The prize money for the Australian open 2009 has been announced, and if the Aussie dollar remains strong through the current worldwide economic crisis, a few players will be making sizable deposits to their Swiss bank accounts(and not only Roger Federer). A player making it through to the third or fourth round will win more money than the prize winners of many smaller Australian open tournament. Billy Jean King will be happy to know that the prize money for both sexes is identical, even though the Women only play best of three sets, while the men play best of five!

Here’s what the players receive.

Singles:
1^st. Round $19,400.
2^nd. Round $30,250.
3^rd. Round $50,000.
4^th. Round $85,625.
Quarter Final $171,250.
Semi Final $342,500.
Runner-up. $685,000.
Winner. $1,370,000.

Doubles:
1^st. Round $9,585.
2^nd. Round $17,035.
3^rd. Round $31,245.
Quarter Final $55,400.
Semi Final $110,800
Runner-up. $223,010.
Winner $446,020.

If Serena Williams shows up and enters both the singles and the doubles, both of which she should be the favorite to win, she could take home a cool $1,593,050 for two weeks work! Just in case you are questioning my

addition, she only receives half the doubles prize money, Venus would get the other half.
There are other winners at the Australian Open who will benefit from the crowd that is expected to be even bigger than the 2008 crowd which set a new record of 605,735, and these beneficiaries are the three charities, Kids Tennis Foundation, United Way Australia and the Bone Growth Foundation.
The Kids Tennis Foundation was founded by tennis legend Paul McNamee to provide tennis coaching to financially and disadvantaged children on a regular weekly basis throughout Australia. Its a social welfare program that uses tennis to build self-esteem and self-confidence. Since its inception in 1981 it has brought tennis interest to more than 220,000 children.

United Way Australia partners with Tennis Australia to provide a program for the betterment of Australia’s young people through the incorporation of tennis into their lives.

The Bone Growth Foundation was established in 1991 to support research into children’s crippling bone growth problems. A black tie gala court side dinner will be held during the 2009 Australian Open to help raise funds for this worthwhile cause. A fun celebrity tournament will be part of the entertainment, and will feature several tennis legends, and a selection of local TV and radio personalities.

For first time visitors to Australia and in particular to Melbourne, it is highly recommended that the downtown areas are visited. Melbourne is a sophisticated fashionable city with many wonderful ethnic restaurants and bars, lots of places to spend your money on Aussie clothes and trinkets. Take a side trip to the mountains where the snow still remains even though the temperature in Melbourne is close to ninety degrees. Enjoy the diversity!