Tag Archive: Tickets

1. How to get tickets for Wimbledon 2021

   October 1, 2019 1:00 pm 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. Top Ten Tennis Moments of 2017

   December 28, 2017 10:00 am 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!

3. Happily Ever After – Tennis Romances

   February 10, 2014 3:01 pm Comments Off on Happily Ever After – Tennis Romances

   Let’s Hear It For The Partners

   The team at WimbledonDebentureHolders.com have come up with their own Happily Ever After #HEA rating for our favourite tennis couples.  Do you agree?

   Join in the conversation on twitter

   It’s amazing how many stable romances there are at the top of tennis. Especially when the top stars could have practically anyone they want, whenever they want. The partners are sometimes stars in their own right. Even if they’re not, many are extremely glamorous. Others are less so, don’t care about superficial fame, shun the limelight and support more quietly behind the scenes. They all seem to have done a terrific job – so let’s hear it for the partners!

   Here’s a look at some of the most high-profile love affairs. And I’m going to have a bit of fun by giving each romance a “Happily Ever After” (HEA) probability rating out of ten.

   Don’t get offended, now! We wish them all well and rest assured there’s nothing malicious about any of the predictions.  Look back on this article at the end of 2014 and see just how right or wrong we were…so far!

   Andy Murray – Kim Sears: HEA rating: 9/10
   Possible Marriage Timing: Spring 2015

   If they were going to split they would probably have done it by now. Well, they did – in 2009 – but only briefly. Kim has been great for Andy ever since, a major force behind the scenes to help him cope with the intolerable pressure. With Kim at his side, Andy has scaled the dizzy heights to become US, Olympic and Wimbledon champion. They know each other inside out. My crystal ball tells me an announcement will be made in Australia next year with the wedding in Scotland at Andy’s Cromlix Hotel that same Spring.

   Novak Djokovic – Jelena Ristic: HEA rating: 9/10
   Possible marriage timing: Spring 2014

   I think what you see is what you get with Novak, he is a great guy and he really loves her. Does she love him? Of course she does. She runs the Djokovic Foundation for him too. Their lives are already inextricably linked. The clue to the marriage timing came in that Serbian TV interview the other day. ‘In a couple of months you will change your last name to Djokovic,’ he told her. Sounded more like an instruction than a proposal Novak but I think she’ll forgive you!

   Carline Wozniacki – Rory McIlroy: HEA rating: 7/10
   Possible marriage timing: Late 2014

   Caroline and Rory are lovely people who were so in love they didn’t seem to care that their sporting careers were going down the drain. Then they split up , allegedly due to Caroline’s twitter posting of a very uncool photo of her man. Back together before long, they charmed the world over New Year with that “She said yes” – “I said yes” engagement announcement. They had better hurry up and marry before they split up again! Seriously, though, it doesn’t seem the most stable relationship in the world, but Rory’s golf is back on track, even if Caroline’s tennis isn’t. And they make each other laugh. As long as that continues, they have a chance of long-lasting happiness.

   Li Na – Jiang Shan: HEA rating: 9/10
   Already married

   They’ve been through it all. Tennis nearly split them up according to Li Na. New coach Carlos Rodriguez arrived just in time to take the pressure of that side of their relationship. But how cool was “Dennis” to accept Carlos and his new dominant role in their lives? He also has to take those very comical but slightly withering post-match speeches by Li Na – when he is always the butt of the joke. ‘You carry the raquets, you fix the drinks, you’re a nice guy and you’re lucky to have found me,’ she said after winning the Aussie Open. Well here’s something else. You’re lucky to have Dennis, Li Na. Very lucky indeed.

   Serena Williams – Patrick Mouratoglou: HEA rating: 6/10
   Possible marriage timing: Late 2014

   He is more than ten years older than she is but Serena’s coach appears to have been a source of great joy and a fine stabilizing influence. Serena has worked incredibly hard on her career and is often misunderstood. She deserves every moment of her happiness and I can even see them getting married. But will it last? No one knows, I sincerely hope it does. But I’m not convinced it is going to last a lifetime. Serena is very headstrong, Patrick is his own man and won’t want to be bossed about. Will this be a match made in Heaven? You have to wonder. Go on, prove us all wrong and why should you care what anyone says?

   Roger Federer – Mirka Vavrinec: HEA rating: 9/10
   Already married

   With a new baby on the way and twins Myla and Charlene already the joy of their lives, Mirka and Roger have enjoyed their stability for many years already. The sleepless nights of fatherhood may not have done Roger’s latter career any favours but he won’t regret a minute and he has won it all. Mirka isn’t most the glamorous, publicity-seeking type; but that has been an advantage for a long time. She is the strength behind the history-maker everyone loves. It is hard to imagine them splittng up. Another perfect couple and the only reason no one gets an HEA 10/10 is because you just never know in life what lies just around the corner.

   Maria Sharapova – Grigor Dimitrov: HEA rating: 4/10
   Possible marriage timing: Questionable

   Now, I could be reading this wrong. Let’s start with the positives. Maria seems to be making Grigor happy and his quarter-final appearance in Australia in early 2014 showed the “Sharapova effect” has been doing the Bulgarian no harm. But will he want to be tied down indefinitely by an older woman? I’m not so sure. Dimitri is in his early 20s, Maria is moving towards her late 20s. It may well be that if she had a choice, they would be together forever. But as Dimitrov grows in years and tennis stature, will he prove to be a one-woman man? What about that “black heart” Serena Williams pointed to, in that public spat the women had about their men? How easy is Maria to be with? Does he have the maturity to cope with any mood swings she may exhibit as her tennis powers start to fade? So far it’s all good. Only they know how good. I wish the couple well and don’t want to cause offence. But personally I just can’t see it lasting. Again, I’ll be delighted if they prove me wrong!

   Rafa Nadal – Maria Fancisca (Xisca) Perello: HEA rating: 8/10
   Possible marriage timing: Spring 2017

   She shuns publicity, she stayed away from the Australian Open at the start of 2014 because, in Rafa’s words, it was ‘too far.’ As Rafa observed, the girls in Australia wouldn’t have minded too much. Are there cracks appearing? Or is this just the way it works best for them? As Rafa recently observed, having a family while you are travelling all over the world isn’t necessarily going to work. Following a man to the four corners of the earth while remaining in the strange bubble of the tour isn’t going to excite everyone – least of all “Xisca.” So she stays in the background and personally I think they will stay strong as a couple. I don’t think they’ll marry until Rafa’s battle-scarred body finally gives way and he can no longer stand the rigours of the tour and his own bruising style of play. Then it will be game, set and match to Miss Perello…who will gladly become Mrs Nadal. Still, the very fact that they don’t seem ready to settle down just yet gives other women just a glimmer of hope that the Spanish sex symbol is still there for the taking. Don’t bet on it, though.

   So what does this prove? Probably just that I know nothing about relationships! Still, in the soap opera that the tennis circuit provides, we will all be watching to see what happens. We will share their joy and wince if it goes wrong. Above all let’s hope for the sake of our heroes and heroines that in their particular case, love lasts!

   

   #HEA