LONDON, UK – Organizers of the Wimbledon tennis tournament starting June 27 announced on Thursday that the men’s and women’s singles winners will each take home a record-breaking £2 million (CAD $3.1 million).

The tournament’s total prize pool reached £40.35 million (CAD $63.8 million), an increase of 11% from the previous year with limited spectators due to anti-corruption measures. -Covid-19.

In 2020, the tournament was canceled and compared to 2019, the last “normal” edition of the Grand Slam tournament on grass, the prize money has increased by 5.4%.

After Wimbledon organizers decided to exclude Russian and Belarusian players due to the invasion of Ukraine, after the ATP and WTA points awarded during the tournament were withdrawn, some observers feared that the prize money would be reduced.

But the stands, this time completely full and the matches played on Sundays between the two weeks, made it possible to raise the premium for the first time in the history of the total.

And the finalists will receive 1 M GBP (1.6 M$ CAD) and a first round loss will still offer the loser 50,000 pounds (79,000 $ CAD).

“From the first qualifying round to champions, this year’s prize pool aims to reflect the importance of players to the tournament as we intend to continue to be one of the world’s premier sports events”, Ian Hewitt , explained the president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), the organisers.

Main draw matches will begin on June 27, with Novak Djokovic as the men’s defending champion, while Ashleigh Barty, who has been crowned women’s champion since retiring from the sport in March.