James Duckworth’s six-figure payday following his first-round victory at the 2022 U.S. Open appears to already be spoken for.
The Australian athlete, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, defeated fellow Aussie native Christopher O’Connell on Tuesday in four sets, 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Duckworth not only punched his ticket to the second round, where he’ll face Dan Evans of the U.K. on Thursday, but he also banked $121,000.
“Yeah, it’s a nice bonus,” Duckworth, 30, said of the winnings, per Yahoo Sports Australia.
James Duckworth plays a forehand against Chris O’Connell during their first-round match at the U.S. Open on August 30, 2022. Getty Images
Upon defeating Chris O’Connell in the first round of the U.S. Open, James Duckworth revealed his fiancée, Madison, had quite the response. Instagram/James DuckworthOnce the match concluded, Duckworth also received a congratulatory message from his fiancée, Madison, who quipped about what the prize money will go towards.
“My fiancée text me after the match and said ‘Well done, you’ve paid for the wedding,'” he recounted.
Duckworth announced his engagement in April, posting a trio of photos of the happy couple on Instagram, where he geotagged their locale as Byron Bay Lighthouse.
“She said Yes!!!” he exclaimed at the time.
Though Duckworth joked that his future wife “will try and steal some” of the money to put toward their impending nuptials, the Sydney-bred athlete said the funds will likely be reserved for health-centric expenses.
James Duckworth announced the couple’s engagement in April 2022. Instagram/James Duckworth
James Duckworth, here on August 30, 2022, will face Dan Evans in the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open. Getty Images“Because of my body I’ve been looking to get as much physio help as possible so [the money] will go towards that,” Duckworth said.
Over the course of his professional career, Duckworth has dealt with shoulder, foot, elbow, and hip issues, and has undergone multiple surgeries. Despite the setbacks, Duckworth is still hungry for an on-court challenge.
“I love competing and I really enjoy the aspect of just trying to get better, trying to improve my game,” he said.
Should Duckworth defeat Evans, the world’s No. 23, he would earn a minimum of $188,000.
