Safina Won U.S. Open Series
Dinara Safina won the U.S. Open Series ahead of schedule, USTA announced, signaling that the Russian has a chance to get the biggest amount of prize money in tennis history. Safina will be paid $2.5 million if she triumphs at the U.S. Open. In the men’s tennis, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are still competing for the bonus.
The U.S. Open Series consists of nine tournaments played in the United States and Canada, although there are only four of them in the ladies’ section. Two tournaments sufficed this year to declare Safina the winner of the Series.
Safina first prevailed in Los Angeles, where she defeated Elena Jankovic of Serbia en route to the victory. She triumphed in Montreal in the next effort despite the starring strength of that competition, which was attended by the first quartet of the tennis elite – Ana Ivanovic, Elena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Of interest is that it was the first time that Dinara won two tournaments in a row.
This stunning success brought 170 scores to Dinara in the U.S. Open Series and made her beyond the reach of the rivals. The victory at the U.S. Open Series gives Dinara a chance to fight for the biggest prize money in tennis history - USTA pays bonus to the Series winners, which amount depends on the progress at the U.S. Open.
If Safina becomes the U.S. Open champ, she will earn $1.5 million for the title and $1 million as the USTA bonus. The final will generate the bonus of $500,000 in addition to $750,000 due for the second place at the tournament and the semifinal will award her by the prize money of $320,000 and the bonus of $250,000. If Safina loses in quarterfinal, she will earn $160,000 for the performance and the bonus of $125,000. Even the loss in the first round will be remunerated – Dinara will get $15,000 in this case.
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All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 07, 2008
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