Roland Garros 2012 Prize Money: Singles Winners will earn €1.25 million

In the 2011 French Open grand slam finals in the men's and women's singles tournament, history was made. Rafael Nadal won a record-equaling sixth title while Chinese player Na Li won her first grand slam title - the first singles grand slam by any Asian tennis player in history. Nadal and Li were highly rewarded for their historic achievements with the top prize money for the tournament awarded to the singles champions worth €1,200,000. This year, the French Open 2012 prize money for the singles winners have increased to a very cool €1,250,000.

Who are the favorites to earn the top prize? In the men's side, despite an early loss in Madrid last week, Nadal remains to be the player to beat on clay. The Spaniard has won two clay court titles this year in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona. He defeated now world no. 1 Novak Djokovic, his clay court nemesis last year, in convincing fashion in the Monte-Carlo final. This year, Nadal will most likely be challenged by Djokovic again, and last year's French Open finalist Roger Federer. For being runner-up, Federer earned €600,000. This year, the losing finalist will earn a prize money of €625,000.

In the women's singles, it is looking more bleak for Na Li to duplicate her effort given her recent results and form. The women's title is more open than the men, and can be claimed by six or seven players. Based on their recent form on clay court tune-up events, the top favorites would be 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, world no. 2 Maria Sharapova, and world no. 1 Victoria Azarenka, precisely in that order. Other contenders would be the other players in the top 5 - world no.3 Agnieszka Rawanska, world no. 4 Petra Kvitova, and world no. 5 Samantha Stosur.

French Open 2012 Prize Money Breakdown - Men and Women's Singles
All amounts in euro(€). Prize money is given for each player.
2011 ATP Singles winner: Rafael Nadal | Runner Up: Roger Federer
2011 WTA Singles winner: Na Li | Runner Up: Francesca Schiavone

Winner = 1,250,000
Finalist = 625,000
Semi-finalist = 310,000
Quarter-finalist = 155,000
Last sixteen = 80,000
Third round = 47,000
Second round = 28,000
First round = 18,000

3rd round loser = 9,000
2nd round loser = 4,500
1st round loser = 2,500

French Open 2012 Prize Money Breakdown - Men and Women's Doubles
All amounts in euro(€). Prize money is shared between the 2 players comprising the doubles team.
2011 ATP Doubles winner: Max Mirnyi & Daniel Nestor | Runner Up: Juan Sebastián Cabal & Eduardo Schwank
2011 WTA Doubles winner: Andrea Hlaváčková & Lucie Hradecká | Runner Up: Sania Mirza & Elena Vesnina

Winner = 340,000
Finalist = 170,000
Semi-finalist = 85,000
Quarter-finalist = 43,000
Last sixteen = 23,000
Second round = 12,000
First round = 8,000

French Open 2012 Prize Money Breakdown - Mixed Doubles
All amounts in euro(€). Prize money is shared between the 2 players comprising the doubles team.
2011 Mixed Doubles winner: Casey Dellacqua & Scott Lipsky
2011 Mixed Doubles runner-up: Katarina Srebotnik & Nenad Zimonjić

Winner = 100,000
Finalist = 50,000
Semi-finalist = 25,000
Quarter-finalist = 13,000
Last sixteen = 7,000
First round = 3,500

Who will become the singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions during the French Open 2012 and earn the top prize money for each event? Keep coming back and we'll all find out.