Wimbledon offer tickets to appease angry neighbours as planning application makes slow progress

Wimbledon is offering tickets for this year’s Championships to residents within a one mile radius of the All England Club as it seeks to soothe relations with its local community.

In an unprecedented move, thousands of households around SW19 will have the chance to be present for the new, permanent middle Sunday of play that is being introduced this year.

One pair per household can be bought, with prices ranging from £145 each for Centre Court to £27 for a grounds pass. The move comes amid strenuous objections from some residents to certain aspects of the scheme that will see the premises expand onto the neighbouring Wimbledon Park golf course.

The All England Club is seeking to soothe relations with its local community with move

The planning application – which currently features a new stadium and 38 new courts – is progressing slower than Wimbledon originally hoped.

It will now not be heard by Merton Council until after May’s local elections, and quite likely not until after the 2022 Championships take place. Barring a huge shake-up in council seats it remains likely to be passed, although there may be modifications.

Sure to be well up in the seedings this year is Cam Norrie, whose title defence at Indian Wells came to an end when he was beaten 6-4 6-3 in the quarter finals by 18 year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

The teenager, widely being tipped as the next great player of the men’s game, now faces compatriot Rafael Nadal.

Emma Raducanu will lead Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup team next month as it faces the daunting task of tackling the Czech Republic in Prague in an attempt to qualify for the main finals week.

Somewhat incredibly, it will be the US Open champion’s first ever official senior match on clay. With Heather Watson absent and Katie Boulter having injury issues Raducanu will be supported by Harriet Dart, Katie Swan and fast-improving newcomer Sonny Kartal.