Wimbledon to pay equal prize money

WIMBLEDON, England -- After years of holding out against equal prize money, Wimbledon bowed to public pressure Thursday and agreed to pay women players as much as the men at the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.

The All England Club announced it had decided to fall into line with other Grand Slam events and offer equal pay through all rounds at this year's tournament.

Last year, men's champion Roger Federer received $1.170 million and women's winner Amelie Mauresmo got $1.117 million.

The U.S. Open and Australian Open have paid equal prize money for years. The French Open paid the men's and women's champions the same for the first time last year, although the overall prize fund remained bigger for the men..

The All England Club has gradually reduced the pay gap over the years, but held out against equal prizes as a matter of principle.

-- AP