Top players stop prize-money protest at Wimbledon after last-minute advances

[p]The players had said they would limit their press conferences to 15 minutes for the first week of Wimbledon, expanding a similar protest for pre-tournament media duties at the French Open in May.[/p][p]Players have claimed they are currently only paid 15 per cent of the revenue from the Slams, asking for 22 per cent instead.[/p][p]Wimbledon has increased its prize money by 20 per cent, a move the players described as a "welcome step forward."[/p][p]They later released a statement before the grass-court Grand Slam event saying [b]"that Wimbledon currently pays slightly below 15 per cent of revenues to players as prize money,"[/b] confirming their protest.[/p][p][b]But their representatives said on the opening day of the tournament that "players have confirmed they will resume normal tournament media duties" after holding "constructive meetings."[/b][/p][image alt="General view outside the Centre Court as ground staff prepares the outside courts ahead of the tournament" id="f1881397-3ec0-49ae-93ef-f802d690f68e" credit-line="REUTERS / Jaimi Joy" guid="606a0921-3a8b-4193-b3ad-a9a6b63c5976" original-width="7040" original-height="4688" /][p][b]"This decision is based on Wimbledon's commitment to return with specific proposals... The underlying matters remain unresolved and players will carefully evaluate the proposals once received,"[/b] the statement said.[/p][p]"Dialogue with Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams will continue."[/p][p]All England Club chief Sally Bolton expressed relief the protest would not continue during the tournament.[/p][p][b]"I think it's great news that we and they can now just concentrate on the championships and on the tennis," [/b]she told reporters.[/p][p][b]"We've had some really fruitful conversations over the weekend, they've been really positive, we've effectively agreed what we had agreed before, which is that we want to continue in positive dialogue."[/b][/p][p]The Wimbledon singles champions will bank £3.6 million, an increase from the £3 million earned by 2025 champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a].[/p][p][b]"I really hope we can finally get to the table and really get it done, come to a conclusion that everyone is going to be happy with," [/b]three-time semi-finalist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] said last week.[/p][p]"Hopefully we'll never have to do this again."[/p]