US Open singles champions to pocket 1.2 million dollars each

NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters)- The men's and women's singles champions at this year's US Open will pocket at least 1.2 million dollars, the US Tennis Association said.

Total prize money for the year's final grand slam will be 18.5 million dollars with the potential to exceed 21.1 million dollars. The singles winners' cheques represent a 6.7 per cent increase in prize money from the record payout in 2005.

The US, French and Australian Opens offer equal prize money in both the men's and women's singles. Wimbledon remains the only grand slam not to pay men and women equally.

The singles champions will also have the potential to earn an additional 1 million dollars in bonus prize money based on their results in the US Open Series, a collection of 10 ATP and WTA Tour events culminating in the grand slam tournament.

Reuters DKS GC0730