The Australian Open is sometimes viewed as the poor relation of the four Grand Slam tournaments, but since the advent of the open era it has gone from strength to strength, both in terms of the players it attracts and the prize money awarded.

These days all the big guns from the men's and women's professional ranks turn up to compete at the Australian Open - and no wonder.

For a start long-haul travel is lot easier and more comfortable than it used to be and secondly the prize money is not to be sniffed at.

In recent years prize money for the winners of the men's and women's singles titles has been equal, putting right an anomaly that had blighted the professional game for far too long.

Indeed, there are those who subscribe to the view that the women's game has surpassed their male counterparts in terms of providing entertainment.

In 2009 the prize money for the winners of the men's and women's singles titles amounted to a cool Australian $2 million each, which equates to nearly £1 million. Whichever way you look at it, nice work if you are good enough to battle it out for the trophies involved.