Wimbledon reveals record 2025 prize money – but defends finals start time change

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The winners of the singles titles at Wimbledon this year will take home £3m, as the tournament announced a record prize pot for players this year.

Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing a third consecutive men’s singles crown at SW19, while Czech player Barbora Krejcikova is the defending champion in the women’s singles. Both received £2.7m for winning in 2024, but the singles champions in 2025 will receive a £300,000 increase.

The total prize pot has increased from £50m to £53.5m, a 7 per cent jump, while first round losers will receive £66,000 – a 10 per cent increase from last year.

Meanwhile, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) defended the change to the start time of both singles finals, from its usual 2pm slot to 4pm this year. Doubles finals will now take place from 1pm.

Alcaraz’s incredible Roland Garros final victory against Jannik Sinner took more than five hours. A similar length of final at Wimbledon this year would result in the roof being needed late on in the match, due to bad light.

“The consideration of the change has taken a lot of time, took a lot of thought and a lot of data analysis went into the decision,” explained AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton, at a media briefing on Thursday.

“It’s about an improved experience for all involved. Whether it’s the doubles finals having greater certainty over their schedule, whether it’s the fans having the opportunity to experience a day which builds to the crescendo of the singles finals.

“Or ensuring we have our champions crowned in front of the widest possible audience. Those were the primary drivers. We spent a lot of time considering the data and information in front of us from history and length of matches.”

The singles final will now start at 11am (ET) in New York, a more convenient start time for viewers stateside.

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Barbora Krejcikova won the women’s singles at Wimbledon last year (PA)

This year’s Championships also sees the absence of line judges, for the first time in the tournament’s 147-year history.

Automated electronic line calling, via Hawk-Eye, will be used on all 18 match courts. Line umpires in previous years have been invited back to assist the chair umpire as “match assistants”.

The decision sees Wimbledon fall in line with the ATP Tour by installing electronic line calling, although Roland Garros opted for tradition by keeping in-person line umpires during the French Open.

The 2025 Championships takes place from Monday 30 June to Sunday 13 July.