Indian Wells Schedules Bigger Prize Money Increases To Early Round Losers

Written by: Staff on 25th February 2013

Indian Wells Schedules Bigger Prize Money Increases To Early Round Losers

epa03151001 General view of the center court during the men's final match between John Isner (bottom) of the USA and Roger Federer of Switzerland at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 18 March 2012. EPA/MIKE NELSON |

The prize money breakdown at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells continues to differ from other Masters Series tournaments.

The BNP Paribas Open –which will pay out a record $5,030,402 to the men and women players — just released its breakdown, with no change at all be given to the winners and finalists, who like in 2012 will earn $1 million and $500,000 respectively, but with 12.5% increases given to the semifinalists (from $200,000 to $225, 000) and a minor 4% increase given to the quarterfinalists (from $100,00 to $104,000).

The biggest increases were given to the early rounds, which has been a stated desire of most of the players. First round prize money jumps from $7,709 to $11,000 (a 42.6 % increase), the second round leaps from $12,725 to $16,000 (a 41.6% increase); the third round goes from $23,291 to $26,000 (an 11.6% increase); and the fourth round rises from $43,520 to $52,000 (a 19.4% increase).

The qualifiers also received around increases of just over 9%.

The doubles draw also received increases in every round, with first round losers get nearly an 18% jump.

The ATP says that under its normal distribution formula that players from the first round through quarters would get more if Indian Wells used their model, but in order to do so the BNP Paribas Open would have had to severely drop prize money for the winners, finalists and semifinalists

As it stands today, Indian Wells may end up dwarfing what other Masters Series tournaments pay out in 2013. The Sony Ericsson Open in Miami has yet to announce what its prize money increase will be, but its 2012 levels would be well below that of Indian Wells’ 2013 level.

The men’s singles winner at 2013 Indian Wells would earn about $340,000 more than the 2012 Miami winners, the finalists about $178,000 more and the semifinalists $63,000 more.

Miami’s first round losers received just slightly less than Indian Wells first round losers in 2012, but if Miami decides to go above the ATP’s mandated minimum increase for 2013, they will be well below Indian Wells $11,000 this year.

Indian Wells is the only Masters Series tournament that has gone well above the mandated minimum increase in the past few years.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Bnp Paribas, increased prize money, Indian Wells Masters, Sports, Tennis News