Wimbledon Insists It Was Not Forced To Increase Prize Money

Written by: on 24th April 2013
Roger Federer
Wimbledon Insists It Was Not Forced To Increase Prize Money

epa03300797 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Andy Murray of Britain during the men's final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 08 July 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY  |

Although All England Club chairman Philip Brook was insistent Wimbledon was not forced in any way towards the 40% overall increase in prize money for the 2013 Championships announced yesterday, the playing fraternities were celebrating the news as a great victory for the bargaining power of the ATP World Tour and WTA.

There can be little doubt several meetings over the course of the last year between Brook and Roger Federer, seven times a Wimbledon singles champion and leader of the ATP Players Council, contributed to pay-rise.

And the euphoria amongst the ATP and WTA ranks was unprecedented after the news was announced. ATP board member with responsibility to the players, Giorgio de Palmero said: “Wimbledon has joined the other three slams in making a big contribution to the game and to the immense talent of the players! We look forward to a new relationship with all four Majors! Good job ATP Players!!!”

And Mardy Fish mentioned another board member, Justin Gimelstob by name in his Tweeted celebration of the news.

Gimelstob has been the most active member of the ATP hierarchy in the moves to get the four Grand Slams to up their prize money and Fish tweeted: “Huge props to Wimbledon on their prize money increase! ‪@justingimelstob Thank you for your support of the players…”

Andy Murray has previously been non-committal in his support of the All England Club’s traditions but he was effusive in his praise. “If it wasn’t official before it is now, Wimbledon is officially the biggest and tennis tournament bar none,” said the Scot. “Always looking out for the best interests of our sport…. future plans for the club look incredible.” And Murray hash tagged himself a proud member of the All England Club as he added: “As has always been the case Wimbledon continue to lead our sport in the right direction… right from the front.”

Sergiy Stakhovsky , an often outspoken member of the ATP Player Council, said: “I would like to give a big hug to the Wimbledon board; thank you gentlemen.”

But Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said the All England Club will look more closely at which players merit a wild card with eight are awarded into each of the singles draws because of the money on offer.

This year a wild card will equate to a guaranteed payment of at least $35,862 (£23,500) which means for a straight sets defeat, a beaten tennis player could earn more in roughly one hour than a junior doctor at one of London’s leading hospitals makes in a year.

Brook explained the high pay for early round losers when he said: “These are not players who are superstars but players who are finding their way and not making a lot of money. We wanted to build on what we did last year and our increases reflect that.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.