Wimbledon sets record £64.2 million prize fund amid player pay dispute

Wimbledon has answered the latest round of tennis’s pay dispute with its biggest prize-money increase ever, lifting the 2026 Championships fund to a record £64.2 million. The 20% rise from £53.5 million last year will send £3.6 million to each singles champion, double the first-round stakes in the sport’s economics debate.

The new figures deepen the gap between what the tournament is paying and what many top players want. Singles runners-up will receive £1.8 million, while first-round losers will get £80,000, up from £66,000 in 2025. Reigning champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are due back for the next Wimbledon, which runs from late June into July, giving the tournament a showcase for a pay package it says reflects both commercial success and continued investment.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club said the increase also covers player per diems and helps fund facilities, the grass-court season and support for British and international tennis. Deborah Jevans, the club’s chair, said she had discussed prize money with Larry Scott, who is representing several leading players in their pay demands, underscoring how directly the issue has moved into formal negotiation rather than background complaint.

That matters because the broader fight is no longer just about one tournament. Leading players including Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have pressed Grand Slam organizers to raise the share of revenue that goes to players from about 15% to 22% by 2030. The pressure has spilled into public view: players reduced media appearances at the 2026 French Open as part of a protest over prize money and revenue share, and reports have said some wanted Wimbledon’s pot closer to £70 million. Wimbledon’s increase may ease some frustration at the top of the sport, but it does not settle the larger question of whether elite tennis is sharing enough of its revenue with the players who drive it.