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  • Oz Open defies financial gravity with prize raise

    10/8/08 11:12 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Roger Federer should have no troubles paying for any little trinkets he may have purchased in a Dubai jewelry store recently after the Australian Open defied financial gravity and raised prize money around 18 percent for 2009.

    With the event now worth a record $15.6 million, competitors will be happy. The new champions will earn $1.15 million, comfortably up from the $970,000 carried off last January by Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic.

    Pampered players will also be comforted by the presence of a new concierge service to make their life all but perfect off court. In addition, they will have a new restaurant and gymnasium.

    "From the moment the player steps off the plane to the moment they depart Melbourne Park, we want to do everything possible to ensure they have one of the best tournament experiences of their year," said tournament director Craig Tiley.

    Helping to pay the bills - circus performances and live music will also be laid on for punters who will bear the weight of a ticket price increase, grounds passes not included - will be Asian television money for interactive coverage in China.

    The women's final should also be a nice little earner after TV bosses made their suggestion of the after-dark showcase which ends a 103-year-tradition of women's day play.

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