US Open prize fund bucks downturn

Roger Federer beat Andy Murray in last year's US Open men's final

The winners of this year's US Open men's and women's singles titles will each receive a record £992,000 ($1.6m) - nearly 6% up on 2008.

Total prize money will be a record £13m ($21.6m), the third straight year the purse has seen a million-dollar rise.

The top three men and women in the US Open Series can also earn up to an extra £1.6m in bonus payments.

The series of 10 tournaments culminates with the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York from 31 August-13 September.

The bonus money, which encourages players to enter the designated events, has resulted in the largest paydays in tennis history.

Roger Federer won a combined £1.4m in 2007 and Kim Clijsters won £1.3m in 2005.