Tennis: Record payday at Aussie Open

The Australian Open men's and women's singles champions for next year's tournament will each pocket A$2.3 million ($2.8 million), the greatest amount in grand slam tennis history.

The total prizemoney pool for the January 16-29 tournament has also been increased, to A$26 million, also the most ever at a grand slam, organisers said.

Among other changes, there will be a new women's legends event, to be headlined by Swiss former world No 1 and three-time Open women's singles champion Martina Hingis.

And Hawk-Eye will be introduced on Margaret Court Arena, allowing for challenges to line calls on all three main showcase courts.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said it was expected that women's defending champion Kim Clijsters, who is returning from injury, and five-time winner Serena Williams, who missed this year's event through injury, would both play.

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"We know that Kim's been out for most of the year, but she's planning on being back to defend her title," Tiley said. "We've still got three months to go, but the last communication is she's planning on being back.

"The same thing with Serena, she unfortunately missed this year's open with her injury, but she's back playing, we all saw at the finals of the US Open, and she'll be here too."

Tiley said that Australia's Sam Stosur would be among the favourites after her breakthrough US Open title, when she beat Williams in the final. There has not been an Australian men's or women's singles champion at their home grand slam since Chris O'Neal in 1978.

"I know in talking to Sam, she's particularly excited about coming back and playing in Melbourne, as well as the lead-up events in Australia," he said. "She'll do her best, we know she will." AAP