What is the significance of the US Open Series? First, here are the top 3 points winners in the US Open Series:
Women: 1st-Serena Williams, 2nd-Agnieszka Radwanska, 3rd-Maria Sharapova
Men: 1st-Mardy Fish, 2nd-Novak Djokovic, 3rd-John Isner
Here is the breakdown of the prizemoney at the US Open for singles (men and women equally paid). In parenthesis, I will put the additional bonus for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in the US Open series.
Champion: $1,8000,000 (1st-$1,000,000 2nd-$500,000 3rd-$250,000)
Runner-Up: $900,000 (1st-$500,000 2nd-$250,000 3rd-$125,000)
Semifinalist: $450,000 (1st-$250,000 2nd-$125,000 3rd-$62,500)
Quaterfinalist: $225,000 (1st-$125,000 2nd-$62,500 3rd-$31,250)
Round of 16: $110, 000 (1st-$70,000 2nd- $35,000 3rd-$17,500)
Round of 32: $55,000 (1st-$40,000 2nd-$20,000 3rd-$10,000)
Round of 64: $31,000 (1st-$25,000 2nd-$12,500 3rd-$6,2500)
Round of 128: $19,000 (1st-$15,000 2nd-$7,500 3rd-$7,500)
This year, Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska have a chance to exceed Kim Clijsters’ record payout achieved last year and in 2005. Both years she won $2,200,000 for winning the US Open.
If Serena wins, she would get $2,800,000 ($1,800,000 plus $1,000,000 bonus for winning the US Open Series.
If Agnieszka wins (not going to happen), she would get $2,300,000 ($1,800,000 plus $500,000 bonus for finishing 2nd in the US Open series).
Maria Sharapova would fall just short of Kim’s record if she won. Masha would get $2,050,000.
Today, Masha came really close to losing in the first round (round of 128). Had she lost, she would leave the US Open with $22,750 ($19,000 just for playing in the first round and losing plus $3,750 third place US Open series bonus for round of 128)
Fairways and Forehands 