Australian Open to offer record prize money for 2013

Novak Djokovic

The Australian Open will become the richest tournament in tennis history with a prize fund of £19.3m next year.

Tournament organisers have announced an increase of £2.6m for the total fund of the 2013 event.

The money on offer in Melbourne in January beats the £16.06m at Wimbledon and £14.9m at the US Open this year.

There had been reports of a potential boycott by players over the amount of money on offer to those beaten in the early rounds.

Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said: "We are proud to announce this major increase in prize money. We have led the world in prize money for these incredible athletes."

Novak Djokovic is the current holder of the men's title, while Victoria Azarenka is the reigning women's champion.

Distribution of the 2013 pot has yet to be decided but 2012's winners each won £1.46m.