Men’s and women’s singles Wimby champions to receive $2.44 million each.
Good news to professional tennis players, especially those who are Wimbledon-bound.
The prestigious event’s organizers announced a huge 40 percent increase in total prize money that will make the pot at this year’s championships the biggest ever in tennis.
Participants at this year’s grasscourt grand slam, which starts on June 24, will receive a total of $34.45 million with the men’s and women’s singles champions each pocketing $2.44 million.
Last year’s Wimbledon singles champions earned 1.15 million pounds – 39 percent less.
“These are significant increases and we have made them because we wanted to and not because we had to,” All England Club chairman Philip Brook said. “We understand and appreciate the difficulties for all players reaching the top echelons of our sport. It’s a long and expensive road to the top and it’s getting longer.”
Asked if the rises were justifiable during a harsh economic climate in which many people struggled just to afford tickets for the prestigious tournament, he said Wimbledon had to compete with other major sporting events.
Richard Lewis, chief executive of the All England Club, said the public should recognize that the riches enjoyed by the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic through prize money and sponsorship were not available to rank and file tour players.
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