Author: Barkha Roy
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has announced a record prize money of 44.7 million pounds (US$56.52 million) for the next Wimbledon Championships, scheduled to take place from July 3 to 16, 2023. This represents an impressive increase of 11.2% compared to the previous year.
In an effort to provide well-deserved support to players throughout the tournament, the AELTC has implemented substantial prize money increases in several events. The winners of the men’s and women’s singles finals will receive £2.35 million and £1.175 million respectively, returning to the prize money levels seen in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents a significant increase on the £1.7 million awarded in 2021 and the £2 million awarded in 2022.
Even players who leave the competition in the first round will benefit from increased prize money. They are now guaranteed a minimum payment of £55,000, an increase of 10% on the previous year. In addition, the prize fund for the qualifying competition has increased by 14.5% compared to last year, offering greater rewards to participants.
AELTC President Ian Hewitt expressed his satisfaction at being able to offer players such generous prize money this year, emphasizing the double-digit increases in most events. The aim of these substantial increases is not only to bring the prize money for the champions and runners-up back to pre-pandemic levels, but also to support players in the early stages of the tournament.
The defending champion in the men’s singles category is Novak Djokovic, who recently secured victories at the Australian Open and the French Open. He won the Wimbledon title in the previous year’s final against Nick Kyrgios, triumphing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6. Djokovic’s recent successes have also taken him to the top of the ATP world rankings.
In the women’s individual, Elena from Kazakhstan is the reigning champion, having beaten Ons Jabeur from Tunisia in the previous final. Although Rybakina faced health problems during the French Open, forcing her to withdraw due to a fever and viral infection, she achieved a career-best singles ranking of No. 3, just below world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
As anticipation grows for the much-anticipated grass-court Grand Slam event, Wimbledon is set to offer exciting competition, along with the biggest prize money on offer ever.