Post by tall_one on Jul 9, 2004 16:40:05 GMT
U.S. Open champions could bag $1.5 million each
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - The men's and women's singles champions at this year's U.S. Open could walk away with up to $1.5 million each in prize money at the world's most lucrative sporting event, organisers said on Thursday.
A million dollars is guaranteed for the singles champions at Flushing Meadows but they could each pocket up to an additional $500,000 depending on their performance in the U.S. Open Series, which is being introduced this year.
The total purse for the hardcourt grand slam will top $17.75 million and could potentially exceed $19 million as the top three men and women in the U.S. Open Series could earn up to an extra $1.3 million in bonus prize money in New York.
The total singles prize money has increased by 5.4 percent from 2003 while the overall purse has gone up by four percent. The U.S. Open offers equal prize money to men and women.
Roger Federer received 602,500 pounds ($1.12 million) for winning the men's title at Wimbledon on Sunday while Russian teenager Maria Sharapova walked away with 560,500 pounds. The fourth grand slam of the year will be the culmination of the first U.S. Open Series. The 10-city North American hardcourt season begins on Monday with the ATP's Mercedes Benz Cup and the WTA Tour's Bank of West Classic.
The U.S. Open runs from August 30 until September 12.
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - The men's and women's singles champions at this year's U.S. Open could walk away with up to $1.5 million each in prize money at the world's most lucrative sporting event, organisers said on Thursday.
A million dollars is guaranteed for the singles champions at Flushing Meadows but they could each pocket up to an additional $500,000 depending on their performance in the U.S. Open Series, which is being introduced this year.
The total purse for the hardcourt grand slam will top $17.75 million and could potentially exceed $19 million as the top three men and women in the U.S. Open Series could earn up to an extra $1.3 million in bonus prize money in New York.
The total singles prize money has increased by 5.4 percent from 2003 while the overall purse has gone up by four percent. The U.S. Open offers equal prize money to men and women.
Roger Federer received 602,500 pounds ($1.12 million) for winning the men's title at Wimbledon on Sunday while Russian teenager Maria Sharapova walked away with 560,500 pounds. The fourth grand slam of the year will be the culmination of the first U.S. Open Series. The 10-city North American hardcourt season begins on Monday with the ATP's Mercedes Benz Cup and the WTA Tour's Bank of West Classic.
The U.S. Open runs from August 30 until September 12.
