Bigger money for Wimbledon winners
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AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 22, 2009 00:00
LONDON - Rafael Nadal can look forward to a major pay bonus if the Spaniard retains the Wimbledon men's singles title in July.
Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in a thrilling All-England club final in 2008 and, Venus Williams, who defeated sister Serena in the women's final, will earn 850,000 ($1.2 million), which is 100,000 pounds ($145,000) more than last year, if they go all the way again.
Wimbledon bosses rubber-stamped the 13.3 percent increase to take into account the global economic crisis, which has left the pound in a weak state against the dollar, meaning the champions would have lost out if the rise had been smaller.
Tim Phillips, the Wimbledon chairman, said: "The extraordinary international interest in the likes of Nadal and the Williams sisters has been a substantial boost to tennis. We wanted to reflect that in the prize money."
Total prize money at Wimbledon will increase by 6.2 percent to 12.55 million pounds ($18.1 million).
Wimbledon bosses rubber-stamped the 13.3 percent increase to take into account the global economic crisis, which has left the pound in a weak state against the dollar, meaning the champions would have lost out if the rise had been smaller.
Tim Phillips, the Wimbledon chairman, said: "The extraordinary international interest in the likes of Nadal and the Williams sisters has been a substantial boost to tennis. We wanted to reflect that in the prize money."
Total prize money at Wimbledon will increase by 6.2 percent to 12.55 million pounds ($18.1 million).