Wimbledon prize money: Winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles to land £2m

Wimbledon today announced the winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles will receive a record £2million each this year.

At the same time, the All England Club revealed plans to combat the growing threat of illegal gambling and the use of banned substances in the sport.

Wimbledon have increased overall prize money to £28.1m with the champions’ £2m putting the Championships second in the list of big payers, with only the US Open offering more.

Wimbledon chiefs, mindful of increasing allegations about the use of performance-enhancing drugs, match fixing and betting in elite tennis, have decided to bring in additional measures to this year’s Championships.

There will be enhanced anti-doping measures following the high‑profile admission by former champion Maria Sharapova that she had been taking the banned substance, meldonium.

Wimbledon will also work with the Tennis Integrity Unit and the betting industry to flag up any unusual gambling patterns.

Richard Lewis, the All England Lawn Tennis Club chief executive said: “Our increased investment in promoting integrity in light of the recent focus on these areas underlines our determination for Wimbledon to play its part in safeguarding tennis’s integrity.”

Wimbledon chairman Philip Brook admitted Sharapova’s admission that she used a ban substance had been a shock but refused to say whether any ban would affect her membership of the All England Club which she gained as the champion.

He said: "It is hard to say that the reputation of the game has not been hurt. It would be a great shame because Maria is a popular former champion.”