Wimbledon has always been the most prestigious tennis tournament and during this global coronavirus crisis the Grand Slam is reinforcing that status. Not only is it the only major to have had the pandemic insurance, now it is helping players with prize money, giving out £10 million ($12.6 million) to 620 players who would have taken part in the canceled 2020 edition of the Championships.
“We are pleased that our insurance policy has allowed us to recognize the impact of the cancellation on the players and that we are now in a position to offer this payment as a reward for the hard work they have invested in building their ranking to a point where they would have gained direct entry into the Championships 2020,” Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said in a statement.
The money will be distributed as follows:
- £25,000 ($31,576) for the 256 players in the singles main draws
- £12,500 ($15,788) for the 224 players in singles qualifying
- £6,250 ($7,894) for the 120 players in main draw doubles
- £6,000 ($7,578) for the 16 players in the wheelchair events
- £5,000 ($6,315) for four players in the quad wheelchair events
A large number of WTA players took to Twitter to share their appreciation of this gesture by Wimbledon.
Today would have been the ladies’ final. Thank you @wimbledon for your generous gesture to players and for taking such amazing care of us, even when the tournament is cancelled. True class ????
I cannot wait to be back as defending champion in 2021 #wimbledonrecreated @nikecourt pic.twitter.com/kiykoUFr3D
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) July 11, 2020
How I feel about Wimbledon’s announcement ????
But seriously, this is truly amazing, thank you @Wimbledon!! https://t.co/OsEOKNmeQT pic.twitter.com/1RoJ57U7va— Arina Rodionova (@arinarodionova) July 11, 2020
Thank you, @Wimbledon ???????? https://t.co/8A4e0jIi20
— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) July 10, 2020
Class acts ???????????? thank you @Wimbledon https://t.co/NlqIvUUPhD
— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) July 10, 2020
Pure class !!! @Wimbledon ???????????????????????? https://t.co/IuwFccPJRI
— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) July 10, 2020
Amazing gesture @Wimbledon , you have always been classy. We miss you & can’t wait for 2021 ! ???????? https://t.co/TtMQVcWJXh
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) July 10, 2020
So good from @Wimbledon …not that we are surprised! ???????????????????????? https://t.co/r5cjxhCszv
— Shelby Rogers (@Shelby_Rogers_) July 10, 2020
Amazing news — always a class act and leader of our sport !! Well done @Wimbledon – can’t wait to be back next year ! ???????? https://t.co/BFok5ZSDQI
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) July 10, 2020
Always been, and always will be my favourite tournament. Thank you for this nice gesture @Wimbledon ????
— Kirsten Flipkens (@FlipperKF) July 10, 2020
