Wimbledon hikes prize money but refuses to bow to tennis stars’ demands

Wimbledon chiefs have announced a bumper increase in prize money for this year’s championships – but rejected calls from top tennis players for a percentage of revenue. The prize total pot for Wimbledon, which starts later this month, has been boosted by 20 per cent year-on-year to a record £64.2m. It follows pressure from the top 10 men’s and women’s players on all four Grand Slams to share a greater proportion of their revenues with the sport’s stars. The players, including Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, want Wimbledon, the French Open, US Open and Australian Open to allocate 22 per cent of revenues to prize money, in line with the biggest events on the ATP and WTA Tours. This year’s Wimbledon prize money represents around 15 per cent of the tournament’s 2024 revenue, which has increased since. “These figures represent a substantial increase in prize money,” said All England Club chair Debbie Jevans. “We have always been clear that we’re on the side of the players. We want to have a fantastic Wimbledon for them, but using revenue to determine prize money, it just makes no sense. “Revenue does not take into account the investment we have made. We are non-profit, we are very different to a Masters 1000 event and everything goes back into the sport. “I am frustrated that message has not got across. We’re hoping that the message will get across so the players understand the investment back into the game.” Wimbledon stance risks further player boycott threats Sabalenka recently warned that players could boycott the Grand Slams if their requests for a bigger share of the proceeds are ignored. The players have engaged Larry Scott, former chairman of the women’s WTA Tour, to negotiate with the Grand Slams on their behalf.  Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton held talks with Scott last month at the French Open, which paid out £53.3m in prize money. Jevans added: “We have had dialogue, email exchanges and a meeting in Paris. What we have done is right and appropriate.” The players are understood to have asked Wimbledon to hike prize money to 16 per cent of revenue this year, gradually increasing to 22 per cent by 2030. They have also asked all the Grand Slams to make contributions to welfare costs and give players greater say in how the tournaments are run.