French Open Increases Prize Money For 2013 By Almost $4M

The winners of next month’s French Open will receive a record €1.5M ($2M) each, "while early-round losers will get the biggest raise as the clay-court tennis major responds to player demands for more equal distribution of prize money," according to Danielle Rossingh of BLOOMBERG. The Paris tournament "will pay the singles champions 20 percent more than last year, while first-round losers will get 17 percent more." The "biggest increase has been given to losers in the second, third and fourth rounds," who will all be paid 25% more. French Tennis Federation Dir General and Tournament Dir Gilbert Ysern said, "A better distribution of winnings guides our thinking on pay." Last year, the French Open "was the first of the four majors to change its distribution of prize money as it increased pay for the early rounds of the main draws as well as the qualifying tournament" (BLOOMBERG, 4/15). REUTERS' Julien Pretot reported organizers added that "the move was part of plans to boost the total prize money by a further" €10M ($13M) to €32M ($41.9M) by '16. In comparison, U.S. Open prize money will reach $33.6M this year and rise to $50M by '17, while Wimbledon prize money was more than £16M ($24.61M) in '12. This year's Australian Open prize money was A$30M ($31.31M) (REUTERS, 4/15). LE FIGARO reported the French Open winners, men's and women's, will pocket €1.5M each, against € 1.25M last year. Proportionally, "the most significant increase will benefit players who lose in the second, third and fourth rounds with a 25% increase" (LE FIGARO, 4/15).