Players to expand prize money protest at Wimbledon

Leading tennis players will expand their prize money protest at Wimbledon - despite a 20% increase in this year's pot. Some players limited pre-tournament media to 15 minutes at the recent French Open, but will go a step further at Wimbledon. They will not only limit the time they offer at the forthcoming media weekend, but are also planning to restrict post-match appearances to 15 minutes throughout the first week of the championships, which start on Monday. The 15-minute limit is meant to symbolise the 15% of revenue which - broadly speaking - the Grand Slams allocate to prize money. It is claimed the decision has the support of most of the world's top 20 players. In Paris, women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka cut short her pre-tournament press conference, while players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek also followed the 'work to rule' directive. But Novak Djokovic, who has regularly spoken out on behalf of players' rights, did not take part in the action. Earlier this month the players welcomed Wimbledon's 20% increase as a "genuine and significant step forward". The total prize fund at this year's championships will be £64.2m, following the largest annual increase in the event's history. The singles' champions will each take home £3.6m with first-round losers paid £80,000. …