October 5, 2010 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
The 2011 Australian Open will offer a record $25 million in prize money, up 3.8 percent on the previous year, with the men’s and women’s winners to each pocket $2.2 million.
Rafael Nadal’s bid for a non-calendar grand slam will headline the first grand slam of the 2011 season.
The tournament’s other major focus will be whether 13-time grand slam winner Serena Williams can defend her title after a long layoff from a foot injury. Serena had surgery after she cut her foot on broken glass at a restaurant in July and missed the U.S. Open. Recently, she was forced to pull out of hardcourt tournaments in Tokyo last week and Beijing this week after not being ready to compete.
The grand slam’s organizers also announced a 10-year extension of their rights deal with Walt Disney’s ESPN to broadcast the tennis in North and South America.
The Austrailian Open will take place in Melbourne from Monday, Jan. 17-Sunday, Jan. 30.
