Wimbledon bosses have defended boosting tournament prize money for the fourth year running to hand the singles winners £1.88million in 2015.

Tournament chairman Philip Brook insisted tennis' top stars are not overpaid, despite Wimbledon hiking prize money again.

All England Lawn Tennis Club chairman Brook said south-west London's grand slam will once again offer the "highest prize money ever in professional tennis" in 2015.

The singles winners' prize funds have risen seven per cent from £1.76million in 2014; in the last four years, Wimbledon's overall prize fund has jumped from £14.6million in 2011 to £26.75million in 2015.

"Without the world's best tennis players, we wouldn't have the world's best tennis tournament," Brook said.

"And we recognise the players are an essential ingredient of our championships.

"The level of prize money is affordable to this championship, so we feel it's important that we should reflect that in what we pay the players.

"I think you've seen now that some other tournaments are reacting to what we did two years ago, so there are some big increases in other grand slams and other masters events in response to what we did two years ago."

Wimbledon bosses have also pledged to keep the tournament on free-to-air broadcasting "in the foreseeable future".

Chief executive Richard Lewis ruled out the All England Lawn Tennis Club shifting part of Wimbledon's coverage to subscription services.

The Wimbledon finals are among the 10 'crown jewels' events that must be screened live on British terrestrial television by law.

"There was a lot of speculation. It was pretty wild speculation," said Lewis about rumours Wimbledon would seek a pay TV deal.
"The fact is that it's our decision. There's absolutely no intention to go down that route whatsoever.

"We have a very, very strong relationship with the BBC and we feel it works very well. And we see absolutely no reason to change that. Never say never, but not in the foreseeable future."