Australian Open Set for Record Payouts in 2013
The 2013 Australian Open will pay more prize money per round than any other tennis event, officials have announced. The Australian Open 2013 men’s and women’s singles champion will each receive $2.55 million (U.S.)–the biggest prize money purse in the history of the sport.
The biggest percentage increases were in the first three rounds: The first round up to $27,600 (Australian) (up 32.7 percent from $20,800), second round up to $45,500 (Australian) (up 36.6 percent from $33,300) and third round to $71,000 (Australian) (from $54,625, up 30 percent). Prize money for the three rounds of qualifying has gone up nearly 15 percent. First-round doubles prize money has increased more than 30 percent. The Round of 16, quarters and semis have all risen more than 14 percent.
Tennis Australia has had extensive consultation with the ATP and WTA taking on board recommendations from both tours for the first step in what is a four-year plan for prize money increases.
"Our motivation is to make a major contribution toward helping ensure professional tennis players can make a decent living," said Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley. "As we have said in the past, it is a real issue and needs to be urgently addressed throughout the sport. That is why the biggest increases are in the earlier rounds, qualifying and doubles which in effect rewards a lot of the lower ranked players for their achievements which, by the way, should not be undersold. To just reach the main draw of a Slam, a professional tennis player has to be among the top 100 in what is one of, if not the most, competitive professional sport in the world."
