Wimbledon to award a record amount of prize money in 2022

Wimbledon has announced record prize money for this summer’s tournament, with the two singles champions taking home GBP 2 million each.

Wimbledon announced a record amount of prize money for this summer’s tournament, with the two singles champions taking home GBP 2million each. There was speculation that the removal of ranking points following Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players could lead to a reduced prize fund that's not the case.

A full capacity crowd and scheduled play on the middle Sunday for the first time, got the organisers to opt against taking that course of action. It remains to be seen whether the points situation will lead to players pulling out – Naomi Osaka is the highest-profile player to express public doubts about participating – but the prize money will be a significant pull for most.

The press release read:

“Investing in the players is of paramount importance for The Championships and the total prize money for tennis events for 2022 reflects this with an 11.1 per cent increase on 2021, and a 5.4 per cent increase on the most recent full capacity Championships in 2019. In 2020, following the cancellation of The Championships, a total of £10,066,000 was paid in lieu of prize money to players who would have qualified for direct entry in that year.

The prize money distribution for 2022 continues to place importance on supporting players in the early rounds of the event. As such, the Qualifying Competition prize money fund has received a 26 per cent increase on 2021 and a 48.1 per cent increase on 2019. Main Draw singles players competing in the first round will be playing for £50,000, a 4.2 per cent increase on 2021 and an 11.1 per cent increase on 2019.

The total prize money on offer for the Wheelchair and Quad Wheelchair events reflects a 19.8 per cent increase on 2021 and a 40.1 per cent increase on 2019 (comprising both increased prize money and the doubling of the Quad Wheelchair Singles and Quad Wheelchair Doubles draws). The Doubles and Mixed Doubles prize money funds have increased by 9.6 and 17.4 per cent on 2021 respectively.”