Nadal, Serena facing hefty tax cuts on US Open victory earnings

The winners of the US Open men's and women's finals this year, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, have lamented that much of their prize money was going to be taken in taxes.

Both the US star and the Spaniard captured the top prize of 2.6 million dollars for winning the year's final Grand Slam title on the New York hard courts plus a one million-dollar bonus for having the most successful run in pre-US Open tournaments.

According to Sport24, the second-seeded Nadal, who defeated Serbian world No 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to capture the men's crown on Monday, said that although he is grateful to the Open for increasing the prize money to record levels this year, he rued that a large percentage of it may be cut as Spanish taxes.

The report said that although the US Open win boosted 13-time Grand Slam champion Nadal's career total above 6o million dollars, the conversion factor would shrink the Euro figure for Nadal even more.

Meanwhile, the report said that Williams, who outlasted second-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1 to win the women's title in the event, also faces a big chunk of her earnings being cut down due to taxes although the 17-time Grand Slam and five-time US Open winner will not face any conversion woes like Nadal.

Stating that she believes that half of her 50 million-dollar earnings will go to Uncle Sam (used in reference in US for taking taxes from paychecks), Williams said she has never personally taken home a check from an event, adding that she does not play Grand Slams for the money.