Wimbledon announces seven per cent increase in prize money

 

Prize money is increasing by 7 percent at Wimbledon this year, with 1.88 million pounds ($2.85 million) going to the men's and women's singles champions

The All England Club announced on Wednesday that prize money for the grass-court Grand Slam will total 26.75 million pounds ($40.60 million)

Organizers say the prize fund will be "the highest ever in professional tennis," surpassing last year's U.S. Open purse of $38.25 million.

The total prize money for singles is going up by 8 percent.

Last year's champions. Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova, each received 1.76 million pounds.

The tournament will run from June 29 to July 12. The break between the French Open and Wimbledon, normally two weeks, has been extended to three weeks for the first time this year.