Wimbledon increases prize money, will add roof over Court No. 1

Published January 13, 2015

Wimbledon will increase its prize money by 40 percent this year and the All England Club has plans to build a retractable roof over Court No. 1.

This year's total prize money will be $34.4 million, an increase of $9.9 million from last year. The AEC is calling it the largest single increase and biggest total purse in the history of tennis.

The men's and women's 2013 singles champions will each earn $2.4 million. Last year's winners -- Roger Federer and Serena Williams -- pocketed $1.75 million apiece.

Most of the prize money increase will be for players who lose in the early rounds or in qualifying. Prize money will increase 60 percent for singles players who exit the draw in the first three rounds, while the purse for qualifying is going up by 41 percent.

The club also said it plans on having a roof installed over Court No. 1 in time for Wimbledon 2019. A retractable roof has been in place on the famed Centre Court since 2009.

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