roland Garros 2026 (May 24–June 7) and the Premier Padel BNL Italy Major (May 31–June 7) run simultaneously. The same clay surface. The same week. Two of the world's best racquet sports playing their flagship spring events at the same time — with an enormous prize money gap between them.
The headline number — 56x — is real. But it is also the wrong comparison. Padel has no singles format. It has never had singles. Every padel match, at every level, is doubles. That makes the tennis doubles comparison the correct baseline — and when you use that baseline, the gap drops to 6x. Still significant. But a different story entirely.
Italy Major 2026 vs Roland Garros 2026: Per-Round Prize Money
All amounts per player. Roland Garros doubles shown per player (official per-pair figure divided by 2). Italy Major is equal pay — men and women receive identical amounts.
| Round | Italy Majorper player | RG Singlesper player | RG Doublesper player ★ | Singles ÷ | Doubles ÷ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | €50,000 | €2,800,000 | €300,000 | 56x | 6x |
| Final | €27,500 | €1,400,000 | €150,000 | 51x | 5.5x |
| Semi-final | €15,000 | €750,000 | €75,000 | 50x | 5x |
| Quarter-final | €10,000 | €470,000 | €41,000 | 47x | 4.1x |
| Round of 16 | €5,938 | €285,000 | €22,500 | 48x | 3.8x |
| Round of 32 | €3,438 | €187,000 | €14,500 | 54x | 4.2x |
Padel is doubles-only. Here's how it compares to tennis doubles.
The fair comparison
Tennis players can enter singles, doubles, or both. A singles player at Roland Garros earns from a completely separate prize pot. Padel has never had a singles format — it was designed as a doubles sport from day one in the 1960s. Comparing padel to tennis singles is like comparing a football club's prize money to an individual 100m sprinter. The formats are fundamentally different.
The right comparison is tennis doubles vs padel doubles. Roland Garros doubles winner: €300,000 per player. Italy Major winner: €50,000 per player. A 6x gap — still real, but a very different story from 56x.
Doubles Comparison: Italy Major 2026 vs Roland Garros 2026
Per player, both tournaments. The apples-to-apples comparison.
| Round | Italy Major | Roland Garros Doubles | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | €50,000 | €300,000 | 6x |
| Final | €27,500 | €150,000 | 5.5x |
| Semi-final | €15,000 | €75,000 | 5x |
| Quarter-final | €10,000 | €41,000 | 4.1x |
| Round of 16 | €5,938 | €22,500 | 3.8x |
| Round of 32 | €3,438 | €14,500 | 4.2x |
The closing gap
Roland Garros doubles is “still” 6x bigger per player than Italy Major. But Premier Padel launched in 2022. Major prize pools have grown roughly 3x from the inaugural season. At current trajectory, padel could close to a 2–3x doubles gap within the next 5–8 years. For context: at mid-tier level (P1 vs ATP 250 doubles), padel already outpays tennis doubles — a fact detailed in our full padel vs tennis analysis.
One number where padel wins: equal pay arrived 50 years sooner
Honest caveat: P1 and P2 still have a gap. P1 winner: men €25,500 vs women €17,000 (~53% gap). Equal pay at Majors is real — but padel has not achieved it across all tiers.
The standout fact: At Italy Major 2026, when Galán/Chingotto win the men's title and Paula Josemaría & partner win the women's — they receive the same cheque: €50,000 each. No negotiation. No campaigning. That was the rule from the very first Major in 2022. Tennis spent 34 years getting there at Grand Slam level.
The Full Picture: 4 Padel Majors vs 4 Tennis Grand Slams (2026)
Italy Major is confirmed at €1,044,849. Other Padel Majors are estimated based on 2023–2025 patterns. Tennis Grand Slam prize pools are 2026 official/confirmed figures.
| Padel Major | Prize Pool | Winner | Tennis Slam | Prize Pool | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qatar Major (Apr) Based on 2025 pattern | ~€1M | ~€50K | Australian Open | ~€72M | ~€2.5M |
Italy Major (Jun)Live Confirmed — Foro Italico | €1,044,849 | €50,000 | Roland Garros | €61,723,000 | €2,800,000 |
Paris Major (Sep) Expected (2025 pattern) | ~€1M | ~€50K | Wimbledon | ~€60M | ~€3M |
Mexico Major (Nov) Expected (2025 pattern) | ~€1M | ~€50K | US Open | ~€70M | ~€3.6M |
| 4 Padel Majors | ~€4.1M | ~€50K | 4 Grand Slams | ~€264M | ~€2.7M avg |
Padel Major prize pool 2022 → 2026: roughly 3x growth
Premier Padel launched in 2022. The growth of Major prize pools over four seasons tells the real story of where the sport is heading — especially compared to the relatively flat growth at tennis Grand Slams over the same window.
Context: Roland Garros prize money grew from approximately €43M (2022) to €61.7M (2026) — roughly 43% growth in four years. The Italy Major grew from ~€350K (inaugural 2022 Majors) to €1,044,849 — roughly 3x growth over the same period. Padel is growing far faster in percentage terms from a much lower base. The absolute gap remains vast; the trajectory is padel's advantage.
Why is tennis prize money so much bigger than padel?
Broadcast revenue
Tennis generates $1B+ in annual broadcast rights globally. Premier Padel broadcast revenue is approximately $50M — a 20x difference that flows directly into prize pools.
Ticket revenue
Roland Garros sells approximately 600,000 tickets at an average of €60+. The Italy Major draws approximately 30,000 fans. Gate receipts alone fund much of the RG prize pool.
Sponsorship maturity
Tennis's top sponsorship deal (Rolex at Wimbledon) is worth ~$30M/year. Padel is still building sponsorship infrastructure — BNL at Italy Major is a significant step forward.
Sport maturity
Tennis has operated as an open (professional) sport since 1968 — over 55 years. Premier Padel launched in 2022 and is only 4 years old. The financial ecosystem takes decades to build.
Global viewership
Roland Garros alone attracts 100M+ viewers globally. Premier Padel's audience is approximately 20M — predominantly in Spain, Argentina, and growing European markets.
Streaming deals
Tennis has long-established streaming deals with Amazon, beIN Sports, and many national broadcasters. Premier Padel is building its streaming rights from scratch with a smaller but passionate audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Italy Major winner earn vs Roland Garros?
Is padel doubles prize money close to tennis doubles?
Does padel have equal pay for men and women?
How fast is padel prize money growing?
When was the Italy Major launched as a Premier Padel Major?
Will padel ever reach tennis-level prize money?
Are Roland Garros and Italy Major played at the same time in 2026?
What is the total prize pool of Roland Garros 2026 vs Italy Major 2026?
Follow Italy Major Prize Money Live
Our database tracks every padel player's career earnings in real time. Italy Major earnings update after each round as results come in.
Related Articles
Rome Major 2026: Full Preview, Draw & Prize Money
Complete guide to Italy Major 2026 — schedule, draw, seedings, and live earnings.
AnalysisPadel vs Tennis Prize Money: Miami Context (44x Gap)
The broader padel vs tennis comparison with Miami 2026 as the anchor event.
RankingsMen's Padel Career Earnings Rankings
Live career prize money for every professional padel player — updated after each tournament.
TaxPadel Prize Money: Tax by Country (0% vs 45%)
How much do players actually keep? Tax treatment of padel winnings across key countries.
GuidePremier Padel Prize Money Guide 2026
Every tier, every round: the complete prize money structure for Major, P1, and P2 events.
PlayerArturo Coello Career Earnings
The highest-earning player on the circuit — every tournament result and prize money breakdown.