Melbourne, Australia – Australian Open organisers say early-round losers at January's Australian Open will receive a significant pay rise as part of what they say is the biggest purse in tennis history.
Responding to player demands for a bigger slice of prize money, Tennis Australia has moved to avert a potential boycott of the opening Grand Slam of the year.
The 2013 singles champions at Melbourne Park will each collect $2.43 million, while first-, second- and third-round losers will also receive considerable prize money increases.
First-round losers will receive $27,600, representing a 32.7 percent increase from 2012; second-round losers will get $45,500 (up 36.6 percent) and third-round losers will receive $71,000, a 30 percent increase.
All dollar figures are Australian, which is close to par with U.S. dollars. – Sapa-AP