Total prize money at the US Open will top US$20 million for the first time this year, with the men's and women's singles champions each earning a tournament-record US$1.5 million.
The overall payout of US$20.6 million is US$1 million more than in 2007, matching the largest single-year jump in the hard-court grand slam tournament's history, the US Tennis Association said yesterday.
There also was a US$1 million jump in total prize money from 2006 to 2007, when the singles champions' take rose from US$1.2 million to US$1.4 million.
Adding in the bonuses available to the leading finishers in the summer circuit US Open Series, the overall prize money could eventually be more than US$23 million.
The No. 1 performers in the US Open Series will earn a total of US$2.5 million if they win the grand slam tournament, which begins on August 25.
Last year, Roger Federer won both the summer series and the US Open title, giving him a total payout of US$2.4 million ¨? the largest paycheck in tennis history.
In Gstaad, Switzerland, former finalist Igor Andreev beat Marcos Daniel of Brazil 6-4, 7-5 in his opening match at the Swiss Open on Monday. Andreev, the 2004 runner-up back as the seventh seed, broke Daniel once in each set.
Early winners
The only other seed in action, No. 8 Guillermo Canas, overcame Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic 7-6 (9), 6-3. Canas lined up a second-round match with Kristof Vliegen of Belgium, who defeated Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina 6-3, 6-4.
Other first-round winners included Marin Cilic of Croatia, Florent Serra of France, and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.
In Newport, Rhode Island, former Junior Wimbledon champion Donald Young made a successful debut at the grass Hall of Fame Championships on Monday when he beat Jun Woong-sun of South Korea 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
The 18-year-old American was the only seed in action, and the No. 6 seed who received a wildcard entry only last Friday took the only break chance in the third set.
Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna served 15 aces in defeating American Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-4, setting up a second-round match against top-seeded Mardy Fish, who will hope to defy history.
No top seed has won the Hall of Fame tournament in its 31 years.
In other opening-round play, Vince Spadea of the United States defeated Simon Stadler of Germany 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Brendan Evans of the United States ousted Paul Capdeville of Chile 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; and Russia's Mikhail Ledovskikh edged Denmark's No. 1-ranked player Kristian Pless, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Austrian qualifier Alexander Peya outlasted Germany's Philipp Petzschner, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5.
In Sicily, Italy, top-seeded Flavia Pennetta improved her clay-court record this season to 18-4 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sandra Kloesel in the first round of the Palermo International on Monday.
Fourth-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain and fifth-seeded Sara Errani of Italy also advanced.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 9, 2008)