Tennis: Wimbledon winners to get 25% pay rise

Nice return: The pay rise for players such as Roger Federer should they win Wimbledon again brings it inline with other major prize pots

Tennis superstars Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova now have even more reason to make sure the date for Wimbledon is in their diaries.

The world’s most famous tournament is to increase this year’s prize fund to a whopping £20 million.

Bosses at the All England Tennis club agreed the 25 per cent increase  to ensure the competition is in line with other Grand Slams.

Player bodies, the ATP and WTA, have been seeking better pay throughout the Grand Slams, arguing that it is hard for some of the lower-ranked players to meet expenses accrued on what is a global tour.

The Australian Open’s total prize fund in January was £20.3m, including £1.64m for the winners of the singles titles. 

The French Open singles winners will get £1.3m this year, a rise of 20 per cent on 2012, while second, third and fourth-round losers will earn 25 per cent more. 

The US Open have increased their 2013 prize pot to £21.9m and that is likely to exceed £33m by 2017.