INDIAN WELLS, Calif., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., will award $1 million prizes to both its men's and women's singles winners next year, officials said Tuesday.
The move makes Indian Wells the first ATP-WTA combined tennis tournament to hand out such prizes to both winners.
The total purse at the March 5-18 event will surpass $11 million, tournament organizers said.
"The BNP Paribas Open has been raising the bar for the sport over the course of the past four decades, and today's $1 million winners' prize money announcement represents yet another historic milestone," WTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stacey Allaster said.
"It's fantastic that the BNP Paribas Open, one of the biggest and most important events on the tour, is taking the lead in recognizing the players in this way for the tremendous interest and value they continue to drive into the sport," said outgoing ATP Executive Chairman and President Adam Helfant.
