New York: The US Open men’s and women’s singles champions will receive a record $3.3 million (Dh12.12 million) in prize money this year, a 10 per cent boost over last year, the US Tennis Association announced on Tuesday.
The richest prizes in the sport will be part of a record $42.3 million total purse, which jumps 10.5 per cent from 2014. Runners-up will take home $1.6 million each, with every player who makes the New York main draws of 128 assured at least $39,500.
Wimbledon champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams each won $2.9 million last weekend, while this year’s Australian Open winners each made $2.5 million and the French Open champions each took $2 million.
In all, US Open prize money has increased by 67 per cent over the past three years.
“We continue our commitment to ensure the US Open offers one of the most lucrative purses in all of sports,” USTA president Katrina Adams said. “As we have stated, total player compensation at the US Open will reach $50 million by 2017.”
Players can also boost their take if they earn bonus money based on their results at select warm-up tournaments for the Flushing Meadows showdown that begins August 31, extra funds that could take the total purse to $44.6 million if certain players win the crowns.
Last year, defending champion Williams — who owns all four Grand Slam titles for the second time in her career — took $4 million for her US Open title thanks to a $1 million bonus based upon her results in tune-up tournaments.
— AFP
