French Open to increase prize money to 20.6 mln pounds this year

London: The French Open will reportedly increase the prize money to 20.6 million pounds this year, with the singles champions each receiving 1.36 million pounds.That is an increase of 150,000 euros on the cheques picked up by champions Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams last year and an overall increase of three million euros.According to the BBC, players at this year's French Open who are beaten in the second and third rounds will pick up 20 percent more prize money than last year, which equates to 42,000 and 72,000 euros respectively while those losing in the fourth round will take home 125,000 euros - a 25 percent increaseThe French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, starts at Roland Garros in Paris on May 25 this year, the report added.