Players renew pressure on Wimbledon over prize money share

Wimbledon’s record £64.2 million prize pool did not satisfy players, who planned a 15-minute media boycott to push for a bigger cut of revenue. The All England Club said it was “surprised and disappointed” that the protest would continue as the championships open on June 29.

Players represented by former WTA chief executive Larry Scott want at least 16% of Wimbledon revenue, while the club’s current payout is about 15%.

Wimbledon announced on June 11 that total prize money had risen 20% from £53.5 million in 2025, the biggest annual increase in tournament history. Singles champions will receive £3.6 million each in 2026, while players losing in the first round will get £80,000. That compares with a £50 million purse in 2024, when singles champions took home £2.7 million and first-round losers received £60,000. Over the past decade, Wimbledon’s total prize money doubled from £25 million in 2014 to £50 million in 2024, then jumped again this year.

The 15-minute media limit used at the French Open became a template for the protest, reflecting the roughly 15% of revenue players say Wimbledon and Roland Garros distribute. Some players want a share closer to 22%, which they say is nearer the level redistributed at many ATP and WTA Tour events. Players also want a player welfare fund and a formal player council.

The All England Club says its finances already support the game beyond the championships. Debbie Jevans said she had discussed prize money with Scott at Roland Garros. The club is spending hundreds of millions of pounds on player facilities as part of a three-year transformation, and much of its surplus is returned to British tennis through the Lawn Tennis Association. The AELTC posted turnover of £406.5 million and profits of £54.3 million for the year ending July 2024, and passed on 90% of profits to the LTA.