Wimbledon has announced a significant boost to its prize money for this year’s championships, reaching an impressive total of £53.5 million (approximately $72.59 million). This marks a 7% increase from last year and is double the amount offered a decade ago, according to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).
The singles champions, both men’s and women’s, will receive £3 million each, making it the highest payout among all Grand Slam tournaments. This is also an 11.1% increase compared to what last year’s winners, Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova, took home. Players who exit in the first round will see their prize increased to £66,000, a rise of 10% from 2024. Additionally, doubles prize money has been raised by 4.4%, while mixed doubles will see an increase of 4.3%. Players in wheelchair and quad wheelchair events will benefit from a 5.6% increase.
This increase in prize money comes in response to players who have been advocating for better financial support at the Grand Slam events. AELTC chair Deborah Jevans emphasized that they have been listening to player feedback. However, she noted that focusing solely on prize money does not solve the deeper challenges within tennis, including the lack of an off-season and rising injury rates among players.
In another notable change, Wimbledon will do away with traditional line judges for the first time, opting for an electronic line-calling system that has been successfully used in other tournaments. AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton explained that while the electronic system will be the primary method, about 80 assistants will still be present to support the chair umpire and ensure everything runs smoothly.
The tournament is set to take place from June 30 to July 13.
