Serena to return
Oz Open offers record $55m prizemoney
NEW mum Serena Williams will be chasing a record $4 million in prizemoney when she returns to defend her Australian Open crown in January.
Tournament director Craig Tiley announced yesterday that Williams, who gave birth to a daughter in September, would be back in Melbourne for the Jan 15-28 tournament.
Williams was eight weeks’ pregnant when she won a record 23rd grand slam and announced after the birth that the initials of her daughter’s name Alexis Olympia Ohanian were a nod to the Australian Open. Tiley said Williams was back in training to defend her title. “Serena will be back,” Tiley said. “We look forward to welcoming her and again go on that journey of breaking the all-time record for the most number of grand slams.”
In the men’s field Tiley confirmed six-time winner Novak Djokovic and fellow former world No. 1 Andy Murray, who have both battled injury this year, would play in Melbourne 2018.
The men’s and women’s winners will collect a $4-million cheque, up from $3.7m in 2017, while the entire prize- money pool has increased by 10 per cent to $55 million.
Tiley said the winners’ prizemoney had broken a barrier.
“It’s the first time ever that both the women and the men’s winner will receive $4m each that has not been done by any other grand slam or any other event,” Tiley said.
The women’s trophy will be presented by US great Billie Jean King, 50 years after she won her first Australian Open title.