Sabalenka defends Wimbledon prize protest, says it’s for struggling players
Summary
Top tennis player Aryna Sabalenka supports a protest by leading players demanding more prize money and better conditions, despite Wimbledon increasing its prize pool by 20 percent this year. She says the protest is to help lower-ranked players who struggle financially, not for the top players themselves.Key Facts
- Wimbledon raised its total prize money to 64.2 million pounds ($84.7 million) in 2024, a 20% increase.
- Players wanted about 70 million pounds ($92.4 million), about 16% of tournament revenue, but received around 15%.
- Sabalenka and other top players limited their media appearances in protest.
- A Wimbledon winner will receive 3.6 million pounds ($4.7 million), up from 3 million pounds ($4 million) in previous years.
- First-round losers will get 80,000 pounds ($106,000), up from 66,000 pounds ($87,100).
- Sabalenka says the protest is for the benefit of lower-ranked players who struggle to afford coaches and other costs.
- The All England Club is disappointed by the protest and said it proposed a player council to resolve issues, which was rejected.
- Sabalenka feels positive about her current form after a tough loss at the French Open, with help from a psychologist.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.