Amid players' calls for a bigger share of revenues, Wimbledon on Thursday announced 20 per cent increases in total prize money and for the singles champions, who will earn 3.6 million pounds ($4.8 million) at the grass-court Grand Slam next month. The total prize money including player per diems will be 64.2 million pounds ($85.8 million), described as "by far" the biggest annual increase in the tournament's history.

"I would hope the players would welcome it. It's a significant amount of money," All England Club chair Deborah Jevans said at a press conference. "We've demonstrated that we've looked at every round, including qualifying. My hope is that the players do recognize what a significant increase that this is." Players have long been calling for a greater share of revenues from the four Grand Slams and recently began taking steps toward collective action. For this year's Wimbledon, players advocated for total prize money of 71 million pounds ($95 million), Jevans said, citing her recent talks in Paris with Larry Scott, the former WTA CEO who has been advising the players.