Well, I'm glad I made it to Wimbledon Qualies last year. Apparently this year, for the first time, there are a limited number of entries and people will be charged. Last year it was free.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/39795441
As you can see from this article, the possible presence of Sharapova is nothing more than a coincidence (allegedly). I wonder if ear plugs are included in the £5 entry fee ?
I wonder how many spectators have been in past years, because 1000 seems a very low maximum for this year, as for the token £5 entry fee, I suppose it's fair in this day and age. Nottingham this year is £5 for qualies.
Was just about to post regarding qualifying. This news on reduced entry scuppers my idea! Went two year ago but didn't make it last year as had just changed jobs. I'm only a short bus ride away now so was planning on a couple of half days getting there about 12:30. Now with a set number announced I don't know if arriving at 12:30 will work. Might need to take a whole day.
Might take a whole day on day one then plan a half day and see if it gets full.
Am I right in thinking that men normally play on Monday Wednesday and Thursday and ladies Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday?
Yes, I'm less worried about the £5 entry fee (a pity but still a very good value day), more worried about trekking from the station only to find they have sold out, since I assume ticket sales will be on the door rather than in advance. Clearly it's much worse if you're coming from a long way away like Bob would be (I won't be flying over from America just for tennis, though obviously I'd try and go if I was back in the UK for other reasons too)
I wonder how many people usually go - at a guess, I'd say 500 or fewer each day (and probably 50-100 of those are coaches and people from the NTC who probably wouldn't count among the ticketed numbers anyway) rather than 1000, so on Sharapova-free days (if she plays), it should be safe. Then again, lots of people only go for part of the day, early or late, so there may well have been more than 1000 people there in total some days. If so, I'll wonder whether they'll let more people in when others leave.
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Does that mean Shreiky is definitely in qualies? I'm kinda expecting her to have gotten her ranking up to get in the MD as she's got tow more big scoring tournies and possibly the FO.
Does that mean Shreiky is definitely in qualies? I'm kinda expecting her to have gotten her ranking up to get in the MD as she's got tow more big scoring tournies and possibly the FO.
No. They have only discussed how they would cope with numbers IF that was the case. There are still various possibilities. She may be offered WC for either qualies or MD, or alternatively, if she does well in either Madrid or Rome (I've heard that reaching the SF in either would do) her ranking would be sufficient to get directly into the MD.