Melbourne miracle. Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open last year. — © AFP
All told, 49,133,761 million euros will be distributed among its participants in the Australian Open, which started last night. Good for a new record amount and an increase of three percent compared to 2022.
Only the US Open is more generous. The laureates of the singles (m/f) will each receive a check for around 1.8 million euros, the losing finalist will receive a million euros. Anyone who stumbles in the first round will still receive 68,000 euros. And as Elise Mertens and her doubles partner Storm Hunter all the way go, they would be allowed to distribute 447,000 euros.
The fact that the total prize money has ‘only’ increased by three percent is due to the two corona years, in which the number of spectators was reduced to 50 percent in 2022 and to 30 percent in 2021. With the stands full again, there will probably be a sharper increase in twelve months. of the premiums.
Rafael Nadal
Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 70) was the only compatriot (m/f) to play on the first day of the Australian Open last night, but just like the three other Belgian women, she and two-time Wimbledon laureate Petra Kvitova (WTA 16) ) immediately faces a formidable opponent.
In the Rod Laver Arena, Rafael Nadal (ATP 2) faced Jack Draper (ATP 38) last night. After the US Open in early September, the 36-year-old Spaniard won only one of his seven matches. This year he opened with two defeats in the United Cup, while Draper reached the semi-finals against Adelaide last week. This will probably be Nadal’s last trip to Melbourne, where he had created a small miracle twelve months ago by winning his 21st major after months of injury. (mv)