Next year's Australian Open will offer record prize money of more than $25 million, up just over four percent on the previous year, with winners of the men's and women's singles titles to each pocket more than $2 million.
The tournament's director Craig Tiley says in this time of economic uncertainty, the tournament holds strong as an important international brand in the world of sport and business.
The tennis calendar's first grand slam will boast a raft of comebacks, with Belgian Justine Henin expected to join compatriot and fellow former world number one Kim Clijsters at Melbourne Park in January.
