WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 8, 2004 – The USTA today announced that the 2004 US Open purse will top $17.75 million, and will potentially exceed more than $19 million – representing the highest purse in sports — as the top three men’s and women’s finishers in the US Open Series may earn up to an additional $1.3 million in bonus prize money at the US Open. Both the Men’s and Women’s US Open Singles Champions will earn $1,000,000, with the ability to earn up to $1.5 million based on their performances in the US Open Series.
US Open Prize Money
Total US Open singles prize money has increased 5.4% from 2003’s record payout, and prize money is up 4%. For the 32nd consecutive year, the USTA will offer equal prize money to both men and women – a Grand Slam first and US Open tradition dating back to 1973. All players also receive per diem payments to help with the cost of accommodations and other expenses.
In addition to US Open prize money and the potential $1.3 million in US Open Series bonus money, the USTA continues to contribute additional player compensation year-round through the funding of the 96 USTA Pro Circuit events that award more than $3 million in prize money.
US Open Series Bonus Prize Money
The 2004 US Open will be the culmination of the first US Open Series, the 10-city North American summer hard-court season of ATP and WTA Tour tournaments that launches July 12. The USTA will offer – for the first time – up to an additional $1.3 million in bonus prize money at the US Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s finishers in the US Open Series.
The men’s and women’s winners of the US Open Series will receive 50% more prize money than they would otherwise receive at the US Open. For example, should the champion of the US Open Series also win the US Open singles title, the USTA will award a total payout of $1.5 million – a $500,000 bonus. In addition, the second-place and third-place finishers in the US Open Series will receive 25% more and 10% more, respectively. The US Open Series bonus points system to determine the top finishers will be announced shortly.
The 2004 US Open prize money and US Open Series bonus prize money for the top three men’s and women’s finishers in the US Open Series are illustrated below:
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The US Open Series launches the week of July 12 with the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif., and the Mercedes-Benz Cup in Los Angeles. The US Open Series is the six-week summer tennis season for 10 ATP and WTA Tour professional tournaments in North America leading up to and linked to the US Open. ESPN, CBS Sports and NBC will provide a total 100 hours of live, national coverage US Open Series events. The US Open Series coverage combined with 140 hours of US Open broadcasts on CBS Sports and USA Network represent a record 240 hours of national pro tennis coverage over eight weeks during the summer.
The US Open is the highest annually attended sporting event in the world with more than 620,000 fans. More than 75 million viewers watched the 2003 US Open in the United States on CBS Sports and USA Network and international broadcasts reached 165 countries. The 2004 US Open will be held Monday, August 30 through Sunday, September 12. Tickets for the 2004 US Open can be purchased four ways: 1) at usopen.org; 2) by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all Ticketmaster outlets; or 4) at the USTA National Tennis Center box office.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. It owns and operates the US Open, the largest annually attended sporting event in the world. In addition, it owns the 96 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. A not-for-profit organization with more than 675,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to the professional levels. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.
For more information contact:
David Newman, Managing Director, Marketing & Communications, USTA
(914) 696-7290; newman@usta.com