Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said Tuesday the USD 4.1 million hike from the last tournament was the single biggest increase in the history of the opening Grand Slam of the season.
"We are proud to announce this major increase in prize money," he said.
"We
have led the world in prize money for these incredible athletes and we
want to ensure that the Australian Open continues to make a major
contribution to the financial wellbeing of professional tennis players."
It
follows reports in August that players on the ATP Tour, which runs the
men's game, were considering a boycott of January's tournament in a bid
to gain a higher percentage of Grand Slam event revenues for themselves.
At issue is the pay of lower-ranked players who often exit in the first round after making the long journey Down Under.
While
this year they pocketed USD 21,600 US for a first round defeat at the
Australian Open, some players struggle to make ends meet during the
year, as they pay for much of their own expenses and travel.
Without a high profile, they are also unable to score lucrative sponsorship deals that could help sustain their careers.
Wood
said Tennis Australia officials would seek further input from the
players regarding a more equitable distribution of prize money, with an
announcement on the breakdown closer to the tournament.
"We are supporting the lower-ranked players in their quest for compensation," he added.
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Friday, October 5, 2012
Australian Open offers record prize money
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