Navratilova wants rise in prize-money

Press, 12 December 1983, Page 40

Navratilova wants rise in prize-money

NZPA-AP Wimbledon, England

The Wimbledon tennis tournament, which paid out more than sAustl.s million in prize-money this year, has reacted angrily to demands for more by Martina Navratilova, the reigning women’s champion. Chris Gorringe, the chief executive of the All-England club which runs Wimbledon, said, “I’m staggered. We put up our prize-money by 64 per cent this year and by 80 per cent in 1982. I wish my salary went up by that amount.” Navratilova said in Melbourne, after reaching the final of the Australian Open, “the prize money at Wimbledon and the United States Open is pathetic.”

The multi-millionairess tennis star has won close to SNZ2.I million this year, including a prize of $90,000

for winning Wimbledon. The winner of the Australian Open at the week-end, she will land a special prize of $1 million if she completes the grand slam by winning the French Open in June. She said in Melbourne, "we deserve more. Tennis players are pulling in next to nothing.”

Navratilova’s remarks came as the British Lawn Tennis Association (L.T.A.) was trying to find sponsors for five events in 1984, including the Wightman Cup contest between Britain and the United States.

An L.T.A. spokesman said: “Sponsors are not easy to find and without them there will be no money in the game at all. “Surely it is time the players moderated their demands and stopped asking for more, otherwise they will drive all sponsors from the game, which would then

collapse at their particular level.”

One of the events in Britain which is still without a sponsor for next year is the women’s tournament at Eastbourne in the week before Wimbledon. Navratilova has called it one of her favourite events.

The All-England club makes vast profits on the famous championships, but they are ploughed back into the game. This year the club paid out prize money of $1.6 million and handed over a surplus of more than $4 million to the L.T.A. for development of training programmes.

Wimbledon is expected to announce its 1984 prize money next month. The French Open has already announced a 40 per cent increase and will pay out $1 million in prize money for men and $750,000 for women.