US Open to increase prize money upto $50 mn by 2017
US Open tennis organizers plan to increase annual prize money to $50 million by 2017 _ nearly double what it was last year _ and switch back to a Sunday men's final in 2015.
The tournament also is adding an extra $4.1 million to this year's prize pool, on top of a $4 million jump already announced in December, bringing 2013's payout to $33.6 million. It was $25.5 million in 2012.
Those moves, aimed at improving relations with players seeking more say and more money, have been formally presented to the ATP Player Council in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Details were described to the AP by US Tennis Association officials in telephone interviews after their session with representatives from the men's tour.
The USTA planned to announce the changes Wednesday.
"Roger Federer said it perhaps best of all: `It's time for us to work together, as opposed to working against each other,''' USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith said.
Federer, the 17-time major champion, is president of the ATP Player Council. He is not playing in the tournament that begins this week at Key Biscayne, but participated in Tuesday's meeting via telephone. Federer joined other top players, including current No. 1 Novak Djokovic, in lobbying the USTA and other Grand Slam tournaments to raise prize money.
Asked to describe the nature of the negotiations with players, which began about a year ago, USTA Chairman of the Board and President David Haggerty said: "I wouldn't say necessarily `pressure.' I would say `spirited discussions.'''
The USTA
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