Will Serena win the Richest Prize in Tennis History?
>> Saturday, September 10, 2011
Before the US Open started a couple of weeks ago, two American players had the chance of winning the biggest single paycheck in tennis history - a staggering amount of $2.8 million ($1.8 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series). Americans Mardy Fish and Serena Williams won the US Open Series for the first time in their careers as they performed better than their peers in 10 summer tournaments leading up to the 2011 US Open. Fish, though playing his best tennis and reaching a career high ranking of #8 was not on the list of favorites for the last Grand Slam of the year. Serena on the other hand was the favorite along with Maria Sharapova to take the US Open title, despite being ranked just #28 in the world.
Fast forward to today - after five rounds of play and only 4 players remaining in each of the men's and women's singles draw - Fish has been eliminated in the fourth round falling to the talented Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after being up 2 sets to 1. Serena on the other hand has marched on through the draw without losing a set. She will face world #1 Caroline Wozniacki in the women's singles semifinals, and if she wins that match, will advance to the final against the winner of the Sam Stosur - Angelique Kerber match. Serena is heavily favored to win both matches and win her 14th Grand Slam singles title on Sunday.
If Serena does win her next two matches, she will earn the biggest paycheck in tennis history – the $2.8 million mentioned above. The current record is held by Roger Federer who won $2.4 million in 2007 for winning the US Open Series and capturing the US Open title. The record for largest price in women’s tennis (and all of sports) history is $2.2 million achieved twice by Kim Clijsters. Clijsters accomplished this feat first in 2005 by winning the US Open series and her first ever Grand Slam title. In 2010, she equaled the amount by winner her third Grand Slam title and finishing second in the US Open series.
Serena’s current total prize money earnings of $33.4 million is the most ever won by a woman athlete in the history of sports. By winning the US Open, she will push that total to more than $36 million. After her quarterfinal win, Serena was humorous in her reply when asked what she would do with that kind of money. “Well, I give half to my favorite uncle, and then the rest I probably save it hopefully. Pray that the banks don't go down.”
With her dominating play in the earlier rounds, Serena is set to add yet another record to her exemplary career. In tennis though – anything can happen. Two years ago, Serena was the defending champion, world #1 and favorite to win the US Open but lost to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals due to an infamous altercation with a lineswoman. At that time, Clijsters was on the comeback trail playing just her third tournament. This year, it’s a similar story with the the roles reversed. This time, it is Serena who is in the comeback trail after a series of injuries that prevented her from playing after winning her 13th Grand Slam at Wimbledon in July 2010. And, Serena will now be playing the semifinals against Wozniacki, the current world #1.
I am not a betting guy, but if my life depended on which woman semifinalist will be hoisting the US Open trophy by the end of the tournament, I would not bet against Serena Williams. Yes, she will win the richest ever prize in tennis history.
US Open Series 2011 Final Standings
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