WHITE PLAINS (New York), July 8: Total prize money at the US Open will top $20 million for the first time this year, with the men and women’s singles champions each earning a tournament-record $1.5 million.

The overall payout of $20.6 million is $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 announced on Tuesday.

There also was a $1 million jump in total prize money from 2006 to 2007, when the singles champions’ take rose from $1.2 million to $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 $23 million.

The No 1 performers in the US Open Series will earn a total of $2.5 million if they win the Grand Slam tournament starting on Aug 25.

Last year, Roger Federer won both the summer series and the US Open title, giving him a total payout of $2.4 million — the largest pay-check in tennis history.—AP