Wimbledon prize money row: Withdrawing 'injured' players who re-enter in doubles scoop pay packet over £40,000

Feliciano Lopez. Photo / Getty Images.

Wimbledon's prize money row has intensified after two of the eight players who withdrew injured from singles matches re-entered as participants in the doubles tournament.

By participating in doubles matches, the players will be eligible to claim £5,375 in prize money in addition to their £35,000 men's singles first round winnings, even if they lose.

The row began on Tuesday after Roger Federer questioned rules which meant that players who started matches but then withdrew were still entitled to collect £35,000.

Two successive matches on Centre Court were cut short when the opponents of Federer and Novak Djokovic withdrew.

It led to accusations that some of the players knew they would not be able to complete their games but had started in order to pick up their cheques.

Players who pull out before the tournament are not entitled to the prize money.

But on Wednesday Feliciano Lopez, who was one of the eight who withdrew from the singles, played in the doubles, losing his match but earning himself £10,750, which he will split with his partner.

On Thursday, Viktor Troicki, who also pulled out of his singles match, is also due to compete in the doubles.

On Wednesday other players said they had a "responsibility" to ticket holders not to enter if injured.

Discussing the withdrawals, British player Johanna Konta suggested the rules on prize money may have to change as she said players had a responsibility to their fans.

Fresh from her win on Centre Court Ms Konta said: "There needs to be a responsibility towards the ticket holders and what they are paying to see. I think it's something that will be reassessed.

She added: "You've got to keep in mind that the players work very hard to be in the position they are in, but there is also a responsibility to the fans."

Fellow Briton Heather Watson, who went through to the second round of the women's singles on Wednesday, said: "I can't speak for anybody else, but if my leg was broken, I'd be crawling to the next ball. That's just me, though."

She also suggested a rule change would be welcome to avoid players competing simply for a "big pay cheque".

She added: "It sucks if they're injured because it's a big pay cheque."

Eight players retired in the first round, leading commentators and players, including Roger Federer, to question whether they should be able to collect the £35,000 prize money.

Janko Tipsarevic, who lasted 15 minutes on court in the first round before retiring, said: "If a guy is all his life is playing challengers and suddenly has a chance to play Wimbledon main draw, where the first-round loss is £35,000, I don't think anybody has the right to judge him, to say 'you didn't do the right thing, you're unfair for going there and picking up a cheque'."

David Felgate, Tim Henman's former coach, was heavily critical of players re-entering the tournament after they had withdrawn from injury.

He told the Telegraph that re- entering "should not be allowed" unless players had suffered from a "24-hour food bug" or similar short-term ailment.

Mr Henman himself said that the tournament must look to make changes to the current system.

He told Standard Sport: "The issue is the prize money, and guys and girls have worked incredibly hard to get into a Grand Slam and we know that even to lose in a first round is still lucrative.

"But we need to find a balance so they get some of the money they've earned but give someone else the opportunity to be really competitive."