U.S. Open adds rest day, increases purse

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Open officials said they're adding a rest day between the semifinals and finals for men and women and increasing the total purse in the 2013 tournament.

The Open, the tennis year's final major tournament, has had its semis and finals on consecutive days in the past.

A release Friday from the U.S. Tennis Association said the tournament would be scheduled to end with the men's singles final on Monday, Sept. 9, two days after the Saturday semifinals.

The women's singles semifinals are to both be on Friday, Sept. 6, with the finals set for two days later on Sunday.

"I'm pleased that the USTA has modified the U.S. Open schedule to include a day of rest between the semifinals and final," said 2012 men's champion Andy Murray. "Together with the prize money increase, it's good that they've taken onboard the players' concerns."

The total purse for the 2013 Open will be $29.5 million, $4 million more than 2012 and a $6 million increase over 2011.

Officials said the prize money in the singles' tournaments had been increased 34 percent in two years.

Murray and women's singles winner Serena Williams each collected $1.9 million for winning the 2012 titles.