Prize money at the French Open “will rise significantly for both singles champions and players who lose in some of the early rounds,” according to Douglas Robson of USA TODAY. Roland Garros organizers today said that the “overall total for the tournament will go from" $24.6M last year to $28.7M, with winners receiving $1.96M compared to $1.64M in '12. Players eliminated in the second, third and fourth rounds “will receive 25 percent more than they did last year.” Further increases “totaling another" $13.08M are expected by '16. Players have been “pushing for a bigger piece of the revenue pie -- and making inroads.” Pressure had been “mounting on French Open organizers following significant prize money boosts from the U.S. Open and Australian Open.” Wimbledon remains the “only major that has yet to announce prize money” for this year, but it is “not considered a target of players.” ATP officials said that Wimbledon has “generally exceeded its Grand Slam brethren when it comes to player-friendly initiatives, and it is the only major that is played over 13 days with the middle Sunday a rest day” (USATODAY.com, 4/15).
