London - Wimbledon chiefs have increased the total prize money on
offer at the grass-court tournament to £16.1 million in a bid to satisfy
calls for a fairer distribution of the wealth at grand slams.
There
has been growing unrest among players that too much of the prize money
on offer at the four majors went to the top stars, who routinely reach
the lucrative later stages, at the expense of the lower ranked
competitors.
Late last year there were suggestions that the issue
could even prompt strike action which would threaten the stability of
the sport.
But All England Club officials entered into talks with
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray - the top
four in the men's rankings - to debate the problem at the Indian Wells
event earlier this year.
And Wimbledon has responded to the big
four's demands with a 10 percent increase of £1.5 million on the 2011
total prize money in a bid to ease the lower players' complaints that
the cost of living on tour wasn't matched by the rewards on offer at
tournaments.
While the men's and women's singles champions will
now take home a cheque for £1.15 million, a £50 000 rise on 2011, it is
the players who crash out earlier in the tournament who benefit most
from the changes.
An increase of 26 percent in prize money for
first round losers means they get £14 500 for just a few hours
unsuccessful work compared to £11 500 last year.
The daily
allowance paid to players in the men's and women's main draws have gone
up from £170 to £200, while there is also a 21 percent rise for losers
in the Wimbledon qualifying event.
"Wimbledon continues to be
successful and we are delighted to share that success with the players
by increasing total prize money by 10 percent, the largest increase
since 1993," All England Club chairperson Phillip Brook said.
"At
the same time we appreciate the need to help players meet the rising
costs associated with professional tennis, so the majority of the record
£1.5 million increase will be distributed to those who are knocked out
in the early rounds of the Championships."
Brook insists he was
never concerned that reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic and his fellow
stars were attempting to bully the grand slams and he instead praised
them for raising an issue that they could easily have ignored since they
already hoover up much of the prize money.
"There was never talk
of (strike) action from players in any discussions I have had. We had
very professional discussions with all the parties and hopefully it will
be received well," Brook said.
"What we have in the top four players is a group of young men who are very responsible for all those around them.
"We
didn't hear a request for more money for them, they wanted something
done for the sport as a whole and were representing all the players, not
just themselves.
"It is a positive development. When I met the
players at Indian Wells we asked for the opportunity to have meetings
like that on a regular basis. It can only be good to have dialogue with
them.
"We heard genuine concern from top players and tour management that this was an issue and we have reacted to that."
However,
with early-round losers flying home richer than previous years despite
relatively unsuccessful tournaments, Brook had to fend off accusations
that Wimbledon was rewarding failure.
"I respect the comment, but
for anybody who is good enough in our sport to come through qualifying
or be a direct entry it is an achievement of itself," he said.
"You only get that opportunity by having considerable success elsewhere on the tour during the year."
- AFP