Wimbledon, England – Genteel and old-fashioned Wimbledon discarded one of its longest traditions – unequal pay.
The All England Club yielded to 21st century realities Thursday, agreeing to pay women the same as men and falling in line with the other Grand Slam tournaments.
Six-time singles champion Billie Jean King, a pioneer for women’s sports, said the decision was “a long time coming.”
“With women and men paid on an equal scale, it demonstrates to the rest of the world that this is the right thing to do for the sport, the tournament and the world,” she said.
The U.S. Open and Australian Open have paid equal prize money for years. The French Open paid the men’s and women’s champions the same for the first time last year, although the overall prize fund remained bigger for men.
Wimbledon will pay equal money from the first round through the final at the June 25-July 8 grass-court championships.
“I knew it was just a matter of time,” defending Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo said. “They resisted the longest they could. They have made the right decision and they really had no choice.”
Wimbledon’s prize fund will be announced in April. It will cost the club about $1.1 million to ensure equal pay, an increase funded through operating costs rather than a reduction in the overall purse.
“It’s good news for all the women players, and recognizes their major contribution to Wimbledon and we also believe it will serve as a positive encouragement for women in sports,” club chairman Tim Phillips said. “In short, good for tennis, good for women players and good for Wimbledon.”
When Wimbledon started paying players in 1968, King won 37.5 percent of the check earned by men’s champion Rod Laver. Last year, Mauresmo got $1.117 million – 95.4 percent of the $1.170 million Roger Federer received for winning the men’s title.
