us open purse

By: Justin Cohen

• The USTA announced that the US Open purse for the 2010 tournament will be $22.6 million, which is an increase of $1 million from last year’s record-breaking purse. In addition to the total $22.6 million, the top three men’s and women’s finishers in the Olympus US Open Series may earn an additional $2.6 million in prize money, which could ultimately bring the combined US Open prize money purse to $25.2 million. Both the men’s and women’s singles champions in New York will earn $1.7 million with the ability to earn an extra $1 million if they finish in first place in the Olympus US Open Series. The 2010 US Open marks the 38^th consecutive year that the USTA will offer equal prize money to the participants in the men’s and women’s field.
• Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal is reporting that US Open Series title sponsor, Olympus, is passing some of its rights and marketing commitments to Best Buy. In return, Best Buy will use the summer pro tennis circuit to drive the camera maker’s products throughout its stores nationwide. SportsBusiness Journal is also reporting that Grand Marnier and SPDR Gold Shares have been added as sponsors to the US Open Series.
• Mercedes Benz USA and the Southern California Mercedes Benz Dealers have agreed with the Southern California Tennis Association to become the presenting sponsor and official vehicle of the 2010 Farmers Classic in Los Angeles for the next three years. The event will be held from July 26-August 1 at the Straus Stadium on the campus of UCLA. “We are proud to be partners with Mercedes-Benz, a brand that exudes class and performance, two qualities that that are alive in tennis,” said Bob Kramer, Tournament Director. “Part of the appeal to the global stars of the ATP World Tour to play in LA is the one-of-a-kind VIP experience they will receive here. To be able to provide our players with a fleet of Mercedes-Benz vehicles for their transportation needs during the tournament allows them to experience this great city in style and comfort.” World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, Sam Querrey, Radek Stepanek, Marcos Baghdatis, Mardy Fish and Feliciano Lopez headline the field expected to participate in the Olympus US Open Series event.
• Andrew Young, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and respected civic and business leader in Atlanta, has been named the Honorary Chairman of the Inaugural ATP World Tour Atlanta Tennis Championships. As Honorary Chairman, Young will work with the tournament to reach out to large and diverse tennis communities throughout Greater Atlanta. “We’re honored to name Andrew Young, one of Atlanta’s most noted residents, who has served this City as its Mayor, has served his country as Ambassador to the United Nations, and continues to serve this community in so many ways, the honorary Chairman of the Atlanta Tennis Championships,” said Rex Maynard, USTA Southern Section President. “With his leadership and guidance, our tournament will be a success for years to come.”
• Former World No. 1 and UN Ambassador Maria Sharapova donated $250,000 to the United Nations Development Program to provide children affected by the Chernobyl disaster with access to sporting activities. It has always been my dream to contribute to the recovery of a region where I have a personal connection,” said Sharapova, whose parents lived in the region until the nuclear explosion forced them to leave shortly before she was born. Sharapova visited the region last week.

  

• The Jonas Brothers and television and recording star Demi Lovato will join Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic at the 15^th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess, on Saturday, August 28, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the day filled with tennis and music will also feature Nick Cannon. Tickets for all the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court action can be purchased now through Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX, usopen.org, or by stopping by the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. Loge tickets cost $20, while general admission promenade tickets cost $10. “We have seen some of the biggest names in tennis and entertainment on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess,” said Harlan Stone, Chief Marketing Officer of the USTA. “Our 15th year will be no different, and this day of excitement and fun for kids and families will again honor a great humanitarian and icon of our sport.”
• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver announced that Serena Williams will be inducted into The California Museum’s California Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony for the Class of 2010 will take place on December 14 in Sacramento.
• First Lady Michelle Obama, Serena Williams and members of the USTA will participate Wednesday in interactive tennis activities tailored for children on the White House South Lawn.
• Last Saturday, prior to the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., the 2009 Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Awards were given to Shaun Chaudhuri of Pleasanton, Calif., Neil Karandikar of Belle Meade, N.J., Marc Powers of Stamford, Conn., and Caroline Price of Duluth, Ga. Each winner was presented with their official sportsmanship award trophy during the Hall of Fame Weekend luncheon and was able to participate in many of the events happening around the grounds throughout the weekend.
• Following his second career Wimbledon singles title, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has become a shareholder in his local soccer club Real Mallorca. “It’s an honor to be able to help Real Mallorca, I will help in any way I can,” said Nadal. The soccer club has had financial difficulties recently and has decided to bring on several new investors. Nadal’s uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, who is a former soccer star in Spain, will be an assistant manager on the team.
• The Sydney Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Lleyton Hewitt lost a court battle to strip an Australian man of his trademarked “C’mon” fist pump symbol. Hewitt’s entourage argued in court that the “C’mon” gesture and words are associated with the former World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion, while the unidentified Australian man’s legal team said it was intended to represent all Australian sports in general.
• In front of a record-breaking crowd of 35,681 at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels during the “Best of Belgium versus the Best of the World” match, Kim Clijsters defeated Serena Williams, 6-3, 6-2. The previous largest crowd for a tennis match was 30,472 at the Houston Astrodome in 1973 in Billie Jean King’s win over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.”
• Television ratings released by Nielsen for the Wimbledon finals weekend show that NBC had a big drop this year. The men’s championship match between Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych received a 1.9, which is less than half of last year’s rating from Roger Federer’s epic win over Andy Roddick in five sets. The women’s final between Serena Williams and Vera Zvonareva received a 1.8, which is down a third from last year’s all Williams final. Despite the drop in ratings for NBC during the finals weekend, ESPN2 received an average rating of 0.5 for the first week of coverage, which is an increase of 14 percent from 2009.
• Peter Burwash, President and Founder of Peter Burwash International, will be inducted into the Northern California Tennis Hall of Fame during a special ceremony on Thursday, July 29 in conjunction with the WTA Tour Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. “Any time you are elected into a Hall of Fame it is a humbling honor,” said Burwash. “To be part of this class only adds to my appreciation as each of them has served as an inspiration to many tennis players.”
• Matt Cronin of tennisreporters.net is reporting via Twitter that Maria Sharapova will participate in the doubles tournament with Belgian Yanina Wickmayer at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford.
• Fernando Verdasco has been awarded a wild card into the main draw at the ATP World Tour Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. American Andy Roddick, two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, John Isner, Sam Querrey and Marin Cilic headline the entry list for this year’s tournament, which will be held from July 31-August 8 at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center.
• Atlanta native Donald Young has received a wild card into the main draw for the 2010 Atlanta Tennis Championships, which will be held next week at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Tournament Officials recently announced that fan favorite Marcos Baghdatis has withdrawn from the tournament.
• Victoria Azarenka has accepted a wild card into the main draw at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford.
• World No. 1 Serena Williams will miss the entire World Team Tennis season after receiving stitches following an accident that saw her step on glass. Williams was supposed to play four matches for the defending champion Washington Kastles.
• James Blake, who has struggled with injuries recently, has announced that his summer schedule will include World Team Tennis, the Atlanta Tennis Championships, the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati and the US Open.
• Ukraine newspaper Gazeta is reporting that Alona Bondarenko married her coach Nikolay Dyachok on Thursday at a registrar’s office wearing jeans and a t-shirt that said “Just Married.” The newly married couple then held a reception for roughly 300 people and will honeymoon this week in Crete, which is one of the largest Greek Islands.
• Sidelined with an ankle injury since March, Sabine Lisicki will return to competition on the WTA Tour next week in Portoroz, Slovenia. “The pain is gone, but I’m still not 100 percent,” said Lisicki. “I’m thinking tournament to tournament…after four months, you really don’t know what to expect.”