Wimbledon 'surprised and disappointed' by player prize money protest plans

Wimbledon organizers are expressing surprise and disappointment as leading tennis players prepare to continue their prize money protest at this year's grasscourt major. The All England Club recently announced a record 20% increase in total prize money, reaching £64.2 million, but this falls short of the £70 million players were seeking.

The core of the dispute lies in players' demands for a larger slice of Grand Slam revenue, aligning with percentages received at ATP and WTA events. Some players had previously protested at the French Open by limiting their pre-tournament media activities to 15 minutes, a duration that symbolizes the 15% share of Wimbledon's takings allocated to prize money.

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Wimbledon puts the players at the heart of all our decisions and we invest significantly in them every year.

In response to the planned protest, the All England Club issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to players. "Wimbledon puts the players at the heart of all our decisions and we invest significantly in them every year," the statement read. They also pointed to substantial investments in player facilities as part of a three-year transformation aimed at creating a world-class performance environment.

Wimbledon chair Debbie Jevans noted that the tournament distributes 90% of its surplus back into British tennis, a model distinct from other tournaments. She argued that using revenue alone to determine prize money is not a sound approach, as it doesn't account for the significant investments made. The club operates as a not-for-profit entity, differentiating it from Masters 1000 events.

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Using revenue to determine prize money makes no sense and we have said that to Larry Scott. Revenue does not take into account the investment that we give. We are not-for-profit, and very different to a Masters 1000.