Intro:

Wimbledon officials have agreed to a substantial increase in prize money for lower-ranked players at this year's Championships following talks with the world's top four men, All England club chairman Philip Brook said at a press conference at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

As a result, the total fund for 2012 will increase by 10 per cent, with a majority of the cash directed to help lower-ranked players.

Those losing before the fourth round of the singles' competitions will receive an increase of at least 13 per cent.

But the biggest percentage increases goes to those players knocked out in qualifying (21 per cent) and to the first round losers, whose prize money has been boosted by 26 per cent from last year.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) All England Club chairman Philip Brook:

"For anybody who is good enough in our sport to come through qualifying or be a direct entry in our Championships, that it is an achievement of itself. You only get that opportunity by having had considerable success elsewhere on the tour during the past year. And so I think half the players do lose in the first round and that is the nature of a knock-out sport."

SOUNDBITE: (English) All England Club chairman Philip Brook:

"There hasn't been any suggestion to me that there would be any industrial action or unrest. What we heard was genuine concern from top players and tour management that this was an issue. We've listened to those concerns and we've acted in what we're announcing here today. Hopefully these increases will be received very positively by players and tour management."