Murray praises French Open on raise in prize money

MONACO (AP) -- Andy Murray has praised the French Open organizers for increasing the prize money and hopes other Grand Slams will follow suit.

Roland Garros organizers said last Friday that the overall purse for the tournament is going up by 7 percent to $24.6 million. The men's and women's singles champions will each receive $1.64 million, an increase of 4.17 percent.

Proportionately, the biggest increases are for those who are knocked out early. First-round losers will receive a 20 percent rise, from $19,700 to $23,670.

Murray said Sunday that "it's great that the French Open have stepped up.''

The increase follows player complaints in recent months about the way prize money is distributed at Grand Slam tournaments.

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