Latest news with #DebbieJevans
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Wimbledon increases prize pot amid players' push for greater profit share
The Wimbledon prize money is set to be increased by seven percent to a record pot of 53.5 million pounds for this year. The men's and women's singles winners will receive 3 million pounds each, an increase of more than 11 per cent on 2024. Meanwhile, a main draw berth is worth a minimum of 66,000 pounds, which is a 10 percent hike. The All England Club's announcement comes after growing player demands for a bigger share of revenue from the four majors. Also 20 leading players sent a letter in April to the heads of the Grand Slams, calling for greater contributions and discussions were held during the French Open. All England Club chairwoman Debbie Jevans said at Wimbledon's pre-tournament media briefing on Thursday the club was "absolutely committed to continuing our longstanding commitment to player compensation". "We're immensely proud of the fact that if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period (of 100 percent) and seven per cent this year," she said. "We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players. Of course we will always listen and discuss with them but the focus on just the prize money at four events, the Grand Slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. "The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off-season, which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about and we've always said that we as Wimbledon are willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions and that door remains open. "As yet, there hasn't been any proposal to us as to how the tour is able to change its structure. "There's a bigger picture here but, as a tennis player, they're always going to, I think, ask for more money." In a major change at Wimbledon this year, line judges are being replaced by a live electronic calling system. The All England Club follows the Australian Open and the US Open in implementing the change, though the French Open still uses human officials. Around 80 former officials will be employed this year as match assistants, with two on each court offering support to the umpire, while they will also provide back-up should the electronic system fail. Wimbledon runs from June 30 to July 13, with Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova the defending champions.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Wimbledon increases prize money by 7% to £53.5m total pot this year
PAMedia/DPA London Wimbledon prize money will increase by 7% to a total pot of £53.5 million ($72.3 million) for this summer's Championships. The winners of the men's and women's singles titles will each receive £3 million, an increase of more than 11% on 2024, while a main draw spot is worth a minimum of £66,000, up 10% year on year. The All England Club's announcement comes amid growing player demands for a bigger share of grand slam profits. In April, 20 leading players sent a letter to the heads of the four majors calling for greater contributions and discussions were held at a meeting during the French Open. At Wimbledon's pre-tournament media briefing, chair Debbie Jevans said: 'We are absolutely committed to continuing our long-standing commitment to player compensation. 'We're immensely proud of the fact that if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period (of 100%) and 7% this year. 'We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players. Of course we will always listen and discuss with them but the focus on just the prize money at four events, the grand slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. 'The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off season, which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about and we've always said that we as Wimbledon are willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions and that door remains open. 'As yet, there hasn't been any proposal to us as to how the tour is able to change its structure. 'There's a bigger picture here but, as a tennis player, they're always going to, I think, ask for more money.' Two big changes at this year's tournament - which starts on June 30 - had previously been announced, with the singles finals moving from 2pm (1200 GMT) starts on the final weekend to 4pm (1400 GMT), while line judges are being replaced by a live electronic calling system. The latter decision follows a move within the wider sport, although the French Open has resisted change and this year's event was again held with line calls decided purely by human officials. Wimbledon's removal of line judges was met with dismay by many and the All England Club revealed around 80 former officials would be employed this year as match assistants, with two on each court offering support to the umpire, while they will also provide back-up, should the electronic system fail. Behind the scenes, Wimbledon's biggest project remains the planned expansion into neighbouring Wimbledon Park, which would add a further 39 grass courts but is currently mired in legal challenges. Although planning permission has been granted, a local protest group has brought a judicial review, which will be heard at the High Court on July 8 and 9 during the second week of the tournament. A hearing into whether there is a statutory trust on the land will be heard in January 2026, further delaying the project, plans for which were first submitted in 2021. Wimbledon, meanwhile, will continue to provide support for Ukrainian players in terms of practice facilities and accommodation.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Wimbledon first-round losers to pocket £66,000
First-round losers at this year's Wimbledon Championships will receive £66,000, a 10 per cent increase from last year's figure. These sizeable sums are also payable to the 16 singles players – mainly Britons – who receive wildcard invitations from the All England Club, even though their rankings are not high enough to earn direct entry to the draw. Despite the apparently generous nature of Wimbledon's prize money – which has doubled over the last 10 years so that this year's men's and women's champions will receive £3 million each – player remuneration has been a focus of locker-room discontent recently. Not only did the Professional Tennis Players' Association bring a multi-national lawsuit against the way the tours operate in March, but a group of top-20 players then wrote a letter to the slams asking for improved pay and perks. 'Players always ask for more money' At Thursday's annual Wimbledon press conference, chair Debbie Jevans told reporters that 'Once you sit down and have the time to explain to them [the players], they do understand that the opportunities will flow if we are able to change the whole structure of the sport by way of the calendar.' 'There is a bigger picture,' Jevans added. 