Wimbledon Championships raise prize money – Tennis News
Following the French Open organizers, the bosses at the All England Club have announced a substantial raise in the prize money for this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
Overall prize money has been lifted by 10 percent, increasing it to a total of 16.1 million pounds. The winner of both men’s and women’s singles event will get additional 50, 000 pounds, taking the total to 1.15 million.
However, the biggest beneficiaries of this raise will the players who lose in the qualifiers and first round, with their income increasing by 21 and 26 percent respectively, bringing first round prize money to 14, 400 pounds from
11, 500.
Announcing the increase in prize money, Wimbledon Chairman, Philip Brook said, “It is clear more needs to be done for lower end players for whom the rising costs of professional tennis have out-stripped prize money. We are hopeful
these changes will be received very positively by the tours.”
It was learnt that Brook had a meeting with the ‘Big Four’ i.e. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray at the Indian Wells in March to discuss the prize money issue.
The elite players selflessly spoke for the lower ranked players, who lose in the earlier round of the Grand Slams and don’t get enough prize money. It is tough to be a professional tennis player these days, with the increasing
expenses of travelling on the tour and hiring coaches.
Brook said, "There was a request to go and meet with them in Indian Wells. We respected that request. In those top four players we have people of quality and integrity who want to do the right thing for the sport.”
He added, "What we heard was not a request for more prize money for them. They were there representing all the players on the tour.”
However, this move will also face criticism from some corners, as the former ATP board member, Ivan Ljubicic, had said earlier in this year that increasing the prize money of earlier rounds would only lead to players trying less
to clear the initial stages of Grand Slams.
Though, it’s pertinent to note that lower ranked players in tennis get lesser prize money than their fellows in other sports.
It is hoped that organizers at the US and Australian Open will follow in the footsteps of Wimbledon and French Open by addressing the needs of early losers.
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