Pay rise for Wimbledon’s early victims

Wimbledon's early victims will be comforted by a significant increase in prize money this year after organisers on Tuesday announced a 26% pay rise for first-round losers.

Wimbledon's early victims will be comforted by a larger slice of the total prize money this year after organisers on Tuesday announced a 26 percent pay rise for first-round losers.

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The substantial increase for the also-rans dwarfs the 4.5-percent rise for the men's and women's singles winners at this year's grasscourt tennis grand slam. However, the 1.15 million pounds up for grabs for the champions still represents a 50,000-pounds jump on what last year's victors Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova received.

Total prize money for the June 25-July 8 Wimbledon championships, the 126th edition of the tournament, will be 16.1 million pounds, a 10 percent rise on last year.

Those who crash out in first-round matches on the opening Monday might even be able to spend some of their 14,500-pounds cheque on a spot of lunch as play on all but the two main show courts will begin for the first time at 1130 local time.

The prize money at the grand slams has been a matter of friction between the players and the sport's hierarchy over the past year.