Wimbledon 2020, initially scheduled for June 29 to July 12, was canceled for the first time since World War Two due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has officially killed at least 44,000 people in the United Kingdom.
The organizers have now decided to distribute a part of the $141 million they are expected to get from the insurance company to the players and on Friday announced the formula on their website.
The AELTC announced that the following consultation regarding their insurance cover for cancellation, they are now in a position to allocate prize money to the 620 players whose world ranking would have enabled them to gain entry into The Championships 2020 by direct acceptance into the Main Draw or Qualifying event.
Prize money distribution
“From an agreed total of £10m, the AELTC will distribute prize money in lieu of The Championships 2020 with regard for the circumstances of this year and in the spirit of the AELTC’s prize money distribution in recent years,” the official statement said.
Based on world ranking, 224 players who would have competed in Qualifying will each receive £12,500; 256 players who would have competed in Main Draw Singles will each receive £25,000; 120 players who would have competed in Main Draw Doubles will each receive £6,250; 16 players who would have competed in the Wheelchair events will each receive £6,000; and four players who would have competed in the Quad Wheelchair events will each receive £5,000.
Players will only receive payment for one event.
Financial support for the officials
The AELTC has also recognised the significant impact of cancellation and the absence of income from The Championships on the officiating community, without whom they would be unable to stage the event.
As a result, the AELTC has worked with the LTA, the governing body for tennis in Britain, to provide a payment to the LTA licensed officials who would have worked at The Championships this year, and also a number of International Officials, all highly skilled individuals who are vital to the success of The Championships.
AELTC also announced that the men’s singles seeding from the 2021 tournament will be based “solely on ranking”, while there is no change to the ladies’ singles draw.
It was also confirmed that there will be no public ballot for 2021, given that those who received tickets for this year will be allowed to take the same seats in 12 months’ time.
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