Australian Open organisers boost prize money for 2014 event to record 33 mln dollars

The prize money for the 2014 Australian Open has reportedly been boosted to a record 33 million dollars from the previous amount of 30 million dollars, following tennis players calling for a greater share of revenue.

The organisers of the 2014 Grand Slam tournament will hike the cash pool by three million dollars after a four million-dollar jump in 2013 to record levels.

According to The Age, the organisers said that they expected all of the world's top 100 men and women to play in the event, with Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley stating that they will continue to do everything in their power to make the life of an international professional tennis player more worthwhile as they deserve 'every cent' of their earnings.

The report mentioned that the Open, which is the opening Grand Slam of the season, will be held in January like every year and is expected to attract all the world's top players including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Tiley further said that US legend Pete Sampras would attend as a guest to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first of his two Australian Open titles.

Melbourne Park's third main showcase court, Margaret Court Arena, will be in use, but a retractable roof being built over it remains under construction and it will stay open throughout the tournament, the report added.