US Open Prize Money to Reach $50 Million by 2017

Purse for 2013 Tournament to Increase by an Additional $4.1 Million to $33.6 Million

Boost in US Open Prize Money a Key Component

to Helping Grow the Sport of Tennis In the U.S.

US Open Schedule to Return to Sunday Conclusion Beginning in 2015

Flushing, N.Y., March 20, 2013 – The USTA today announced that in keeping with its mission to grow the sport of tennis, it has reached agreement with the ATP and WTA that ensures the vitality and competitiveness of the US Open as a world class, premier event for many years to come.

Presently, the USTA is in the midst of several strategic initiatives, all with a common goal of growing tennis at every level in the United States, from youth to seniors, and from those just starting out in the sport to professionals at the highest level of the game. For the US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center the goal is twofold: to transform the National Tennis Center over the next several years into the most modern and fan- and player-friendly tennis center in the world and to continue to attract the world’s best tennis players.  In line with this goal, the USTA has reached a five year agreement with the ATP and WTA on US Open prize money.  

As part of this long-term vision, the USTA will provide $50 million in US Open prize money by 2017.  Additionally, the USTA will increase base prize money for the 2013 US Open by an additional $4.1 million above the previously announced increase of four million dollars.  The original announcement was made in December 2012.  Base prize money for the 2013 US Open will now total more than $33.6 million, a more than $8.1 million increase over the $25.5 million available to players at the 2012 US Open.

Also, beginning in 2015 the US Open will conclude on the second Sunday of the two-week event with the men’s singles championship.  To allow for a day of rest for the finalists, the men’s singles semifinals will be played on Friday.  The women’s singles championship will be played on Saturday.

“The USTA has a long-term vision in place to ensure that tennis continues to thrive in the United States.  This vision encompasses every level of the sport, from energizing existing fans, to attracting new players, to ensuring the US Open remains one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events,” said David Haggerty, USTA Chairman, CEO and President.  “With this unprecedented commitment to long-term prize money and recognition of the value that players bring to the sport, we will gain stability for the sport so that we can focus our energy on growing the game and ensuring tennis’ vitality in the U.S. for years to come.”

“We welcome the commitment the USTA has made concerning player prize money at the US Open through 2017,” said Brad Drewett, ATP Executive Chairman & President.  “These increases are the largest in the history of the sport, representing a significant step forward in truly recognizing the input the players have in the success of the US Open. We also welcome the decision from the USTA to adopt a schedule with the men’s semifinals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday, from 2015 onwards.”

“The ATP and its players, led by ATP Player Council President Roger Federer, have been encouraged by the recent co-operative approach taken by the USTA in listening to player concerns on these matters, and are pleased to have reached this long term understanding through 2017. We appreciate the productive manner in which the USTA, as well as Tennis Australia relating to the Australian Open, have engaged with the ATP and its players over the past 12 months. We remain committed to ongoing discussions with other Grand Slam tournaments in this regard.”

“We applaud the USTA's long-term commitment to increased and fair compensation for our athletes,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman & CEO.  “For 40 years the USTA has been a leader for equality and for women's tennis, and today's announcement is a testament to their continued, bold vision for the sport. On behalf of all the WTA and its players, I thank the USTA for its strong record of progressive leadership and support.”

"This excellent outcome for the sport of tennis wouldn't have been possible without the open-mindedness and fairness of USTA President Dave Haggerty and the USTA staff,” said Roger Federer, 17-time Grand Slam champion and President of the ATP Player Council.  “They approached our concerns with a true spirit of partnership, and as President of the ATP Player Council I am personally grateful for their support. Everyone I have spoken with is excited about the increases in prize money, as well as the agreement to change the schedule for 2015 and beyond. The US Open is very special, and we all look forward to great competition at Flushing Meadows later this year, and in the years yet to come."

