Women to earn more

Of the near US$1.1 million (£686,000) up for grabs, the women will be vying for US$600,000, while the men will be playing for $484,750.

Tournament director Craig Watson said the discrepancy was due to the category of the event on the respective ATP and WTA tours.

"The women's event is a Premier 600, which refers to the prize money figure and the men's is an ATP 250 Series, which refers to the ranking points the new champion will receive," Watson said.

The January 11-17 Sydney International is a key warm up tournament ahead of this month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

The 2009 Sydney women's champion will earn US$98,500, while the men's winner will pick up US$78,500.

Nine-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams headlines the women's tournament along with third-ranked Dinara Safina (pictured) and Beijing gold medallist Elena Dementieva.

Last year's Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his French compatriot Gilles Simon and Argentina's David Nalbandian are the top seeds in the men's draw.