Tennis Australia

Australian Open organisers have announced a further rise in prize money to a record A$40m (€26.2m/$32.5m) as the year’s first grand slam tournament seeks to address the fall in value of the Australian dollar.

Grand slam champions Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt will showcase a new short format concept developed by Tennis Australia at an exhibition match in Sydney next year.

Australian Open organisers have announced a 10 per cent increase in total prize money for the 2015 edition of the grand slam tennis tournament, while Rafael Nadal has been engaged in a newly created ambassadorial role designed to further the event’s reach in the Asian market.

Steve Healy, president of the Tennis Australia national governing body, has called for an overhaul of the Davis and Fed Cup national team tournaments in order to ensure their survival.

Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood will step down at the end of September after eight years in the role and will be replaced by Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley.