Wimbledon Expected To Announce Significant Increase in Prize Money

Written by: Staff on 22nd April 2013

Wimbledon Expected To Announce Significant Increase in Prize Money

epa03311494 Photo dated 24 June 2011 shows a general view of the All England Lawn Tennis Club Wimbledon during third round action for the Wimbledon Championships in London, Britain. London will be host for the 2012 Olympic Games which will take place from 27 July to 12 August 2012 and the Paralympic Games from 29 August to 09 September 2012. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Wimbledon will complete the matched set of Grand Slam prize money rises when it announces a summer payout in excess of $30 million.

London’s Daily Mail reported a day before the official announcement that the increase represents a massive 30 per cent rise for the men’s and women’s champions, who are set to earn 1.5 million sterling ($2.28 million) for their fortnight’s work. That an increase of 350,000 sterling (more than $500,000) over a 2012 total which in itself represented a 10 per cent rise from the previous edition.

The Wimbledon announcement will bring all four of the money-spinning majors up to speed with player demands after the payment issues surfaced seriously in 2012.

Despite its massive boost, Wimbledon is still not the biggest payer among the four Slams. That honor goes to the US Open, which put up more money under duress a few weeks ago as the main target over player discontent in the sport.

The New York event expects to offer $33 million this year to rise to $50 million by 2017. The Australian Open last January also came to the table in a big way, with the Melbourne event paying $30.8 million in total.

Roland Garros in Paris also bumped up its offering earlier this month to 22 million Euros ($29 million).

Topics: British tennis news, grand slam prize money, Sports, tennis prize money increase, Wimbledon