Wimbledon declines to close women's prize-money gap

Wimbledon will remain the only grand slam tennis event not to pay its men's and women's champions equal prize-money, organisers said yesterday.

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

The figures represent a four per cent rise from last year.

French Open organisers announced last month that they would pay their men's and women's singles champions equal prize-money this year.

The other two grand slams, the Australian and US Opens, already offer equal money to men and women.