P246 CJEFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:12/11 1/6 O The prize of success.... ) 'imblidon special index 243P246 CEEFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:11/58 2/6 Wimbledon prize money has come a long way since the world's most prestigious tournament first went "open" in 1968. Sixteen years ago, when professionals were first allowed to compete, the total prize money was a mere £26,158. This year the prize money is £1,458,280 - a staggering rise of more than 5,000 per cent. When Rod Lavjr, the left-handed Australian, won the men's singles at the first open, hj collected £2,000. Billie Jean King, the women's champion, received a lowly £750. More in a momentP246 CJEFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:03/54 3/6 Now the man fortunate enough to win this year will receive a cheque for £100,000 with the runner-up taking exactly half that sum. The women's champion will earn £90,666 and the runner-up £45,000. Thjsj figures show a remarkable advance since the early days of open tennis, but even more remarkable is the prize money at Wimbledon for those who were not successful. A second round loser in the men's singles - that is a playjt beaten in the last 64 - receives £2,200, £200 more than Lavjt won when becoming champion in 1968.P246 CEEFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:02/11 4/6 As for the women, a first round loser will collect £1,1027. Compare that to the sum Billie Jean King earned for winning the first "open" Wimbledon. Judging bz the way prize money has risen in the last 15 years, first round losers in the year 2000 might well receive £60,000 each. It is a mind-boggling thought. More in a momentP246 CEJFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:14/17 5/6 This year's prize money: MEN'S SINGLES Winnjt £100,000 (£66,000) Runner-up £50,000 (£33,300) Semi-finalists £25,000 (£16,650) WOMEN'S SINGLES Winnjt £90,666 (£60,000) Runner-up £45,000 (£30,000) Semi-finalists £21,900 (£14,585) (Last year's priz s in bract ts) More in a momentP246 CEEFAX 246 Tue 19 Jun 21:11/10 6/6 This year's prize money: MEN'S DOUBLES (pet pair) Winnjts £40,000 (£26,628) Runners-up £20,000 (£13,314) WOMEN'S DOUBLES Wjnnjts £34,700 (£23,100) Runners-up £17,350 (£11,550) MYXJD DOUBLES Winnjts £18,000 (£12,000) Runnjts-up £9,000 (£6,000) TOTAL MONEY £1,4k8,280 (£978,211) (Mast year's prizes in brackets) More in a moment