Call us: 01962 733 649

Tag Archive: Tennis Championships

  1. How to get tickets for Wimbledon 2021

    Comments Off on How to get tickets for Wimbledon 2021

    Getting Wimbledon Tickets 2020 is not generally a task for the fainthearted. You have to really want them and to go to serious lengths to secure them. But at Wimbledon Debenture Holders, we can do all the hard work for you.

    For most big events including other Grand Slams like the Australian Open or the US Open, it’s generally possible to go online or ring the ticket office – and provided you do so in good time, you should succeed for a sensible price.

    But to buy tickets for Wimbledon 2020 can require a combination of research skills, patience, single-minded determination, luck, and of course money. Even then you may not get what you want if you don’t come through us.

    A ticket through the gate will only qualify you to watch matches on the outside courts, with no guarantee of a seat on Centre Court, No1 Court or even Court Two – and large queues at every point. You run the risk of seeing the back of a lot of other people’s heads rather than any serious tennis.

    1. The Ballot

      One of the cheapest options is to go in for the Ballot run by All England Lawn Tennis Club.

      You will need to fill in an online ballot application form. This must be done after the end of August and before the end of November.

      You will know sometime in February 2020 whether you have successfully secured your chance of tickets. Your chances are around 1 in 10. You may also have to be more flexible with your choice of game and player as your hopes of seeing Andy Murray versus Roger Federer on Centre Court may be fade as you may only get into Court Number 2 on the second Saturday, where the only thing on offer may be an over 45s Mixed Doubles or a Junior boys game.

      The ballot tickets are not transferable, if you can’t go, you have to send them back. And if you are caught trying to sell them on eBay, they will void the ticket. Likewise, if you buy a Ballot ticket on eBay, there is a danger that this will be voided.

      More information can be found on the Official Wimbledon 2019 Ballot Page.

    2. LTA Ballot

      You can choose to join the Lawn Tennis Association. As a non-affiliated member, which costs £25. Then you can be entered into their ballot and you may get a 1 in 5 chance. UK applicants must request an application form by 15 December 2019. The closing date for receipt of all completed ballot applications is 31 December 2019.

      If you play tennis, you should join a tennis club. Many tennis clubs get allocations of tickets and they will also have their own ballots, but each club will only have a handful of tickets.

    3. Become a Player or Umpire or Steward

      If you haven’t got what it takes to qualify for Wimbledon, then you might get to know somebody that has, or there are various officials, such Umpires, even Honorary Stewards who have worked their way into the system to get free tickets.

    4. Become a celebrity or know somebody in the Royal Family

      Wimbledon has the Royal Box which has 74 seats. President Clinton, Princess Diana, Cliff Richard and Jack Nicholson have been seen there in the past. The Queen herself is not a huge fan, and the last time she appeared was in 2010 after 33 years of absence.

      Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge love sport and in particular cheering on Andy Murray from their vantage point in the Royal box. Effortless style often accompanies these outings and no matter the outcome of the tennis, you can be sure the headlines will be littered with the fashion choices of these Royal celebrities for days after.

    5. Become a Member of the AELTC

      The things to understand about the All England Lawn Tennis Club that runs the Wimbledon Championships is that it is just that, a Tennis Club, which happens to run a rather successful tournament. So just join the Tennis Club.

      There are 375 members in all plus 100 temporary Members elected each year. If you have been good enough to win Wimbledon you can be invited to become a Member. Otherwise, election to Membership appears to be a complex process of receiving lots of nominations and having a great deal of money for your subs. And even then, that just gives you the right to buy two tickets for every day. If you find out how to become a member, please let us know.

      It has been said than it’s easier to win Wimbledon that to become a member!

    6. Become a Debenture Holder

      If you don’t know the right people to become a member but are prepared to invest some money, become a Wimbledon Debenture Holder. Buying Debentures is like buying shares, except much more difficult. You sign a cheque for about £50,000 for Centre Court Debentures, or £30,000 for Court number 1, send it to Wimbledon and if you are very, very lucky you will make it through that particular ballot and will be entitled to a seat each day for five years of the tournament. Issues of Debentures only happen every 5 years, so you have to be well informed or be prepared to buy them at a substantial premium at other times.

