Early Round Losers Rewarded With Wimbledon Prize Increase

Wimbledon prize money will this year eclipse twenty-five million pounds for the first time followign this week's announcement that it would increase by 10.8 percent on last year's total.

Whilst both the men's and women's singles champions will receive 1.76 million pounds each, a 10 percent increase on last year, it is the early round losers who benefit the most this year.

All competitors to lose before the third round, including qualifying, will receive a prize money increase of 12.5 percent in order to try and increase financial aid for those who most require it in the tennis environment.

Wimbledon chairman Philip Brook said , "We've placed emphasis on the large group of players who need our help the most, those players who lose in qualifying and in the early rounds of the championships. We also had an eye to being competitive internationally, and we do keep our watch on what is going on in other tennis events and in particular the other Grand Slams."

This follows on from a sensational rise in recent years, with the prize money for the majority of singles players who lose in the opening three rounds rising over 100 percent over the last three years. This has a particular emphasis on first-round losers, each earning 27,000 pounds.

The rise in prize money on the lawns of Wimbledon coincides with a general Grand Slam prize money increase following players demands.