Wimbledon revealed a prize pool of £64.2m for 2026, up £10.7m or 20 per cent from the previous year – the biggest single‑year rise in the tournament’s history. ATP and WTA representatives praised the move as a genuine step forward, but noted the payout now represents only 14.4% of projected revenues, below the 14.9% share in 2015.

Players had originally asked for prize money to climb to 16% of revenues – roughly £71.2m – as an interim target, then to 22% by 2030 to match other elite events. Wimbledon officials argue that a 22% allocation is unrealistic because the club must also finance court upgrades, sustainability projects and grassroots programmes.

The player camp also demanded a transparent revenue‑sharing formula, a dedicated welfare fund covering long‑term health, pension and maternity benefits, and the creation of a player council with voting rights on Grand Slam governance. Their call follows a French Open protest where athletes limited media access and pressed for similar reforms.

AEC chair Debbie Jevans reiterated that Wimbledon operates as a non‑profit, reinvesting earnings into the sport, yet expressed frustration that the players’ message “has not got across.” With structural issues still pending, the dispute underscores a growing rift between the tournament’s financial model and athletes’ demands for equitable share.