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
