Wimbledon 2026: Prize money up 20% to £64.2m

The All England Club (AELTC) paid £48.1m to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) last year, under an agreement where they distribute 90% of each year’s surplus to the governing body.

But club officials disagree with the premise that prize money should be tied to tournament revenue, and argue that much of the revenue needs to be reinvested in the championship.

They point to a successful business model that has enabled them to more than double players’ prize money over the past 10 years, and they don’t entertain suggestions they exploit players “like some Victorian mill owner”.

The AELTC has voluntarily distributed £10m in prize money to 620 players who would have taken part in the 2020 Championships had they not been canceled due to the Covid pandemic.

A 9.5% increase in prize money at the recent French Open was not enough for some players, who Their pre-tournament media commitments are limited Only 15 minutes to protest.

And, like the AELTC, the French Tennis Federation makes an exception to the policy of linking prize money to earnings.

“I believe we shouldn’t really see these figures, but we will have that discussion with the players,” tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said Sunday.

“I believe that everyone has to take a step towards the other, and we have to change our mindset. So we need goodwill from everyone.”

The US Tennis Association (USTA) offered $90 million (£67.2m) in prize money last year – and a 20% increase. The prize fund for this year’s US Open, which starts on August 30, is expected to be announced soon after Wimbledon.

That would comfortably clear the $100m mark and could exceed players’ demand for prize money in 2026 to represent 16% of tournament revenue.

Players are enjoying increased leverage, and discussions with the USTA have highlighted the US Open’s new star-studded mixed doubles event.

The point is made that the competition is more important to the commercial success of the US Open’s ‘Fan Week’ than many players – who may have to arrive ahead of schedule due to it being held a week before the main draw.