MELBOURNE, Australia - The 2009 Australian Open will offer 22 million Australian dollars (C$16.9 million) in prize money next year, with the men's and women's singles winners receiving an 18 per cent increase.

Tournament officials said at the event launch Wednesday that the singles winners will receive A$1.62 million each, or about C$1.25 million each based on current exchange rates. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of next year, will be held from Jan. 19-Feb. 1.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova of Russia are the defending singles 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 hoped to improve on this year's attendance figure of 605,000, which was up on the 2007 total of 550,000.

"We know our pre-sales are already 15 per cent up on last year and we think we're in great shape," said Wood, adding that the tournament will feature the prospect of Roger Federer winning his 14th Grand Slam title to equal Pete Sampras' record.

Federer lost in the semifinals at Melbourne Park to Djokovic this year, then was defeated by 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.