US Open Tennis
|The US Open 2018 is just on the corner, a women’s singlesfinal will take place on Saturday, September 8, beginning at 4pm ET. Will represent a climax to nearly a fortnight of competition, in which 128 hopefuls will battle for the right to lift the trophy, which Sloane Stephens achieved last year by defeating countrywoman Madison Keys, 6-3, 6-0.
The tournament proper begins on Monday, August 27, with qualifying matches slated to take place from August 21-24.
Each of the first four rounds will take place over two days, and that will also be the case for the quarterfinals. According to the US Open’s official website, the last-eight matches will take place on Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5, with one each day played during a daytime session to begin at 11am and another in a night session beginning at 7pm.
The semifinals, meanwhile, will both be played on Thursday, September 6 in the evening, with play due to begin at 7pm.
The women’s doubles final will be the final match of the draw from the WTA side, with that tied down for Sunday September 9 with a 1pm start.
The prize money for the 2018 edition of the US Open is yet to be confirmed.
However, the overall pot has increased annually by roughly $4 million over the last few years, with the 2017 US Open prize money totalling $50.4m.
Stephens, the 2017 winner, received $3.7m for victory at the New York-based event, while runner-up Keys took home $1.825m.
For reaching the semifinal the prize money was $920,000, with a quarterfinal place securing $470,000.
A fourth-round exit meant a player took home $263,625, with those getting to the third round collecting $144,000.
Those who reach the second round were able to bag themselves $86,000, while the first round is a guaranteed $50,000.
Meanwhile, the winners of the doubles competition last year claimed $675,000, with the runners up claiming $340,000.
Victory in the mixed doubles meant an award of $150,000, which the runners up claimed $70,000.
The prize money for the US Open has increased by approximately 8 per cent each year over the past four years and so the prize money for each round is likely to be higher again this year.