logo
Wimbledon's expansion plan heads to court while facing opposition from local residents

Wimbledon's expansion plan heads to court while facing opposition from local residents

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic calls it a 'win-win.' Carlos Alcaraz says it's a 'great idea.'
Wimbledon's major expansion plan includes adding an 8,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof and 38 other grass courts at a former golf course across the street that would allow the
All England Club
to move its qualifying event and hold it on-site — as the other Grand Slam tournaments do — to boost attendance and revenue.
Some local residents did a deep dive on the details, though, and they're not as convinced as the major champions are. That is why the proposal goes to the U.K.'s High Court for a judicial review Tuesday and Wednesday as the quarterfinals are held at the tournament that concludes next weekend.
Opponents say they love tennis as much as the
500,000 or so fans
who flock to SW19 — Wimbledon's well-known post code — over the course of the two-week event.
'But we're also lovers of the environment and of trees and greenery and open spaces,' said Susan Cusack, a member of Save Wimbledon Park.
That's the group challenging the
Greater London Authority's approval
last September of Wimbledon's project, and they say they have raised more than $270,000 to pay for lawyers to fight against what Cusack and others call an 'industrial tennis complex.'
'They're a massive developer. On their current site, all they do is build, build, build,' Cusack said.
Aside from
concerns about the environment
and overall scale, opponents argue the adjacent property that was a golf course when the All England Club bought it in 2018 is subject to restrictions that favor preservation of open space for the public.
Wimbledon's case for expansion
The oldest Grand Slam tournament is the only one of the four that holds its
qualifying rounds at a completely separate location
. There are also too few practice courts in the current setup, requiring some of the world's best players to share courts.
'Wimbledon needs to stay at the pinnacle of world sport, and to do that, you have to evolve both on the court but also off the court with the infrastructure,' Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, told The Associated Press.
Wimbledon's attendance numbers trail the other three majors. The Australian Open sold 1.1 million tickets for this year's main draw — more than double Wimbledon's 2024 tally — after bringing in more than 115,000 the week of qualifying. Wimbledon's qualifying, three miles away at Roehampton, has 8,000 tickets total.
The French Open pulled in 80,000 fans for its qualifying. Fans could watch star players practice, in addition to the mini-tournament in which competitors play for coveted spots in the singles brackets.
Wimbledon's project would allow 8,000 spectators at qualifying — per day.
'If you look at the other Grand Slams, they will have community events during that first week ... and, of course, the serious tennis,' Jevans said. 'So we always start with the tennis but, yes, I want the opportunity to embrace more people. The demand for our tickets is off the charts.'
An 8,000-seat arena would become Wimbledon's third-largest stadium after Centre Court and No. 1 Court; it would be located just across the street from No. 1 Court.
Wimbledon's plan, which incorporates space now used for
the famous Queue
, would more than double its total number of grass courts — there are currently 18 for the tournament, plus 20 for practice.
Jevans said 'at least seven' of the proposed new courts would be made available for community use. The plan also includes two public parks, one that would be 23 acres.
The club declined comment on the project's price tag, which British media has reported will be about $270 million.
Djokovic and Alcaraz support Wimbledon's plans
If the plan survives legal challenges, there's still an eight-year construction window. That should rule out the 38-year-old Djokovic's chances of competing on the new courts. But the seven-time Wimbledon champion still wants the plan to succeed.
'It's great for the community, for London, for our sport. It's a win-win, to be honest. If it doesn't go through, it will be a shame,' he said Thursday.
Belinda Bencic, who was 17 when she made her Wimbledon debut in 2014, said Saturday she likes that the club 'is investing and trying to do the best for the players.'
Two-time defending champion Alcaraz said putting 'qualifying really close (to) where we are now — I think it's a great idea.'
Whatever happens, Djokovic noted, Wimbledon's future is secure.
'Wimbledon, as it is already, is a sacred tournament, a tournament that everybody wants to win or play in,' he said. 'This is only a bonus. It's something that will get it to even a higher level of recognition.'
___
AP tennis:
https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's
Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's

