The winner of the wheelchair singles at the Wimbledon Championships when it makes its debut later this year will earn £25,000 ($36,000/€32,000), the All-England Club have announced.
A total of £75,000 ($109,000/€96,000) will be awarded in the singles, with the runners-up, semi-finalists and quarter-finalists being awarded.
Until this year, only wheelchair doubles had been played at the venue in London famous for its grass courts.
The All-England Club had announced last July that they would be adding wheelchair singles for both men and women.
This year, in the wheelchair doubles event, each pair on the winning team would receive £12,000 ($17,500/€15,500).
Britain’s Jordanne Whiley, who last year won her second consecutive ladies’ wheelchair doubles title with Japanese partner Yui Kamiji, led the praise for Wimbledon’s announcement.
“Fantastic to see @wimbledon supporting wheelchair tennis with singles & increase in prize money. Roll on July!” Whiley, winner of the wheelchair singles title at the 2015 US Open, wrote on Twitter.
This year’s tournament is due to start on June 27 and July 10.
- By Duncan Mackay
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- Republished with permission insidethegames.biz