An extra €3 million (£2.5 million/$4 million) will be won on the courts of Roland Garros, boosting the overall prize fund to just over €25 million (£20.5 million/$34.5 million).

The winners of the men's and women's singles will each win €1.6 million (£1.3 million/$2.2 million), up more than 10 per cent on the €1.5 million (£1.2 million/$2 million) won by Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams last year.

Players beaten in the second and third rounds of the Grand Slam will pick up 20 per cent more prize money than in 2013, with second round losers to receive €42,000 (£34,500/$58,000) and players eliminated in the third round to win €72,000 (£59,200/$99,500).

Players who do not make it past the fourth round will win €125,000 (£102,000/$172,000) -– a 25 per cent increase on last year.

Rafael Nadal will be going for an unprecedented ninth French Open crown when the Grand Slam gets underway next month ©Getty Images



"This significant rise in the prize money at Roland Garros is part of the four-year plan which we established for 2013-2016," said Gilbert Ysern, tournament director and director general of the French Tennis Federation.

"It is specifically designed to benefit players who are knocked out in the first week."

The French Open is due to be contested from May 25 to June 8.

Spaniard Nadal will be bidding for his ninth crown on the clay courts of Roland Garros in Paris.

Wimbledon is expected to announce changes to its prize fund for the third Grand Slam of the year, which begins on June 23, later this month.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2013: Eurosport announces new French Open deal until 2021