WHITE PLAINS (New York), July 8: Wimbledon champions Roger Federer and Venus Williams have been given the chance to double the US$1.1m in prize money on offer if they win the US Open in September.

The US Tennis Association has set the purse at US$17.7m but linked the earnings to results in 10 tournaments on the US circuit.

The winners of the US Open Series — Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Washington, Cincinatti and Long Island for the men, Stanford, San Diego, Los Angeles, New Haven and Forest hills for the women - could double their US Open purse at Flushing Meadow.

The second and third-placed finishers from the US Open series, which carry US$2.8m in prize money, will receive 50 percent and 25 percent more if they win at Flushing Meadow.

A 4.6 percent rise takes the 2005 US Open purse to US$17.7m which could rise to US$20.6m if the US series circuit winners triumph at Flushing Meadow.

Men and women winners at Flushing Meadow each receive US$1.1m plus a US$50,000 Lexus GS 430 car.

The Augt 29 to Sep 11 US Open is expected to attract 625,000 fans.

Federer won US$1.08m for his third straight Wimbledon triumph while Williams picked up US$1.02m for her All-England Club win.

US Open prize money

Winners – US$1.1m

Finalists – US$ 550,000

Semifinalists – US$270,000

Quarterfinalists – US$135,000.—AFP