    7. Buy Debenture Tickets

      Alternatively, you can buy Wimbledon Debenture tickets from a Debenture Holder. Many of the sites that sell Wimbledon tickets are selling Debenture seats. They are the only ones that can be transferred and sold on.

      At Wimbledon Debenture Holders we have created an organisation of Debenture Holders who are selling their tickets via the site to people who want to go, rather than selling them on to agents. You will also have access to the Debenture Lounges where you will have the opportunity to spend even more money on very pleasant food and drink.

    8. Queue up

      Queuing is a glorious British tradition. I have friends who enjoy the Wimbledon Queue more than the tennis itself. They do it every single year. They make lifelong friends, share food and drink and war stories, and often spend several days and nights queuing. If you have the time and the inclination, you can get in this way. There are only a handful available each day for the show courts. Be prepared to invest in sleeping bags, camping equipment, sun hats and warm clothes. Enjoy!

    9. Corporate entertainment

      Various large companies and tickets agencies have special allocations for corporate hospitality. So if you are for instance an important customer of a corporate giant, make sure you drop some serious hints about how much you would love to go to Wimbledon 2020 and watch the tennis. Not only will you get to go, but you will be wined and dined throughout the day. There is a snag with this. Some of the hospitality tents can be quite far from the action, and if you actually enjoy watching tennis, you may have to watch it on a screen in the hospitality tent. If you have ever wondered when you watch Wimbledon on TV, why there are so many empty seats, their occupants are often to be found drinking champagne a mile or two away.

    So there it is. Wimbledon 2021 awaits but cut out all the hard work, headaches and worry. Leave the job of securing your tickets to Wimbledon Debenture Holders. We’ll make sure you get what you want.

  2. Catch up with Lucy Shuker

    Comments Off on Catch up with Lucy Shuker
    We had the pleasure of having a catch up with Lucy Shuker. She filled us in on all the action this year’s US Open Grand Slam in
    New York.
    Read Lucy’s update below

    Us Open

    This year was my fourth appearance at the US Open and another opportunity to try and get my first win in New York City.
    For Men’s and Women’s Wheelchair Tennis players, it’s only the top 7 in the world that earn direct qualification into the event. With the 8th place being awarded to a tournament wildcard. Grand Slam events are effectively Masters competitions for wheelchair tennis players and you have to remind yourself that simply qualifying is a great achievement.

    The Result

    As a competitor, we are all there for the same thing – to win. With no easy draws and just the top players in the world you know you have to bring your A game to get anywhere. This year I drew current World No.5 KG Montjane from South Africa. I have had mixed results with her over the last 12 months or so. I knew I had the game to beat her, but I also knew that KG was a strong player and it would be a close fight and that it was. Unfortunately, it ended with a 6-4 6-4 defeat for me.
    It was difficult and disappointing three weeks of competition with some tough losses in both singles and doubles events. Tennis is undoubtedly a sport which has many ups and downs and I’ve definitely encountered my fair share of these throughout my career. I love tennis and this in a way is what I love most about the game. The problem solving, the continual challenge of the game, of my disability and of my opponents.

    Reflection

    I have a great team behind me and I know I can put these weeks to the back of my mind and move on. They don’t define me as a tennis player and I will always keep fighting and working hard to create new opportunities for myself.

    The US Open was a fantastic event to be part of. The USTA did a great job at increasing exposure of wheelchair tennis and of individual players. Several matches were scheduled on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong and other show courts with international TV coverage and live streaming.
    They also produced a fantastic series of videos in partnership with Deloitt. You can check out the feature about me including why you should watch wheelchair tennis here – https://youtu.be/jmwmzgNkVBM
    Lucy x

  3. Top Ten Tennis Moments of 2017

    Comments Off on Top Ten Tennis Moments of 2017

    What are your favourite tennis moments of 2017?

    It’s so subjective of course, but here is a possible top ten, in reverse order.

