WHITE PLAINS (New York), July 12: The purse for the US Open tennis championships will be $19.6 million, a one million-dollar increase from the previous year, the US Tennis Association said on Wednesday.

In all, a potential 22.2 million dollars could be paid out due to bonus prize money from the US Open Series, a six-week summer tennis season linking 10 ATP and WTA Tour tournaments to the year's final Grand Slam.

Both the men's and women's singles champions will receive $1.4 million, an 8.5 percent increase from last year.Both will have a chance to earn an additional $1 million in bonuses due to their performances in US Open Series.“Today's players are some of the most talented, competitive, and hard working athletes in sports,” USTA chief executive Arlen Kantarian said. “The increased prize money and upgraded player facilities reflect the tremendous excitement and entertainment they bring to the US Open.”

World No 1 Roger Federer and Russian starlet Maria Sharapova were last year's singles winners. Federer has won the event for three straight years.

For the 35th consecutive year, the USTA offers equal prize money to both men and women – a first among Grand Slams starting in 1973. In comparison, Wimbledon gave out the same prize money for the first time this year.—AFP