The USTA will announce the exact round-by-round distribution of the total prize money increase for the 2013 US Open this summer.  Further year-by-year prize money increases are expected to be announced annually prior to that year’s US Open.  This year’s US Open is scheduled for August 26 through September 9, with the US Open Qualifying Tournament beginning on August 20.

Top American Performers at USTA Pro Circuit Clay-Court Tournaments

Awarded Wild Cards into 2013 French Open

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 18, 2013 – The USTA announced today that Har-Tru Sports has signed a three-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the 2013 USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge. Har-Tru becomes the first title sponsor of the event, which utilizes the USTA Pro Circuit to award wild cards into the French Open to one American man and one American woman.

In the newly named Har-Tru USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge, the American man and American woman who earn the most ATP World Tour and WTA tour ranking points at two of three select USTA Pro Circuit clay-court events (see schedule below) earn the designated main draw wild cards into the French Open. Only Americans who did not otherwise earn direct entry into the French Open are eligible. The USTA and the French Tennis Federation have a reciprocal agreement in which wild cards into the 2013 French and US Opens are exchanged.

“We are incredibly excited to be able to sponsor the USTA Pro Circuit,” said Pat Hanssen, General Manager of Har-Tru Sports.  “It’s a great opportunity to support the governing body of our sport, the USTA, and its efforts to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the U.S.  The fact that we can help the USTA leverage their efforts to drive more high level training and competition on clay, and indeed support the method for these players to gain wild card entry into Roland Garros, lines up perfectly with our commitment to developing champions.”

“The USTA Pro Circuit has long been devoted to developing American world-class players, and now we have a world-class partner in that endeavor in Har-Tru,” said Brian Earley, Director of the USTA Pro Circuit. “Learning to play on clay is an important part of developing the all-around player in tennis today, and Har-Tru is a top-notch, innovative company that has served the needs of American clay-court tennis for generations. We are thrilled to have them sponsor the Har-Tru USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge to give American players the equal chance to compete in the French Open—the world’s most prestigious clay-court tournament.”

The Har-Tru USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge will consist of the following events:

USTA Pro Circuit Women’s Events

• ·         $50,000 Dothan, Ala. (week of April 15)
• ·         $50,000 Charlottesville, Va. (week of April 22)
• ·         $50,000 Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. (week of April 29)

USTA Pro Circuit Men’s Events

• ·         $100,000 Sarasota, Fla. (week of April 15)
• ·         $50,000 Savannah, Ga. (week of April 22)
• ·         $50,000 Tallahassee, Fla. (week of April 29)

The USTA first used this format for its 2012 French Open wild cards, won by Melanie Oudin and Brian Baker. Oudin and Baker each advanced to the second round at last year’s French Open and subsequently broke into the Top 100. In addition, Oudin went on to win her first WTA title at the Wimbledon tune-up in Birmingham, England, and Baker followed up his clay-court run on the USTA Pro Circuit by reaching his first ATP Tour final at the French Open tune-up event in Nice, France, as a qualifier, and advancing to the fourth round of Wimbledon and the second round of the US Open.

The USTA used a similar format to grant a men’s and women’s main draw wild card into the 2012 US Open. Steve Johnson and Mallory Burdette both won those wild cards and subsequently each reached the third round of the US Open.

The 2013 French Open main draw will be held Sunday, May 26, to Sunday, June 9.

Information on the Har-Tru USTA Pro Circuit Wild Card Challenge will be available on Twitter through #USTAHarTruWC.

Har-Tru Sports is based in Charlottesville, Va., and is the leading provider of clay courts, lighting and court accessories in the tennis industry. With a focus on developing champions worldwide, Har-Tru Sports, one of the business divisions operated by Luck Companies, is best known for its Har-Tru brand of clay courts and uses its products, knowledge, advocacy and passion to further the development of tennis champions around the world. The company’s global expansion now includes courts in Australia and China and a focus on innovative green technology to provide world-class products. For more information visithartru.com<http://www.hartru.com/>.