Record Prize Money At Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan 6 (Bernama-dpa) --  Record prize money will be paid out at this year's Australian Open in Melbourne, with the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season worth a total of AUD111.5 million (US$74.9 million), reported German Press Agency (dpa).

That is an increase of 16 per cent compared with the previous year, organisers said in a statement on Tuesday.

The women's and men's singles champions will each receive US$4.15 million.

Prize money has also been increased for players who go out in the earlier rounds.

Those who lose in the singles first round will still receive US$150,000.

The tournament runs from January 18 to February 1.

--BERNAMA-dpa