Melbourne: Players will be competing for a record prize pool of $14.95 million at the Australian Open next January while instant replay technology will be used for the first time at the tournament, organisers said on Tuesday.
The winners of the men's and women's singles events at the January 15-28 event will pick up $957,000, while total prize money has increased five per cent from this year's tournament.
Officials confirmed that instant replay, which enables players to challenge line calls using the Hawk-Eye system first used in a grand slam at the US Open this year, will also be introduced.
"It will be a fantastic innovation for the fans," new tournament director Craig Tiley said at the tournament launch in Melbourne.
"We will have two giant screens at Rod Laver Arena and it will be a great way of involving spectators."
Tiley said tournament officials would hold continuing dialogue with the ATP Tour over the parameters of the players' challenges.
In New York, players were allowed up to three challenges per set but would lose a challenge if they incorrectly questioned a call.
"The experience at the US Open among the players and fans were very similar, we're very excited about it."
Tiley said he was hopeful that world number two Rafael Nadal and 2005 champion Marat Safin would be competing at Melbourne Park after missing this year's event with injuries.
He said there would be no change to the speed of the courts despite criticism from home hope Lleyton Hewitt before the 2006 tournament that the slower pace of the surface did not suit his game.
"We've had ongoing discussions with Lleyton Hewitt's management team on a variety of different subjects but again the event we are delivering is an international event, and we will uphold that integrity," Tiley said.
"According to the International Tennis Federation, we fit into the category of a medium to a medium-fast court," he said.
"Our objective from day one is to have uniformity and consistency throughout the tournament," said Tiley, adding that all outside courts would be resurfaced in November.
Mark Edmondson, the last home winner of the men's singles title in 1976, will be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame during the tournament on Australia Day, January 26.
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