Aussie Open ups purse
Australian Open organizers have increased prize money to a record $31.1 million for 2013 in response to player concerns about compensation at Grand Slam tournaments, making it the richest in tennis history.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said the $4.15 million increase announced Tuesday was the largest from one year to the next for the tournament and should attract the strongest field available. Tiley also said he has been in contact with Rafael Nadal, who indicated he still was targeting the Australian Open for his return to Grand Slam tennis from a left knee injury that has sidelined him since Wimbledon.
More tennis
Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the China Open in Beijing, defeating German qualifier Michael Berrer, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga downed Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), firing 14 aces.
• The Davis Cup final between the Czech Republic and defending champion Spain will be played Nov. 16-18 in Prague.
Soccer
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack, 36, is retiring, The midfielder has been without a club since his Bayer Leverkusen contract expired at the end of last season.
Pro basketball
Katie Douglas scored 24 points and Erlana Larkins had 16 points and 20 rebounds to help the host Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream, 75-64, and advance to the WNBA’s Eastern Conference Finals against Connecticut. … Seimone Augustus scored 21 points as the host Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm, 73-72, to reach the Western Conference Finals.
College basketball
The Atlantic 10 has reached an agreement with NBC Sports on a nine-year deal to televise men’s and women’s basketball games on the NBC Sports Network. The A-10 also announced a long-term deal to extend its partnership with the CBS Sports Network. The length of that contract was not released. Under the deal with NBC, the NBC Sports Network will televise six game this season, then 25 regular-season men’s games, three women’s games and the quarterfinals of each Atlantic 10 Tournament from 2013-21. CBS Sports Network will air at least 25 men’s games and eight women’s games annually, along with the semifinals of each conference tournament.
Auto racing
Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Quicken Loans will double its sponsorship commitment to Ryan Newman next season from nine races to 18. The extension comes as team co-owner Tony Stewart is searching for a good chunk of funding for his three-car organization. The U.S. Army won’t be back as primary sponsor for Newman, and Office Depot is leaving as a co-primary for Stewart. SHR is close to announcing a sponsorship agreement with Bass Pro Shops.
Horse racing
The Breeders’ Cup Classic, the $5 million showcase race of thoroughbred racing’s two-day world championships, will be run at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.