The best viewing points do not necessarily come with a specific gate, aisle, row and seat number. In Vantage Point, Wimbledon.com identifies the prime perches, observation points and court views that don’t require a ticket.
Read on and take up your positions.
Practice courts
The very presence of a red velvet rope implies privileged access. Just as museums and stately homes employ red-rope barriers to keep the admiring public at arm’s length from masterpieces on display, so, just inside Gate 1, along a stretch that overlooks five of the 20 Aorangi Practice Courts, the All England Lawn Tennis Club has a red cordon behind which visitors can stand and marvel at the outstanding artistry in front of them.
You also see maestros of the game pass to and fro on their way to the practice court gym - housed in a garden-party style marquee, as you would expect of the Wimbledon summer tennis party.
On Day 9, a giggling gaggle of players standing between practice courts 3 and 4 turned out to be a quartet from the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles round-robin draw: Tracy Austin (three times a Grand Slam champion and former world No.1), Andrea Jaeger (twice a Grand Slam finalist and former world No.2), Marion Bartoli (2013 Wimbledon champion) and Daniela Hantuchova (four times a Grand Slam mixed doubles champion) – all having a light-hearted chat before they strolled off to warm up in pairs in preparation for facing each other first match on Court 18.
Head to this viewing opportunity on the practice courts to soak up the unique spirit of Wimbledon, the golden camaraderie of second-week play and long summer evenings, as well as the serious endeavour and work ethic that characterises great enduring champions such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and co as they finesse their game for grass.
According to the dictionary definition, game face is “a serious or determined expression that you put on when you are going to try to win or achieve something”. An unsung joy of Wimbledon is that you get to see players with both game face on – ie, in top sports-star competitive mode, in predominantly white kit, at the centre of global attention on the Championships Courts - and game face off, going about their behind-the-scenes life as professional athletes at the practice courts.
Simply turn right inside Gate 1, and you can join a queue (natch, this is Wimbledon) to watch players from all draws warm up, loosen up, limber up and enjoy a routine hit. As well as the rat-a-tat-tat barrage of balls on rackets, there is much jovial banter – “Good job so far!” “Good luck today!” – between players, coaches, physios and families. It’s a world away from the umpire-orchestrated zone of hushed applause and regulation white clothing.
“You see the players at their most relaxed here,” says Peter Finn, in his 23rd year as practice courts manager. “Certain competitors prefer certain courts, and some like to be away from scrutiny, but many are happy to be on courts with public access. We like to put on a variety for spectators. At times we’ve had Federer, Nadal and Djokovic all in a row. Unless they are in the final preparation for a match, they are generally chatty, friendly and like to interact with the fans.”
You see the players at their most relaxed here, We like to put on a variety for spectators. At times we’ve had Federer, Nadal and Djokovic all in a row
The practice courts are open for players from 10am to 7pm. Competitors and coaches call into a central booking number to book their slot and court. The system has been computerised since 2015; before that, Finn relied on a large sheet of paper and pencil. On Day 9, Barbora Strycova made her way via the Hill, but players who don’t want to walk through the Grounds can be taken through a subterranean tunnel and dropped off at the front of the Aorangi Practice Court Pavilion in time to warm up for their allocated court time.
New this year – out of sight, though not of earshot to spectators – is the expansive new warm-up area with its own cardiac corner and equipment nicknamed "torture apparatus". Across the floor space marked out with cones and mats, players work with resistance bands, gym balls, back roller massage tools and weights under the eagle eye of coaches. Earlier this week, you'd see Heather Watson chatting to Johanna Konta, who was rolling a tennis ball to relieve tension in her foot; Alison Riske graciously receiving congratulations on her run to the quarter-finals; Roger Federer wishing Coco (Cori Gauff) luck.
The warm-up zone covers the site of Rafael Nadal's previous favourite practice courts at Wimbledon, which happily faced a stand of seating open to the public. “Then the No.1 Court roof was housed here during construction work," explains Finn. "Once the roof was installed, it seemed the ideal opportunity to introduce this facility, which the players had been asking for for some time.” The old grandstand has gone, but the new viewing area gives a wider panorama across the lower tiers of courts. Go see!