'But as a tennis player they are always going to ask for more money.' The players argue that the slams pay around 15 per cent of their revenues out in prize money and contrast that unfavourably with franchise sport in the USA, where player remuneration normally stands at around 50 per cent. The slams reply that they are constantly upgrading their facilities to make themselves more attractive to spectators, although the fact that the All England Club also pays out almost £50 million to the Lawn Tennis Association every year tends to raise eyebrows among the player base. Three weeks ago in Paris, there was a meeting between six members of the top 20 and representatives of the four slams, where world No 1 Jannik Sinner is understood to have been one of the most vocal parties. It is also understood, however, that some members of the top 20 have privately disassociated themselves from this pressure campaign. When asked about the pay complaints on Friday, Jevans pointed reporters to the men's and women's tours – the ATP and the WTA – which operate independently of the four slams. If you work out the figures, the slams contribute more than 30 per cent of players' annual income, whereas in golf, the four majors deliver only around half that. Her contention, then, is that the tours are the ones who are underperforming. And she also alluded to the fact that the tours declined to show any interest in slam-led proposals for a streamlined 'Premium Tour' when it was proposed 18 months ago. Wimbledon expansion In terms of site development, the All England Club continue to pursue their planned expansion into adjoining Wimbledon Park Golf Course, in the face of staunch opposition from the Save Wimbledon Park pressure group. After planning permission was granted by the London Mayor's office in September, a judicial review is due to take place in the middle of this year's Championships. There will also be a court case in January to decide whether – as metropolitan open land – the golf course should be exempt from development. As and when the green light is finally given in earnest, it will take five or six years for the new grass courts to bed in before they can be used in competitive play.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Wimbledon prize pot increases as players push for greater profit share
WIMBLEDON prize money will increase by seven percent to a record pot of £53.5 million ($72.6 million) for this year's championships as pressure grows from players for a greater slice of Grand Slam profits. The winners of the men's and women's singles titles will each receive £3 million, an increase of more than 11 per cent on 2024, while a main draw spot is worth a minimum of £66,000, up 10 percent. The All England Club's announcement comes after growing player demands for a bigger share of revenue from the four majors. In April, 20 leading players sent a letter to the heads of the Grand Slams calling for greater contributions and discussions were held during the French Open. All England Club chairwoman Debbie Jevans said at Wimbledon's pre-tournament media briefing on Thursday the club was 'absolutely committed to continuing our longstanding commitment to player compensation'. 'We're immensely proud of the fact that if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period (of 100 percent) and seven per cent this year,' she said. 'We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players. Of course we will always listen and discuss with them but the focus on just the prize money at four events, the Grand Slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. 'The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off-season, which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about and we've always said that we as Wimbledon are willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions and that door remains open. 'As yet, there hasn't been any proposal to us as to how the tour is able to change its structure. 'There's a bigger picture here but, as a tennis player, they're always going to, I think, ask for more money.' In a major change at Wimbledon this year, line judges are being replaced by a live electronic calling system. The All England club follows the Australian Open and the US Open in implementing the change, though the French Open still uses human officials. Around 80 former officials will be employed this year as match assistants, with two on each court offering support to the umpire, while they will also provide back-up should the electronic system fail. Wimbledon runs from June 30 to July 13, with Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova the defending champions.
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Wimbledon increases prize money by seven per cent to £53.5m total pot this year
The winners of the men's and women's singles titles will each receive £3million, an increase of more than 11 per cent on 2024, while a main draw spot is worth a minimum of £66,000, up 10 per cent year on year. The All England Club's announcement comes amid growing player demands for a bigger share of grand slam profits. A place like no other. A Championships like no other. There is only One #Wimbledon. — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 9, 2025 In April, 20 leading players sent a letter to the heads of the four majors calling for greater contributions and discussions were held at a meeting during the French Open. At Wimbledon's pre-tournament media briefing, chair Debbie Jevans said: 'We are absolutely committed to continuing our long-standing commitment to player compensation. 'We're immensely proud of the fact that if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period (of 100 per cent) and seven per cent this year. 'We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players. Of course we will always listen and discuss with them but the focus on just the prize money at four events, the grand slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. 'The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off season, which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about and we've always said that we as Wimbledon are willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions and that door remains open. 'As yet, there hasn't been any proposal to us as to how the tour is able to change its structure. 'There's a bigger picture here but, as a tennis player, they're always going to, I think, ask for more money.' Two big changes at this year's tournament – which starts on June 30 – had previously been announced, with the singles finals moving from 2pm starts on the final weekend to 4pm, while line judges are being replaced by a live electronic calling system. The latter decision follows a move within the wider sport, although the French Open has resisted change and this year's event was again held with line calls decided purely by human officials. Wimbledon's removal of line judges was met with dismay by many and the All England Club revealed around 80 former officials would be employed this year as match assistants, with two on each court offering support to the umpire, while they will also provide back-up, should the electronic system fail. Behind the scenes, Wimbledon's biggest project remains the planned expansion into neighbouring Wimbledon Park, which would add a further 39 grass courts but is currently mired in legal challenges. Although planning permission has been granted, a local protest group has brought a judicial review, which will be heard at the High Court on July 8 and 9 during the second week of the tournament. A hearing into whether there is a statutory trust on the land will be heard in January 2026, further delaying the project, plans for which were first submitted in 2021. Wimbledon, meanwhile, will continue to provide support for Ukrainian players in terms of practice facilities and accommodation.
