United States Tennis Association increases US Open prize money to USD 23.7 million – Tennis News
The United States Tennis Association (USTA); disclosed on Wednesday that the overall base prize money for the season ending Grand Slam, the US Open has reached a record high of USD 23.7 million. An increase of 6.4% since last year’s
event and more than the other three Grand Slams played during the year.
In addition to this, the top three women and men contenders in the Olympus US Open Series might be rewarded another USD 2.6 million as bonus prize money, as well as, the men’s and women’s singles title holders will bag USD 1 million
and hence, will be awarded a total potential payout of USD 26.3 million.
Last year’s base money prize money was USD 22.6 million. In the history of tennis (male and female) the largest monetary bonus prize was awarded to Roger Federer in 2007 at the US Open, which was a walloping USD 2.4 million and
in females singles, Kim Clijsters had won USD 2.2 million at the US Open in 2005.
United States Open Tennis Championships also known as the US Open started in 1881 with the men’s singles contest. It is one of the oldest events in the history of the world; previously known as U.S. National Championships is now
an international event which has recently grown from an exclusive event into a competitive championship series that is played on acrylic hard courts which sees the likes of more than 600 male and female pro tennis players contesting each other.
It is the only tournament that offers equal prize money to both men and women title holders. This event is based on a point system where players must earn at least two points in Olympus US Open Series in order to qualify for the
bonus prize money. Other than this, it is also the only Grand Slam event that has tiebreakers not just in every set but also the fifth set for men and the third set for women (the last set).
This year the tournament will inaugurate on the 29th of August 2011 and end by 11th of September 2011. The spectators and fans will see the world’s top male and female players such as Rafael Nadal (the defending
champion in men), Kim Clijsters ( defending Champion in females), Serena Williams, the Bryan Brothers ( Mike and Bob), Vania King, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Novak Djokovic, Rohan Bopanna , Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and many more.
In addition, the directors have planned to throw in extra goodies by adding events that allure all kind of age groups; Arthur Ashe kids day, The Annual Family Day, International Tennis Hall of fame and museum and Rally Wall Challenge
thus, making it a family affair.
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