Wimbledon serves up a new star entrance
All England Club prepares for court’s centenary with an updated players’ entrance into showpiece arena
Wimbledon is to give its tennis stars a grander entrance to Centre Court, as a new doorway is installed that allows players to emerge centrally from underneath the royal box. The traditional green backdrop that lines the court will part before the start of the match to reveal the players. Players will still be encouraged to leave the court in the corner, giving fans a moment up close to their idols and an opportunity to request a selfie or an autograph.
WALKING out on Centre Court undoubtedly marks the career peaks of many elite tennis players – but for viewers, who have to watch the competitors travel along a corridor behind a screen and on to a corner of the Wimbledon court, it may all feel rather understated.
However, players at this year’s Championships will be afforded a grander experience as they step on to the nation’s premier tennis court through a revamped entrance that was announced yesterday.
Starting this summer, the sport’s top performers will be captured alongside dignitaries and celebrities when they appear from beneath the royal box.
Coinciding with the centenary of Centre Court at its current location, Wimbledon has a number of plans to boost the production value of matches on its main court.
At tennis’s more contemporary majors in Melbourne and New York, viewers experience full light shows, spotlights on players as they emerge from the tunnel and blasting dramatic
‘For Centre Court’s 100th birthday, we are refreshing the inside of the bowl, including a new entrance’
music to accompany the short entrance walks.
But Wimbledon has usually kept to tradition on their most prized stage, sticking to an understated players’ entrance, in keeping with its longstanding aversion to major innovations.
But the revamped entrance points to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club adding a bit more pizzazz to proceedings.
Players will walk out through the clubhouse as usual, but will now emerge centrally from underneath the royal box, where celebrities and members of the Royal family are seated during matches.
The green walls beneath the seating will part and reveal the players, who will then walk on to the court and turn left by the baseline, towards their seats by the umpire’s chair – which has also been redesigned to mark the occasion.
“In keeping with Centre Court’s 100th birthday, we are refreshing the inside of the bowl, including a new central entrance for the players,” Sally Bolton, Wimbeldon’s chief executive, said yesterday.
“We have redesigned the umpire’s chair, which will be in situ on centre and number one courts this year before being expanded across the full site next year.”
The change means TV cameras at the north end of the court can capture players, royals and celebrities all in one shot, and will apparently be able to look through into the old clubhouse.
The new doors will also allow fans within the arena to see what goes on behind the scenes, too. Players will be encouraged to leave the court to the side of the royal box, where the existing entrance is, in order to interact with fans and sign autographs, as is customary.
The new entrance, which is expected to be completed in spring, is part of minor refurbishment works to the lower bowl of Centre Court, which allowed organisers to reconfigure the space and explore different walk on options.
The playing surface on the court will also be increased, which will help backcourt roamers such as Rafael Nadal, who opt to receive the opponents’ serve a significant distance behind the baseline.
Another major change is the scheduling, which now involves play on Middle Sunday, where previously Wimbledon had allotted a day off for competitors.
Scheduled for July 3, it will now involve fourth round singles matches being contested and will be the “focal point” for Centre Court’s 100-year celebrations.
After two years ruined by the pandemic, the traditional Wimbledon queue will also return for spectators wishing to buy tickets on the day.