    You could just as easily pick ten other moments and focus, for example, on the Grand Slam triumphs of the brilliant Rafael Nadal, rather than some of his truly dramatic reverses.

    Tennis has been blessed with all kinds of wonderful moments on court in the last twelve months.

    And that shows what an incredible year 2017 was for the sport we all love.

     

    10/ Serena Wins Australian Open

    The year started with some history. Serena Williams finally secured that elusive 23rd Grand Slam singles title to edge clear of the great Steffi Graf. She did so by beating her sister Venus in the final – and it later emerged Serena was pregnant!

    9/ Ostapenko Wins French Open

    No one expected Jelena Ostapenko to win the French Open. Not even during the final, when the little Latvian trailed Simona Halep by a set and 0-3. But she launched an incredibly powerful comeback to fire 54 winners and take the title 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

    8/ Shapovalov Defeats Nadal

    Teenager Denis Shapovalov shocked the world at the Rogers Cup in Montreal by beating Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). His spectacular, carefree style of play made him an instant superstar and he is now regarded as the future of tennis, along with fellow youngster Alexander Zverev.

    7/ Muguruza Crushes Venus To Win Wimbledon

    The first set of the Wimbledon 2017 final was one of the most brutal ever seen on Centre Court. Garbine Muguruza finally came out on top 7-5 to subdue that famous Williams will to win. She took the title with a second-set bagel over the exhausted Venus. But nothing should detract from the beautiful ferocity of the opener.

    6/ Federer Beats Kyrgios In Miami

    An epic in three tie-breaks. Roger could have finished the controversial Australian in the second set, but failed to convert two match points. He finally finished the job an hour later – and both players received rapturous applause after Federer emerged the winner by 7-6 (11-9), 6-7 (9-11), 7-6 (7-5).

    5/ Konta Triumphs Over Halep At Wimbledon

    The Wimbledon crowds were dreaming of a home title winner after Jo Konta matched Simona Halep blow for blow in a fantastic clash on Centre Court. The Brit thrilled by storming back to a 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory to book a place in the semi-finals.

    4/ Del Potro’s Comeback Against Thiem

    It seemed to be all over for Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open when he complained of illness after being brushed aside 1-6, 2-6 in the opening two sets by Dominic Thiem.  But Delpo heard the crowd chant his name and hit back to win the last three sets 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, saving two match points in the fourth.

    3/ Federer Wins Australian Open

    No one thought this possible after Federer had taken so many months out with injury. But somehow he felt supremely refreshed and rode a wave of joy towards an unlikely dream. Roger still needed treatment towards the end of the final as he beat Rafael Nadal in a superb five-setter, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. The tennis world gasped at the drama of it all.

    2/ Nadal Edged Out In Wimbledon Thriller

    It seems harsh to point out that Rafael Nadal, who won two Grand Slams and finished top of the pile, was even more memorable for some of his defeats in 2017. But no one will ever forget that final set against Gilles Muller, as Rafa’s comeback on Wimbledon’s Court 1 stalled. He eventually succumbed to a brilliant performance from the 16th seed, as Muller triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13.

    1/ Federer Wins Wimbledon

    Although the final wasn’t the greatest match of the year, it didn’t lack drama as Marin Cilic burst into tears, knowing he couldn’t beat the legendary Federer on the day. Nothing and no one could deny the graceful Roger on his day of destiny. The sheer romance of an eighth Wimbledon title and nineteenth Slam for a man in his mid-thirties is unbeatable. What an amazing 2017 it was for the world’s favourite player, the best of the best.

     

    That’s it! We can’t wait to see what 2018 holds, especially at Wimbledon!

  4. Grand Slam Tournaments: The Run Down

    Comments Off on Grand Slam Tournaments: The Run Down

    Grand Slam History: Wonderful Wimbledon Aces Them All

    All the Grand Slams have their history – but nowhere has quite as much as Wimbledon. You can feel it when you walk in. That magic took many years to create. You can’t feel it anywhere else, for all the qualities and diversity of the world’s other venues.
    Who would have thought, when the newly-named All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club held its inaugural Wimbledon Championship in 1877, that it would be the start of such an incredible journey?