San Francisco Chronicle​

time7 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs, including a towering blast to lead off Wednesday night's game against the Athletics, and the Atlanta Braves hit a season-high five homers in a 9-2 victory. The Braves had lost 13 consecutive games in the state of California. It was the 14th career multi-homer performance for Acuña, who opened the game with a shot to left field that went out of the Triple-A ballpark. Acuña, who will compete in Monday's Home Run Derby in his home stadium, added another solo homer in the fourth inning to right field on a pitch well outside the strike zone. Drake Baldwin hit a three-run homer for the Braves, Austin Riley had a two-run shot and Marcell Ozuna added a solo home run — all off A's starter Mitch Spence (2-5), who lasted six innings despite allowing nine hits and eight runs. Braves right-hander Bryce Elder (3-6) gave up eight hits, allowed two earned runs and struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings for his first victory since May 4, a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had gone 0-5 with a 6.59 ERA over eight starts since then. Key stat In addition to ending their long California skid, the Braves were 0-11 in the Golden State this year. Their last victory in the state until now was 3-1 over the Los Angeles Angels last Aug. 18. Up next The teams wrap up their three-game series on Thursday. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA) is scheduled to face A's LHP JP Sears (7-7. 4.76). The teams split the first two games. __

Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's
Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's

Hamilton Spectator

time9 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Acuña hits 2 homers as Braves end 13-game losing streak in California with win over A's

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs, including a towering blast to lead off Wednesday night's game against the Athletics, and the Atlanta Braves hit a season-high five homers in a 9-2 victory. The Braves had lost 13 consecutive games in the state of California. It was the 14th career multi-homer performance for Acuña, who opened the game with a shot to left field that went out of the Triple-A ballpark . Acuña, who will compete in Monday's Home Run Derby in his home stadium, added another solo homer in the fourth inning to right field on a pitch well outside the strike zone. Drake Baldwin hit a three-run homer for the Braves, Austin Riley had a two-run shot and Marcell Ozuna added a solo home run — all off A's starter Mitch Spence (2-5), who lasted six innings despite allowing nine hits and eight runs. Braves right-hander Bryce Elder (3-6) gave up eight hits, allowed two earned runs and struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings for his first victory since May 4, a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had gone 0-5 with a 6.59 ERA over eight starts since then. Key moment Baldwin's three-run, 431-foot homer to right-center field in the first inning gave the Braves a 4-0 lead. Key stat In addition to ending their long California skid, the Braves were 0-11 in the Golden State this year. Their last victory in the state until now was 3-1 over the Los Angeles Angels last Aug. 18. Up next The teams wrap up their three-game series on Thursday. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA) is scheduled to face A's LHP JP Sears (7-7. 4.76). The teams split the first two games. __ AP MLB:

Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut
Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

Fox Sports

time12 minutes ago

  • Fox Sports

Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees' rotation. Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night, pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd. 'Obviously, it's been my goal my whole life,' Schlittler said. 'I don't think I've really processed it yet.' One of the team's top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York's seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year. But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone. 'You see his stuff really plays," Boone said. 'I see a lot of potential.' Boone called it 'a great first step' and said Schlittler will get another big league start, likely after the All-Star break. 'He was sick,' said Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who homered twice and drove in four runs. Schlittler was called up from Triple-A to pitch in place of injured Clarke Schmidt, who is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that would sideline him for the rest of this season and much of next year. So there's a genuine opportunity for Schlittler to stick in the rotation for a Yankees squad trying to catch Toronto atop the AL East. 'Obviously, just trying to get the first one under my belt and then whatever happens. I'm just fortunate that they gave me that opportunity,' Schlittler said. 'Just take it day by day and see what happens.' Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Schlittler gave up three runs and four hits — including solo homers by J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco. The 24-year-old right-hander walked his first batter but settled down quickly and froze Raleigh, the major league home run leader, with a 100 mph heater for his first strikeout in the opening inning. 'He was nasty," Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez said. That baseball was one of two sitting in Schlittler's locker after the game, both keepsakes inscribed and encased above the Yankees' championship belt for the night. Schlittler said the strikeout ball will probably end up in his room back home eventually, but first he planned to give it to his parents. 'I know they'll cherish that,' he said. Schlittler, who walked two, ending his outing with another strikeout of Raleigh before leaving with a 6-2 lead in the sixth to a standing ovation as his parents hugged in the Yankee Stadium stands. Schlittler was born in Massachusetts but said he always wanted to play for the Yankees. They selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft from Northeastern in Boston, right in the heart of rival Red Sox country. The pitcher said his girlfriend and cousin were on hand in addition to plenty of friends, and he left 23 tickets for his supporters. But he said he wasn't all that nervous come gametime. 'I think probably had more jitters this morning, honestly,' Schlittler said. 'I know my dad just in general gets more nervous than I do when I throw.' ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store