The All England Club is considering the use of an artificial playing surface at Wimbledon to cope with scheduling demands, according to The Mail On Sunday.
It is reported that talks are already underway regarding implementing the surface initially at club level to begin with. Such a move would be significant for Wimbledon. A tournament that prides itself on tradition.
According to The Daily Mail, the plans are being considered in order for more matches to be played on the premier courts at the tournament. Centre Court and Court One. Currently there are only three that takes place. Creating an imbalance between men’s and women’s games. The thinking is that new surface would accommodate more games being played before it is worn out.
Former world No.4 Tim Henman is a member of the All England Club committee. He has confirmed to the Mail that the idea is being looked at. It is possible that a hybrid practice court could be implemented in the near future.
“In an ideal world, you’d like to have four matches on Centre Court and Court No1,” Henman told the Mail on Sunday during a coaching session on HSBC’s Court 20 with the charity Give it Your Max.
“What people never focus on is the fact it’s a natural surface. It’s grass. You’ve got to have that court for 13 days and if you kill it in the first five days, then you’re in trouble.
“Wimbledon are investing a lot of money looking at the hybrid thing. When you see the football and rugby pitches now, they’re three per cent artificial.
“We’re certainly looking at, “What does five per cent look like on a tennis court? What does 10 per cent look like on a tennis court?”
“If you go back a few generations, it was huge in America, Australia, India and a lot of it has died out because of the maintenance, the cost, the quality of court. If that area can evolve then it may be relevant for Wimbledon.”
Since 2001, courts at Wimbledon have been sown with 100% perennial Ryegrass. A cool-season grass that germinates faster than any other common lawn grass.
Should the plans got the go ahead, it is unclear as to when they would come to fruition. Any decision in unlikely to have an impact on next year’s tournament.
This year’s Wimbledon singles titles were won by Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber.
