For two weeks starting Monday, the 2014, U.S. Open Tennis Championships brings hundreds of thousands of tennis fans to Flushing Meadows, Queens, N.Y. for one of the world's major tournaments. It's the last of four Grand Slam titles beginning with the Australian Open in January, the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.

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The U.S. Open began its run in 1881. Total prize money this year is around USD$40 million. Organizers want to take that prize money number to USD$50 million by 2017.

Winners of the Open, both men's and women's divisions, receive USD$3 million each this year. First round winners get USD$35,754 each while second round winners get $60,420. Runners-Up receive USD$1.45 million and semifinalists receive USD$730,000. It takes seven rounds to reach the finals

More than 710,000 people attended the 2013 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. That represented the most people attending a single sporting event in the world. Ticket prices start at USD$98 and go up to USD$1,500. Look for A-list celebs in the top sears. Justin Timberlake, Anna Wintour and Kevin Spacey, among others, were seen last year at the matches.

Number One men's seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the event in 2011, but was eliminated in the 2012 and 2013 finals to Rafael Nadal, of Spain and Andy Murray, of Britain, respectively. Nadal isn't participating this year. Longtime tennis star Roger Federer also has bowed out of the contest.

On the women's side, 19th seed Venus Williams held up the Williams name with a 2-6,6-3,6-3 victory Monday over Kimiko Date-Krummof Japan. Sister Serena Williams is odds-on favorite to win, especially in light of main competitor Li Na of Wuhan, China opting out of the tourney.

Opening matches generally represent opportunities for top players to shake off the dust and get down to work in a challenging tennis venue marked by wind, heat and court speed.

Seeded eighth this year, Murray fought off a challenge from Dutch star Robin Haase in five sets. Murray suffered from muscle cramps hurting his place, but so did Haase. Final results were Murray prevailing 7-6,7-5,2-6,3-6,6-2.

The opening day headline match was nearly five hours long and tied a 1988 contest between Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander for longest match in Open history. coincidentally, Lendl is Murray's coach. Lendl eventually won eight Grand slam titles.

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