    Spencer Gore was the first winner, though Britain’s William Renshaw was the first 19th-Century tennis star, with his seven Wimbledon wins in the 1880s.

    ball and racquet

    Pete Sampras and Roger Federer repeated the feat in the Open era and their task was somewhat harder. Once he became champion, all Renshaw had to do was to turn up for the next final to see off his latest challenger. How times have changed!

    The “Other” Opens

    It might surprise some to know that the USA started its own national championships as early as 1881, at the Newport Casino, Rhode Island.
    The French weren’t far behind in setting up their own national tournament in 1891. And the dawn of the 20th century saw one of their greatest stars – Max Decugis – dominate the scene. Between 1903 and 1914 he won the French title eight times and might have continued his amazing run were it not for the outbreak of the First World War.
    By then the Australians were up and running too, their first tournament having taken place in 1905.

    The Tournaments Find Their Home Grounds

    So which was the first championships to move to its current home? Wimbledon of course, in 1922. The French followed six years later when Roland Garros was established. The US Open didn’t move to Flushing Meadows until 1978, while the Aussie Open only found its current home in 1988.
    But the French can boast the first true superstar of the game – Suzanne Lenglen. The world marveled at her grace and talent. She took six top titles in France or Belgium and six more at Wimbledon to capture the hearts of just about every sports fan around.
    Then the Brits came up with a superstar of their own. Fred Perry won Wimbledon three times in the 1930s. As we all know, it took until last year for a Brit to win it again. But Perry did something Andy Murray can still only dream about. He became the first player to win the French, Australian and US titles too, all in that same decade.
    Amazingly, an American called Maureen Connolly Baker achieved the same feat while she was still a teenager, between 1951 and 1953.
    Each country or tournament has its giants. Home-grown Roy Emerson won the Australian six times in the 1960s, while in the Open era Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic managed such glory four times Down Under.

    The Tennis Giants

    Wimbledon’s true giants of the Open era haven’t been British. Pete Sampras has won it seven times, along with Federer. Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon an extraordinary nine times. Each champion has been hailed by an adoring British public, which became very used to putting nationality aside during the many years when a Brit couldn’t quite cut it.
    US champions William Larned, Richard Sears and Bill Tilden may not be mentioned very often these days; but they took seven singles titles apiece on that side of the Atlantic. Jimmy Connors, Sampras and Federer managed five in the Open era.
    It was in 1968 that professionals were finally allowed to join amateurs and do battle at the “Majors.” That’s when the Grand Slam era really began. Few who were already alive will ever forget Arthur Ashe taking the US title and striking a fresh blow for racial equality.
    The increased intensity of competition can’t diminish the achievements of someone like Margaret Court, whose career saw out the old and welcomed in the new. She won 24 Slams including eleven Australian, five French, three Wimbledon and five US Open titles. Yet perhaps Steffi Graf’s 22 titles, all won in the Open era, are even more admirable, given the new physical demands of the game.
    And Rafael Nadal’s eight Roland Garros titles between 2005 and 2013 had everyone shaking their heads in awe, and wondering how many more he could win.
    We know how wonderful the modern era is. We know we are currently watching giants who can be compared favourably against champions of any era. Wimbledon has welcomed these giants down the years, and been enriched by their magnificence. That’s what makes Wimbledon so very special.

    You step back in time when you walk through those gates, you can almost touch the all-time greats; yet you are always invited to embrace the present and future too.     

    The new Number One Court arrived in 1997, the retractable roof on Centre Court is even more recent and spectacular. Beautiful modern architecture somehow blends perfectly with the traditional feel to the venue. How has Wimbledon moved so stylishly with the times? Either there are some very special people behind the scenes, or it’s magic!
    The other Grand Slam venues are great in their own way, of course. But history tells us Wimbledon is the home of competitive tennis. Always was, always will be. In fact we don’t need to be told, because we can feel it.
    Want to be part of history at the next Wimbledon? Want to taste that unique atmosphere? Just click on the following link to buy your tickets today.