Wimbledon under fire over prize money gap

LONDON, Apr 25 (Reuters) Women's tennis officials blasted Wimbledon for a ''Victorian era view'' by announcing today that it would remain the only grand slam event not to pay its men's and women's champions equal prize money.

Champions past and present joined in the attack with Chris Evert saying Wimbledon's attitude was ''a black mark on the sport''.

''In the 21st century, it is morally indefensible that women competitors in a Grand Slam tournament should be receiving considerably less prize money than their male counterparts,'' said WTA Tour chief executive officer Larry Scott.

The All England Club announced at a news conference that prize money for this year's men's winner would be 655,000 pounds (1.17 million dollars) with the women's champion getting 625,000 pounds.

The figures represent a four percent rise from last year.

French Open organisers announced last month that they would pay their men's and women's singles champions the same prize money of 940,000 euros (1.13 million dollars) this year, though they were criticised by the WTA Tour for not applying the equality throughout the draw.

The other two grand slams, the Australian and US Opens, have long offered equal money to men and women players.

VICTORIAN VIEW ''Women got the vote in Britain in 1918, and the Sex discrimination Act has been in force for over 30 years, yet Wimbledon continues to take a Victorian era view when it comes to pay,'' Scott said in a statement.

''It's surprising that Wimbledon, which has been such a leader in our sport, has chosen to lag behind the other Grand Slams on the issue of equality. Wimbledon represents so much that is good about modern British society, but inequality should not be part of the Wimbledon brand.'' American Evert, who won the grass-court grand slam three times, said: ''Wimbledon should do the right thing and award all women's players equal pay to the men.

''The fact that two of the grandest stages for women's sport, Wimbledon and Roland Garros, still do not treat women equal to the men is a black mark on the sport.'' Six-times winner Billie Jean King said: ''Wimbledon needs to join the modern world on this issue. '' Current champion Venus Williams added: ''Wimbledon needs to do the right thing and finally pay the women the same as the men.'' MEDIA COVERAGE Russian Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, said: ''Women's tennis players are getting as many sponsors and media coverage as the men, and I understand that our TV ratings at the Grand Slams are pretty much equal to and often better than the men so I don't understand the rationale for paying the men more than us.'' King, a key figure in establishing the women's tour in the 1970s, had last week urged Wimbledon organisers to end the pay disparity but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

All England chairman Tim Phillips said the total prize money for this year's championships, which run from June 26 to July 9, would be 10.38 million pounds, up 2.9 percent on last year.

''No tournament paid higher prize money than Wimbledon in 2005 and so far in 2006, and this increase further recognises the talent and commitment needed by top tennis players nowadays,'' Phillips said.

The men's doubles winners would each earn 220,690 pounds, a rise of one percent, with the women getting 205,280. Mixed doubles prizes remain unchanged at 90,000 pounds.

Officials played down fears that the worst drought in 100 years in parts of southeast England could affect the championships and said they were having talks with the local water company.

The club is reducing its consumption by not watering clay or hard courts, cutting down on watering flowerbeds and washing vehicles, It also has contingency plans to maintain supplies.

Reuters PM GC1926