Wimbledon 2014: Start Date, TV and Live Stream Info, Prize Money and Predictions

For the fist time in the Open Era, the defending men's champion at Wimbledon will be a Brit. Andy Murray will open play on June 23 as the reigning champion after he defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final.

Marion Bartoli, the women's champion in 2013, will not defend her crown, as the Frenchwoman retired soon after her victory on the London grass last year.

The most historic and anticipated event of the calendar, Wimbledon always proves an enthralling two weeks. 2014 is likely to be no different with tennis' world stars all raring to go. 

Read on for full viewing information and predictions for Wimbledon 2014.

Dates: Monday, June 23 until Sunday, July 6

TV Info: BBC (UK), ESPN (US)

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer (UK), ESPN Player (US)

Prize Money

Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press

The amount of prize money on offer for this year's tournament has been upped by 10.8 per cent to a total of £25 million, per the ATP World Tour. 

The men's and women's singles champions will both receive cheques for £1.76 million, up from the £1.6 million that Murray pocketed last year.

Gratifyingly, there has been a significant 12.5 per cent increase in the amount of money that all singles players going out in the first three rounds will receive.

Philip Brook, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, acknowledged the struggles faced by some of those lower-ranked players in funding their ambitions to be professional tennis players, per BBC Sport:

"

We have been conscious of the fact that we have many players coming to Wimbledon who are making their way on the professional circuit looking to reach the top echelons of the sport.

It is a very long and a very expensive road on which to travel, and we've felt for the last two or three years that we need to do more to help these players on that journey.

"

Doubles prize money has increased by 8.7 per cent, while the increase for mixed doubles is 6.1 per cent.

Predictions

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

It looks like being the usual suspects for the men's title this year, with Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Murray and Roger Federer all in with a shout of winning.

Nadal comes in off the back of an extraordinary ninth French Open title, beating the Serbian Djokovic in the final. However, an early exit at Halle raises early question marks over the Spaniard's transition to grass.

Conversely, Federer suffered his earliest exit in Paris for 10 years, per the Huffington Post. Unfortunately, it seems the veteran may have won his final Grand Slam:

Murray, never as comfortable on clay as he is on grass, made it to the semi-finals of the French Open before going down to Nadal.

The Spaniard will go into Wimbledon on a high, but his first-round exit to unseeded Belgian Steve Darcis in 2013 will surely prey on his mind.

Djokovic will be wounded after the French Open defeat—his third Slam final loss in the last four tournaments—but that will likely drive him on to go one better this year than in 2013.

Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka could have a chance, but with Murray, Djokovic and Nadal all coming into the tournament in fantastic form, it will be very tough.

David Vincent/Associated Press

In the women's draw, predictability is a rare thing. Maria Sharapova comes in off the back of her French Open win and looks like a contender to repeat her victory of 10 years ago.

However, Serena Williams is always a threat and will no doubt be in the mix come the latter stages of the tournament. But she has significant work to do after an early exit in Paris.

Wimbledon always delivers and 2014 is likely to be no different. There is always the British weather to contend with, but as long as there is not too much rain, it should be an enthralling two weeks of tennis.

Prediction: Djokovic to win men's singles, Sharapova to win women's singles