Organisers increase Wimbledon prize money 40%

LONDON (AFP) –

Wimbledon's Centre Court during the men's singles final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray on July 8, 2012

Centre Court during the men’s singles final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray at the 2012 Wimbledon Championships in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2012. Organisers of the championships on Tuesday announced a massive hike in prize money for this year’s competition and unveiled plans to build a roof over Court No.1 in time for the 2019 edition.

Organisers of the Wimbledon tennis championships on Tuesday announced a massive hike in prize money for this year’s competition and unveiled plans to build a roof over Court No.1 in time for the 2019 edition.

The All England Club said that the extra £6.5 million ($9.9 million, 7.6 million euros) being made available was 40 percent more than in 2012 and took the total amount of prize money available this year to £22.6 million.

The hike represented “the largest single increase and largest total prize money in the history of professional tennis”, it said on its website, wimbledon.com

Winners of the men’s and women’s events at the Grand Slam event, won last year by Roger Federer and Serena Williams, will each receive £1.6 million — up £450,000 or 39 percent from last year.

The club said that there would also be pay-day increases for players who lose in the early rounds of the competition, which this year runs from June 24 to July 7.

Singles players who lose in the first three rounds will see their prize money increase by more than 60 percent, while qualifiers would see a 41 percent rise.

Those who reach the last 16 will have an average increase of 40 percent, while doubles players get a 22 percent rise.

The chairman of the All England Club and The Championships, Philip Brook, said the changes were a reflection of the “deep appreciation of the demanding nature of professional tennis and the top-quality entertainment they bring”.

Separately, the club confirmed that it intended to build a second retractable roof on Court No.1. A similar structure has been in place since 2009 on Centre Court and was built as part of a £100-million overhaul.

Once it is completed, more than 26,500 spectators will be able to watch play on both courts whatever the weather.