Wimbledon disappointed by players' planned protests during tournament

Wimbledon organizers have voiced disappointment and surprise over players' intentions to protest during the tournament. The All England Club stated that they are not focused on percentage calculations, deeming them an inadequate way to run a business as they ignore all costs.

Deborah Jevans, head of the All England Club, expressed hope that players would appreciate the ongoing infrastructure development at Wimbledon, funded by tournament revenues. However, players like Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, and Iga Świątek have shown dissatisfaction, with Sabalenka cutting short a press conference in Paris and others limiting their media obligations.

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We don't look at percentages, we don't think this is the right calculation. It is based solely on revenue, while ignoring all costs, so a company cannot be run like this.

Protesting players at Wimbledon plan to adhere to a 15-minute protest rule throughout the tournament's first week. This action symbolizes their dissatisfaction with the 15% share of prize money they feel is insufficient. The All England Club highlighted in a statement that they had proposed the formation of a player committee late last year to collaborate on prize money matters, but players did not engage with this proposal.

Conversely, the players assert they have not received a substantive response to their complaints regarding prize money and tournament organization. This standoff highlights a significant tension between the players' financial expectations and the organizers' financial management and proposals for collaboration.

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We are surprised and disappointed.