The champions of the Australian Open will receive US$1.65 million next year as the first Grand Slam of the calendar year ups its prize money by 4.1 per cent, according to Associated Press.

The competition, which has offered equal prize money for men and women for the last eight years, has a total prize fund of US$18.9 million.

• Australian Open rocked as another sponsor quits

This year's Australian Open saw another dramatic battle between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, which ended with Federer in tears after Nadal beat him to the title, but the competition has been hit by a number of sponsor withdrawals.