LONDON: The third Grand Slam tennis tournament this season, Wimbledon, kicks off in London on Monday. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Czechia's Marketa Vondrousova will defend their winning titles. The prize fund stands at $63 million this year. Russian players will compete in neutral status. In 2022, they were not allowed to participate over the events in Ukraine, after which Wimbledon was fined. In 2023, Russian athletes were allowed to participate but they had to sign a declaration of neutrality. This year, players from Russia and Belarus will participate under the same conditions. The spectators are also banned from bringing flags of these countries. The tournament will end on July 14. Wimbledon, which has been held since 1877, is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in the world. The competition takes place on grass and all players must wear white during the matches. Source: Philippines News Agency