LONDON, Feb 22 Wimbledon will pay women and men equal prize money for the first time at t

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) Wimbledon will pay women and men equal prize money for the first time at this year's grasscourt grand slam, All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said today.

The tournament broke with its tradition to join the Australian and US Opens in paying equal prize money across the board in all events and in all stages of competition.

''This year the committee decided unanimously that time was right to move to equal prize money and bring to a close a long progression,'' Phillips told a news conference.

Prize money for the 2007 Championships will be announced in April.

Wimbledon had been criticised for years for maintaining a discrepancy in the prize money offered to its male and female competitors.

Last year Roger Federer earned 655,000 pounds ($1.28 million) for winning the men's title while women's champion Amelie Mauresmo took home $625,000.

The All England Club had previously defended its stand by highlighting that women contested best-of-three-set matches while the men had best of five.

The French Open introduced equal pay for their men's and women's singles champions in 2006 but remain the only major tournament not to offer the same prize money throughout the rounds.

Wimbledon's decision to offer women parity was welcomed by the WTA tour and players alike.

''This is an historic and defining moment for women in the sport of tennis, and a significant step forward for the equality of women in our society,'' WTA Tour chief executive officer Larry Scott said in a statement.

''We commend the leadership of Wimbledon for its decisive action in recognising the progress that women's tennis has made.'' MORE REUTERS PM PM1758