Women will again earn less than men this year

Scott's comments came after the All England Club, which runs the Grand Slam event, announced a 9.5% increase in the money offered to both sexes at this year's event.

The men's champion will walk away with �575,000, an increase of �50,000 on last year, with the women's winner collecting �535,000, up from �486,000.

Scott is disappointed that what he called the "long-standing inequity between men's and women's prize money" has not been addressed.

"The quality and depth of play demonstrated by women's professional tennis players, combined with the global popularity and media interest in our players, merits equal prize money at the Grand Slams," he said.

"I reject the notion that an unequal compensation system that distinguishes between men and women at the Grand Slams is 'fair'."

All England Club chairman Tim Phillips served a host of statistics in defence of the better deal on offer to the men, saying: "We like to think our prize money is driven by market data and fairness."

The situation is that the women play much shorter matches All England Club chairman Tim Phillips

He pointed out that last year's women's champion - Serena Williams - actually left Wimbledon with more money than men's winner Lleyton Hewitt because she also played in the doubles.

Phillips said: "The situation is that the women play much shorter matches while the men feel they cannot succeed in both singles and doubles.

"Serena Williams earned 11% more than Lleyton Hewitt last year. She played 27 sets and Lleyton played 23 sets. She made more appearances, which lasted less time, and collected more money."