Australian Open ups prize money for early losers
Source: Agencies |
December 21, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EARLY round losers in the Australian Open next month will receive a significant pay rise as part of what organizers say is the biggest purse in tennis history.
Responding to player demands for a bigger slice of prize money, Tennis Australia moved to avert a potential boycott of the opening grand slam of the year.
The 2013 singles champions at Melbourne Park will each collect A$2.43 million (US$2.54 million), while prize money for first-, second- and third-round losers was also raised.
First-round losers will receive A$27,600, representing a 32.7 percent increase from 2012; second-round losers will get A$45,500, up 36.6 percent; and third-round losers will receive A$71,000, a 30 percent increase.
With a record total purse of nearly A$31 million, prize money for the fourth round, quarterfinals and semifinals has gone up by an average of more than 14 percent. Prize money for the three rounds of qualifying has also increased almost 15 percent, while first-round doubles prize money has increased more than 30 percent.
Players' council representatives Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray had pushed for a more equitable distribution of prize money, saying it was vital for the lower-ranked players in the 128-entry grand slam draws to receive extra prize money.
"Our motivation is to make a major contribution toward helping ensure professional tennis players can make a decent living," Australian Open director Craig Tiley said. "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."
Responding to player demands for a bigger slice of prize money, Tennis Australia moved to avert a potential boycott of the opening grand slam of the year.
The 2013 singles champions at Melbourne Park will each collect A$2.43 million (US$2.54 million), while prize money for first-, second- and third-round losers was also raised.
First-round losers will receive A$27,600, representing a 32.7 percent increase from 2012; second-round losers will get A$45,500, up 36.6 percent; and third-round losers will receive A$71,000, a 30 percent increase.
With a record total purse of nearly A$31 million, prize money for the fourth round, quarterfinals and semifinals has gone up by an average of more than 14 percent. Prize money for the three rounds of qualifying has also increased almost 15 percent, while first-round doubles prize money has increased more than 30 percent.
Players' council representatives Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray had pushed for a more equitable distribution of prize money, saying it was vital for the lower-ranked players in the 128-entry grand slam draws to receive extra prize money.
"Our motivation is to make a major contribution toward helping ensure professional tennis players can make a decent living," Australian Open director Craig Tiley said. "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."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
