Wimbledon champions get prize money boost
Rafael Nadal can look forward to a major pay bonus if the Spaniard
retains the Wimbledon men’s singles title in July.
Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in a thrilling All-England club final
in 2008 and, Venus Williams, who defeated sister Serena in the women’s
final, will earn 850,000 (1.2 million dollars), which is 100,000 pounds
(145,000) more than last year, if they go all the way again.
Wimbledon bosses rubber-stamped the 13.3 percent increase to take
into account the global economic crisis, which has left the pound in a
weak state against the dollar, meaning the champions would have lost out
if the rise had been smaller.
Tim Phillips, the Wimbledon chairman, said: “The extraordinary
international interest in the likes of Nadal and the Williams sisters
has been a substantial boost to tennis. We wanted to reflect that in the
prize money.”
Total prize money at Wimbledon this year will increase by 6.2 percent
to 12.55 million pounds (18.1 million). Included in the overall prize
figure is a per diem of 170 pounds (247) per day for each player to
spend on accomodation, travel and other expenses.
This sum has often been a bone of contention amongst the less wealthy
pros and the tiny 0.9 percent rise is unlikely to placate them.
Ground capacity will also rise by 3,500 to 40,000, while applications
for tickets via the public ballot were also up by 20 percent.
LONDON, Tuesday, AFP
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