MELBOURNE, Australia — The 2009 Australian Open will offer $15.6 million in prize money next year, with the men's and women's singles winners receiving an 18 percent increase.

Tournament officials said today the singles winners will receive about $1.15 million each based on current exchange rates.

The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam event, will be held Jan. 19-Feb. 1. It will feature the prospect of Roger Federer winning his 14th major title to equal Pete Sampras' record.

Federer lost in the semifinals at Melbourne Park to Novak Djokovic this year, then fell to Rafael Nadal in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon. Federer beat Andy Murray in the U.S. Open final for his 13th major.

Djokovic and Maria Sharapova are the defending champions. The tournament is set for its first night women's final on Saturday, Jan. 30, following a move it made in 2005 to a night men's singles championship on the final Sunday.

Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said the tournament hopes to improve on this year's attendance figure of 605,000, which was up on the 2007 total of 550,000.

"We think we're in great shape," he said.