Seeing the recent discussions on Forum Members attending various tournaments, I thought it might be a good dedicated feature to have on the board(?) People often want advice if attending a tournaments for the first time.....it could be good to look back on for example. Some we can nag for "inside information", others may want to meet up etc etc
As a first post, and its only local but I just bought a centre court ticket to Surbiton on the Wednesday....I am sure plenty of others have more???
I have ground tickets for Surbiton for Monday and Tuesday - should be FQR and R1. Saw lots of Brits last year.
I also intend to go to Wimbledon qualifying for one day and Roehampton if they have a tournament leter in the year.
I'll probably get ground passes for Surbiton for a couple of the early days - I don't always use them but I love the club and the event so am happy to support them whatever
And, yes, also one day at least of Wimbly qualis
I'm not usually around later in summer
But may also try to make a couple of the junior events - at Roehampton, and Surbiton for qualis, or whatever
I also recommend the British Tour events, especially to people who like to see the younger ones coming through, or quite simply for good competitive tennis. A lot of our top juniors play them - and they're free
Have a ground pass on Tuesday for Surbiton and Tuesday centre court for Queens. Hope to get a day at Wimbledon qualifying as I enjoyed it so much last year. Cheap and very relaxed if you are unsure whether to try it. Still hoping to get Wimbledon tickets as I got some quite late last year but will queue one day at the beginning of week 1 anyway. Just beware if you are going to Queens the same day as me - it nearly always rains!
Read this about Queens relaunching a womens tournament. Sounds fine in theory but would decimate Eastbourne which would be down graded to a 250. Have to say Eastbourne is my favourite grass court tournament. Reasonably affordable compared to Queens and less elitist. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68497148
Read this about Queens relaunching a womens tournament. Sounds fine in theory but would decimate Eastbourne which would be down graded to a 250. Have to say Eastbourne is my favourite grass court tournament. Reasonably affordable compared to Queens and less elitist. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68497148
As the ATP and WTA want to push these joint 1000 events, and Queens wants 1000 status ( I think they still do) , competing against Halle for that right, could this be a play by them in that direction - get the first shot in on a joint event ?
I am most likely to just go to Ilkley this season again, hope to get finals tickets for my annual slug of live tennis action - sadly, we have never had any Brits play when I have been to watch Ilkley. The Brits that could do well in Challenger level events tend to be playing Queens or Birmingham and Ilkley usually has lesser ranked Brits who dont bother the business end of the week, in singles at least (doubles final being Saturday). But I do enjoy it.
My wife is NOT a tennis or sports fan of any type and so I tend not to push the boundaries by going to other events. She did used to come with me to the O2 when we went a couple of times and did enjoy the spectacle, but not sure she really engaged with the tennis! She hates the idea that someone loses and feels sad for them!
Read this about Queens relaunching a womens tournament. Sounds fine in theory but would decimate Eastbourne which would be down graded to a 250. Have to say Eastbourne is my favourite grass court tournament. Reasonably affordable compared to Queens and less elitist. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/68497148
Eastbourne hasn't really been of the highest standard in the last few years in terms of competition.
I think the main issue with this is that either Nottingham or Birmingham are likely to be lost and once again those of us who don't live in London or the South East will have to go to expensive venues to watch top level tennis.
Queens is terrible too. The tickets are very expensive and it is cramped and old.
I'd rather see Birmingham upgraded to a 500 and Eastbourne as a 250 and forget Queens altogether but I suspect that it will be the Midlands that misses out.