Nastase not welcome at Wimbledon

LONDON, May 3
Former Romanian tennis player Ilie Nastase will be barred from this year’s Wimbledon championships and could be stopped at the gate if he tries to attend, organisers said on Wednesday.
The 70-year-old former French and US Open champion is provisionally banned from all International Tennis Federation (ITF) events after throwing allegedly racist and sexist comments during Romania’s Fed Cup tie with Britain last month.
All England Club chairman Philip Brook said he “condemned” the behaviour of two-time Wimbledon runner-up Nastase. “In terms of an invitation to the Royal Box, he won’t receive one this year,” Brook said. Club chief executive Richard Lewis went further, saying Nastase “could be stopped at the gate” if he tried to enter the grounds with a ticket.
Wimbledon keeps Sharapova guessing on wildcard entry
Former champion Maria Sharapova’s hopes of playing at this year’s Wimbledon could hinge on a June 20 meeting of tournament organisers unless the Russian hits form in the forthcoming events in Madrid and Rome. Sharapova could still climb high enough in the WTA rankings to earn a spot in the main draw or qualifying tournament. Failing that she would need a wildcard.
Prize money increased
Wimbledon singles champions will cash cheques for £2.2 million this year. Andy Murray and Serena Williams earned £2 million for taking home the silverware in the men’s and women’s events last year. In the last six years, the cash pot for the winners has doubled from £1.1 million. The total prize money is up by 12.5 percent to £31.6 million.

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