US Open boosts prize money to record $46.3 mn

State of New York: The 2016 US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year, will dish out a record $46.3 million in prize money, including $3.5 million for the men`s and women`s singles champions.

The bumped-up new purse, announced by the US Tennis Association, will make for an increase of about 10 percent per round for players, with the singles runners-up commanding $1.75 million.

The numbers outstrip those paid at the other Grand Slam events. This year`s Wimbledon champions, Andy Murray and Serena Williams, earned two million pounds (about $2.6 million) apiece out of a prize money pool of 28.1 million pounds.

"We are proud that this year`s US Open will offer the richest purse in tennis history," said USTA president Katrina Adams.

This year`s edition of the US Open will begin August 23 and feature a new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium Court as well as a new Grandstand Stadium.