Wimbledon 2024: Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz and Co. Receive Mind-Boggling $64 Mn News to Light Up Their Day

Coming into the grass season of 2024, do you know which player has earned the most prize money this year? It’s not Carlos Alcaraz, and it’s not Jannik Sinner. It’s Iga Swiatek, who has more than a $1.5 million gap to Sinner in second. The Pole has won five titles his year, only one of which was a Grand Slam – the French Open. Considering that only Grand Slams and a select few other tournaments have equal pay, Swiatek’s prize money lead is a testament to her dominance. And after Wimbledon’s recent announcement, she could very well get one step closer to achieving something for the first time since 2003.

The last time a woman won more prize money than a male player in a calendar year was in 2003. Given how formidable Iga Swiatek has been so far, it’s not out of the question that she could potentially achieve that feat. The thing is, grass has never been her specialty. Transitioning from the heavy bounce on clay courts to the low bounce characteristic of grass courts isn’t particularly easy for her. However, she did say “It’s getting easier every year to convert my claycourt style to more grasscourt style.” 

That said, the Wimbledon Championships will have a total prize pool of £50 million ($64 million)! The winner will go home with a whopping £2.7 million ($3.45 million), more than they earned in any other Grand Slam last year. Therefore, players like Carlos Alcaraz (the defending champion), Coco Gauff (the reigning U.S. Open champion), Iga Swiatek (who has won 5 titles this year), and Jannik Sinner (the men’s World No.1) will now have the opportunity to bag not only another Grand Slam this year but also a huge sum of money along with it. However, that’s not the end of the story!

The runners-up in singles (both women and men) will also receive an unprecedented £1.4m ($ 1.77 million) each to their name. Wimbledon really is raising the stakes! This year’s total prize money pool is a whopping £5.3 million ($6.8 million) higher than last year, marking an impressive 11.9% increase. That’s not all. It’s also double the amount awarded to players a mere decade ago!

Remember that £25 million pool (around $32 million back then)? Well, get ready to be served because champions in 2024 will pocket a cool £350,000 (nearly $450,000) more than their 2023 counterparts – a delightful 14.9% jump. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, with Wimbledon solidifying its position as a premier tennis tournament (which it always has been) and players being rewarded handsomely for their talent and dedication. But what brought this on?

“Interest in attending Wimbledon has never been greater, with unprecedented demand for tickets through our public ballot and corporate hospitality.” Wimbledon authorities believe by hosting a thriving championship, they create a positive cycle – giving back to the sport, strengthening the local community, and laying the groundwork for an even better future. The new chair of the All England Club, Deborah Jevans, shed light on the prize money policy of 2024.

They stated, “When setting levels this year, we look to strike a balance between providing a good measure of security for the left-hand side of the draw [those who lose in the early rounds], who do rely on grand slam prize money to fund their coaching, travel, and expenses throughout the year while rewarding the right-hand side of the draw as they progress further.” That’s not to say players who don’t make it deep into the tournament won’t receive increased compensation.

Players who lose the first round will earn £60,000 (about $76,000), up from 55,000 ($70,000) in 2023. The prizes for the qualifying event will go up 14.9% to £4.8 million (about $6 million). As for the doubles side of the draw, the men’s and women’s winners will also enjoy an increase from last year. They will benefit from a prize of £650,000 ($0.8 million) each! 

With tickets flying off the shelves faster than aces on Centre Court, Wimbledon isn’t resting on its laurels. It’s forging ahead with its ambitious transformation of the Wimbledon Park Golf Course. This exciting project promises 39 brand-new courts, including a show court fit for 8,000 roaring fans. It seems the oldest tournament in tennis is teeing up for an even bigger and better future, both on and off the court.

As the anticipation in the tennis world rises, fans have already started choosing their favorites for the tournament. Therefore, one question looms large in most tennis fans’ heads. Will Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s trophy, continue his winning streak this year? According to Alcaraz, he will “give everything” to win this time! In a month’s time, we’ll know if the 2024 French Open winner withholds his title defense. That said, Wimbledon officials have made some crucial calls apart from prize money. 

Wimbledon officials made calls regarding a champion’s farewell & Centre Court schedule

Beyond the prize money boost, here’s a quick rundown of other key points from Wimbledon officials, Jevans, and Sally Bolton – the club’s chief executive:

Andy Murray’s retirement: Wimbledon has plans to celebrate two-time champion Andy Murray’s career if this is his last tournament. “We’ve certainly got plans in place, and we’re ready and prepared, but ultimately it’s Andy’s decision,” Bolton said. “We’ll very much be led by him, and we can amend our plans accordingly. We’re ready in any eventuality.”

Centre Court start time: Wimbledon will keep the Centre Court start time at 1:30 pm (8:30 am ET) despite concerns about late finishes from Novak Djokovic during the French Open. “We’ve reviewed it, we’ve thought long and hard and looked at the data around the length of matches and the trends that are occurring in that space,” Bolton said, “and we’re very confident and happy with the decision that we’ve made this year.” Jevans further added: “We’re very comfortable with the situation.” 

As players gear up to fight for a Grand Slam this year, the allure of Wimbledon will remain unmatched. And this year’s record-breaking prize money only adds to the excitement!