Of all the tennis tournaments in the world, there is no doubt that Wimbledon is the one the stars want to play in, and win, most of all.

Of course, there is the history and the tradition, but also the commercial aspect, that will see this year’s men’s and women’s champions collect £1.6m each.

The 40 per cent increase in this year’s prize pool is pretty spectacular, and even first round losers will pocket £23,500 apiece.

In a financial sense, Wimbledon is actually ever so slightly trumped by the Australian Open, and Philip Brook, chairman of the All England Club, has emphasised the need for the tournament to “remain competitive”.

But, among these mind-boggling figures, comes news of a far smaller financial commitment from the Wimbledon Championships – but in no way less significant.

For the first time, the All England Club is funding banners and hanging baskets in Wimbledon town centre.

Compared to the amounts being spent on prize money, the costs involved are hardly lavish, but the commitment finally helps to bring the tennis championships down the hill.

Wimbledon 1935: Times have changed, and so has the prize money - back then, there was none

In the past, the event never seems to have been properly engaged with the town centre itself.

True, you could always see lots of buses heading to the Wimbledon Championships and special marketing around the railway station.

But, for the first time this year, it seems that Wimbledon town centre itself is really about to join the party, with Love Wimbledon, the town’s business improvement district, funding a big screen in the piazza to allow people to keep up-to-date with the action.

Mr Brook commendably said the increased prize pool would not impact on ticket prices, but the intimate atmosphere that makes Wimbledon so special also makes it impossible for the All England Club to ever come close to meeting the demand for tickets.

That’s why it is great that Wimbledon has not only accepted but embraced the fact that it is on free-to-air television as one of the so-called crown jewels of British sport.

Extending the Wimbledon fortnight atmosphere beyond the confines of Southfields and Wimbledon village can only be a step in the right direction.