Tennis 'Big Four' gang up over Wimbledon

Not only brilliant at tennis, but selfless too. Our admiration for the so-called 'Big Four' can only grow after Philip Brook, the All England Club chairman, revealed how Messrs Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray had negotiated a pay rise for the sport's rank and file.

The details emerged as the All England Club announced its prize money for this summer's Wimbledon Championships. The overall prize pot is increasing by 10% to pounds 16.1million, but in a reversal of the winner-takes-all ethos that pervades modern life, it is to be the humbler sort of players who see the biggest increase this year. The ones who struggle to cover their travel costs and can barely afford to employ a regular coach.

"There was a request to go and meet with them [the 'Big Four'] in Indian Wells," Brook said. "We respected that request. In those top four players we have people of quality and integrity who want to do the right thing for the sport.

"What we heard was not a request for more prize money for them," Brook added. "They were there representing all the players on the tour. It is clear more needs to be done for lower-end players for whom the rising costs of professional tennis have out-stripped prize money."

The result of the meeting was that the pay packet for first-round losers at Wimbledon will climb from pounds 11,500 last year to pounds 14,500 - an improvement of 26% - while the men and women who reach the last 16 of the singles competitions will see their own prize money grow by just under five percent.

While debates about remuneration have been rumbling away within tennis for years, it is unusual for the players to speak with a single voice. This time, the 'Big Four' showed the sort of leadership that many a major business would envy. "It doesn't happen with many sports," said Brook, "and credit to them for doing it."

The All England Club's approach will have its critics. Ivan Ljubicic, the former world No4 and ATP board member, said earlier this year that improving first-round prize money was only rewarding failure.

But while Wimbledon is unlikely to be won by the likes of Michael Russell and Daniel Gimeno-Traver - the players on track to receive the last two direct-entry positions this summer - it would not be much of a tournament if they did not show up. They also serve those who exit on the first Monday.

Yesterday's (Tuesday's) announcement is part of a conscious effort to redress the yawning pay gap between the lesser lights of tennis and those of other sports, although there is still a long way to go. The 100th best footballer in the world will earn seven or even eight-figure sums, while a survey of the top 250 golfers in the world has showed that they average more than $1?million in earnings.

For purposes of comparison, the 100th best tennis player in the world in 2011 was Simone Bolelli, of Italy, who made almost exactly $300,000 from prize money last year. It sounds a healthy income, but if you factor in travel costs, and salaries for support staff, who in the case of the leading players include a coach, a fitness trainer and a physio, at least half of that money will be eaten up.

The All England Club's announcement was similar to that made by the French Open 10 days ago, but a little more generous. The equivalent figures for Roland Garros were seven per cent and pounds 15.3million, with first-round losers receiving a 20% boost.

Still, the pattern has been set and we can confidently expect the US Open and the Australian Open to rebalance their own pay structures over the coming months, if only to avoid an outbreak of protest from the journeymen and women of the game.

Prize money is the same for men and women at all four grand slam tournaments, even though the men play longer matches and attract higher viewing figures.

The new chief executive of the All England Club, Richard Lewis, was at yesterday's press briefing, although he did not speak as he does not officially take up his position until the beginning of next month.