Andy Murray does not need any extra incentive to win Wimbledon this summer but if he does become the first British man to win it since Fred Perry in 1936, then he will take home £1.6m for his efforts, a rise of 39% on the 2012 winner's cheque.
Responding to pressure from players and from the ATP and WTA Tours, Wimbledon officials announced yesterday that overall prize money will be increased by 40% to £6.5m – taking the total to £22.56m, the highest in any tennis event.
As in 2012, the biggest increases were reserved for the first week. Losers in the first three rounds will receive between 62% and 64% more than they did last year, with first-round losers now receiving £23,500. Players who lose in qualifying will also receive 41% more while doubles prize money was also increased by 22%.
The other major announcement was confirmation of the plan to build a fixed, retractable roof over No.1 Court by 2019, subject to a consultation.
Its "Master Plan" includes building new courts and significantly reshaping the site to add to the fan experience, or in Wimbledon-speak "tennis in an English garden".
In a world where the four grand slam events like to outdo one another, Wimbledon claimed that bragging rights had nothing to do with its decisions.
The total amount needed to complete the "Master Plan" was not revealed but the implication was it would be significantly more than any of the other three grand slam events are planning to invest in their own upgrades. The investment will come, said All England Club chairman Philip Brook, from their "own resources". "It is an affordable plan," he said.
At a time when Britain is struggling economically, the hike in prize money could be seen as crass but Brook said the increases were merited.
"We understand and appreciate the difficulties for all players in reaching the top echelons of our sport and, indeed, staying there," he said. "The road to the top is a long road, it's getting longer, and it's a very expensive road on which to travel.
"In terms of being competitive, players always have been and always will be top of our agenda. The prize money landscape has changed significantly over the last year and today represents an opportunity for us to express how much they are appreciated at Wimbledon.
"The economic climate is difficult but I think we have to accept the world we live in is a world where we are competing with other international tennis events and we're also keeping an eye on what's happening with other sports."
That "prize money landscape" refers to the continued push, led by the top players, for the grand slam events to increase the share of revenue they offer in prize money. Until last year, when the first round of increases were announced, that share ranged between 11% and 17%, leading some players to talk about the possibility of boycotting one of the four events. The threat was not tested as the slam organisers responded quickly, with the US Open last month announcing it intends to raise its total prize money to $50m (£32.75m) by 2017.
"These are very significant increases but we made them because we want to make them, not because we had to."
Richard Lewis, the ceo of the All England Club, said it was likely that any future increases would be far less extravagant. "Today is a step-change in prize money," he said. "I think it is fair to say it's a marker that isn't going to be happening every year."
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