WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Wimbledon will be the richest Grand Slam in history, with both the female and male champion earning $1.4 million.
The only Grand Slam tournament on grass will offer total prize money of $22,572,011, an increase of 8.7 percent, organizers said Tuesday. The increase reflects the recent change to pay women the same as men from the first round to the final for the first time since Wimbledon began offering prize money in 1968. The pay equity was announced on Feb. 22.
"No tennis tournament has ever offered higher prize money than Wimbledon in 2007," All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said.
Last year, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer earned $1.17 million while Amelie Mauresmo took home $1.11 million.
At this year's Australian Open, Federer and Serena Williams each earned $1.05 million. The French Open will award champions $1.36 million.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Nadal and Canas set for mouthwatering final
Rafael Nadal, the world's dominant player on clay, and Guillermo Canas, the comeback king of the men's tour, will meet on Sunday in a mouth-watering final at the Barcelona Open.
Nadal, who beat David Ferrer 7-5 6-1 in his semi-final, has won a record 71 consecutive matches on clay stretching back to April 2005 when he lost to Russian Igor Andreev in Valencia.
Argentine Canas outlasted his compatriot Agustin Calleri 7-6 6-7 6-2 to reach his third final of a year in which his ranking has risen from 142 to 28, including back-to-back wins over world number one Roger Federer in Indian Wells and Miami last month.
World number two Nadal struggled for his usual consistency in swirling winds. At 5-4 and 30-30 on Nadal's serve, Ferrer was just two points away from the first set but Nadal held on and then broke in the 11th game before serving out for the set.
After that, though fifth seed Ferrer continued to battle, Nadal was always in control and he broke three times in the second set to claim his place in the final.
Canas took almost three hours to get the better of Calleri needed treatment for cramp in his right forearm, which affected his grip on the forehand.
He should have wrapped up the match in two sets but double-faulted on his second match point and went into a third, but in the end his greater resilience, consistency and fitness wore Calleri down.
Nadal, who beat David Ferrer 7-5 6-1 in his semi-final, has won a record 71 consecutive matches on clay stretching back to April 2005 when he lost to Russian Igor Andreev in Valencia.
Argentine Canas outlasted his compatriot Agustin Calleri 7-6 6-7 6-2 to reach his third final of a year in which his ranking has risen from 142 to 28, including back-to-back wins over world number one Roger Federer in Indian Wells and Miami last month.
World number two Nadal struggled for his usual consistency in swirling winds. At 5-4 and 30-30 on Nadal's serve, Ferrer was just two points away from the first set but Nadal held on and then broke in the 11th game before serving out for the set.
After that, though fifth seed Ferrer continued to battle, Nadal was always in control and he broke three times in the second set to claim his place in the final.
Canas took almost three hours to get the better of Calleri needed treatment for cramp in his right forearm, which affected his grip on the forehand.
He should have wrapped up the match in two sets but double-faulted on his second match point and went into a third, but in the end his greater resilience, consistency and fitness wore Calleri down.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Blake, Roddick roll as US seizes 2-0 Davis Cup lead
Andy Roddick and James Blake both swept through in straight sets to give the United States a 2-0 lead over Davis Cup World Group quarter-final rivals Spain on Friday.
Blake began with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tommy Robredo while Roddick recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to defeat Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-4 in the international indoor hardcourt contest.
Roddick played at full strength after quitting a quarter-final last week in Miami with a hamstring problem.
But, like Blake, he found himself in a struggle to close it out as Verdasco saved five match points before finally sending a return out after just over two hours.
"It felt like 12 (hours)," said a relieved Roddick, who won his 23rd Davis Cup singles match. "I wasn't counting, but I really wanted to get off that court a winner.
"I had to swallow my nerves to get it done," said Roddick, who was out-aced 14-12 by Verdasco, ranked 35th.
Coach Patrick McEnroe praised his team, which has taken a a 2-0 lead for the first time in seven ties.
"James got us off to a great start and Andy showed that he's fit after battling his hamstring injury for a week," said the captain. "It's great to be up 2-0 for a change.
"But we still that that one final point."
Blake, ninth in the world, was coming off a desperate run of form last month on home hardcourts, winning only one match at two events at Indian Wells and Miami.
Blake began with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tommy Robredo while Roddick recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to defeat Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-4 in the international indoor hardcourt contest.
Roddick played at full strength after quitting a quarter-final last week in Miami with a hamstring problem.
But, like Blake, he found himself in a struggle to close it out as Verdasco saved five match points before finally sending a return out after just over two hours.
"It felt like 12 (hours)," said a relieved Roddick, who won his 23rd Davis Cup singles match. "I wasn't counting, but I really wanted to get off that court a winner.
"I had to swallow my nerves to get it done," said Roddick, who was out-aced 14-12 by Verdasco, ranked 35th.
Coach Patrick McEnroe praised his team, which has taken a a 2-0 lead for the first time in seven ties.
"James got us off to a great start and Andy showed that he's fit after battling his hamstring injury for a week," said the captain. "It's great to be up 2-0 for a change.
"But we still that that one final point."
Blake, ninth in the world, was coming off a desperate run of form last month on home hardcourts, winning only one match at two events at Indian Wells and Miami.
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