French Open prize money to increase by 7 percent

Paris: Prize money at the French Open is going up significantly this year for players who lose in the early rounds.

Roland Garros organizers say the overall purse for the tournament is going up by 7 percent to €18.7 million ($24.6 million), with the men's and women's singles champions each getting €1.25 million ($1.64 million) — an increase of 4.17 percent.

Proportionately, the biggest increases are for those who get knocked out early. First-round losers get a 20-percent pay rise, from €15,000 ($19,700) to €18,000 ($23,670).

Organizers said more than 300 players who lose between the second round of qualifying and the third round of the main draw will see their prize money increased by between 10 and 20 percent.

The increases come after player complaints at this year's Australian Open about the way prize money is distributed at Grand Slam tournaments.