Organizers of Wimbledon expressed surprise and disappointment as several leading players intend to continue their protest over prize money distribution at this year’s tournament. The All England Club recently announced a record total prize fund of £64.2 million ($120.3 million), marking a 20 percent increase from the previous year, but still falling short of the £70 million figure sought by the players.

The players are advocating for a larger portion of Grand Slam revenues, similar to the shares they receive at ATP and WTA events. This dispute follows protests at the French Open, where some top players significantly limited their pre-tournament media commitments. During that event, women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka abruptly ended her press conference, while other athletes such as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek restricted their media time.

Wimbledon officials emphasized their commitment to supporting players, highlighting ongoing investments in player facilities as part of a three-year transformation aimed at improving the performance environment. In a statement, the All England Club said it places players “at the heart of all our decisions” and has invested hundreds of millions of pounds to enhance player amenities. Despite these efforts, the record prize money distribution represents approximately 15 percent of the tournament’s revenue, below the minimum 16 percent share demanded by a group of leading players represented by former WTA chief executive Larry Scott.

Wimbledon chair Debbie Jevans has engaged in discussions with Scott and stressed that prize money decisions cannot be based solely on tournament revenue. Jevans pointed out that Wimbledon operates as a not-for-profit entity, reinvesting 90 percent of its surplus back into British tennis, setting it apart from commercial tournaments like ATP Masters 1000 events. “Using revenue to determine prize money makes no sense,” she said, underscoring the unique financial model employed by the All England Club.

As the tournament approaches, players are preparing to limit their media obligations on the traditional pre-tournament media day and throughout the event’s first week. Reports indicate that players plan to restrict both pre- and post-match media appearances to 15 minutes, symbolically reflecting the 15 percent share of revenues currently allocated to prize money. Some players have further threatened the possibility of future boycotts if their demands remain unmet.