Wimbledon raises prize money

Prize money at this year's Wimbledon championships will rise 5.5 per cent to 8.5 million pounds ($12.23 million) but the men will still earn more than top women players.

Organisers said on Tuesday that although the women's champion would receive a pay hike of 32,500 pounds to 462,500, the men's champion would earn 500,000 pounds, up from 477,500.

All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said: "We are recognising the increased competitiveness at the top of the women's game by putting a little bit more in from the quarter-finals onwards.

"We are consistent whether people agree with us or not. The one point I would like to impress is that there have been seven different women's champions in the last nine years.

"That is different than it used to be and reflects the greater depth in the women's game now. Our prize money changes also reflect that greater depth."

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