So amazing especially for us here in the UK to have Queens hosting the WTA 500, at first I was sad for Eastbourne but it actually means more coverage on the bbc and it's an amazing venue and feel. Shame it has to be week one after Roland Garros as I feel it's going to be popular especially with Laura at the helm!
QUEENS will be popular for players just awkward week!
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Spice
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I enjoy the views across London, and the clubhouse on the west side of Centre Court makes Queens a charismatic, instantly recognisable venue - it looks great on TV! But I like being able to get out into a spacious green area to de-gas a bit between matches at Wimbledon and Eastbourne. It just makes the day a bit less tiring.
It's cool that all the venues have their own special character.
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I went today and it's even more claustrophobic and hemmed in than I remember. Had good centre court seats but all the red brick buildings make me think of Victorian hospitals 
I live in London but I just can't get on board with screwing over Eastbourne to have yet another event here. Eastbourne is sooo much nicer as a venue.
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This is indeed not good for the sport.
It's a business decision. LTA caved in to money power: Queens and it's city of london sponsors wanted to use women in order to occupy two consecutive weeks of the tennis calendar (without being a truly combined Masters 1000 event).
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The BBC are not covering Eastbourne this year since they are covering Queens instead
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I haven't been to Queens, but have gone to Eastbourne and it is a lovely venue! But it hasn't been very popular on TF, but I think mainly with posters who haven't actually been there and just see the big gusts of wind and seagulls.I went today and it's even more claustrophobic and hemmed in than I remember. Had good centre court seats but all the red brick buildings make me think of Victorian hospitals
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They used to have a 56 draw in the men's, maybe even a 64 further in the past.
There are 10 courts other than centre, but only 1 and 5 have any sort of seating, I think. Probably no others could be televised, either.
Running the two events together might be possible in terms of gettng matches played, but would give them no chance to sell extra tickets - the ATP event already sells out, and as noted, other than Centre Court, it's a cramped site, they really can't increase the number of spectators on site.
I'm afraid the women would be overwhelmingly shunted onto outer courts.
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I read up some time ago because the BBC was covering Queens and because Eastbourne was downgraded they wasn’t covering it instead they wanted to cover more of the qualifying at Roehampton
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I hope they've changed their mind - from what's written on the LTA site, it looks like they have the broadcast rights.
I think it'd be weird to have mainstream tv coverage for much of the qualies at Roehampton, with low-ranked players. Even from a British perspective, any players with a good chance of winning a few rounds will have MDWCs.
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They normally only cover one court but if I believe from what I’ve red they would like to cover another 2 courts Also I think in a couple of years time the qualifying will be at Wimbledon that what the commentators have said
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I like the seagulls! You just always have to pray they don't leave a deposit on you 😂 It is a lovely venue and hugely popular with a very loyal crowd. There are always loads of kids there too despite it's reputation as being God's waiting room.[
I haven't been to Queens, but have gone to Eastbourne and it is a lovely venue! But it hasn't been very popular on TF, but I think mainly with posters who haven't actually been there and just see the big gusts of wind and seagulls.
I don't see any way they could hold a combined event. There's nowhere near enough space for the players or spectators. I popped on to court 5 yesterday and it's insanely cramped and a lot of the seats have the view blocked by the umpires chair and pillars supporting the stand. No leg room at all and the seats are uncomfortably packed together.
Only 3 courts for the main draw but for the 1st round of qualifying they used a couple more.
Venue not big enough for a combined 1000 event which needs minimun court requirements:
ATP Tour Masters 1000
96-draw (Combined)
9 match courts
8 practice courts (on-site)
Queen's has 11 grass courts in total.
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They can theoretically use more, and I think they occasionally do when rain delays get a bit extra, but they won't plan to use the courts with no seating for main draw matches.
To run two events at once would give them extra expenses, but no extra revenue, and I think it'd be very poor for spectators.
To run two events at once would give them extra expenses, but no extra revenue, and I think it'd be very poor for spectators.
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Yes, but what are ticket prices like?
For today/tomorrow there are tickets on the AMA at £95. For Saturday £125. Final is sold out.
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That would be totally bizarre to think viewers would prefer to watch qualifying rounds for Wimbledon in front of hardly any spectators instead of a WTA Tournament. I find that hard to believe BBC have taken such a decision.
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1,479 Posts
They will broadcast Eastbourne and Nottingham, probably more on iPlayer as opposed to terrestrial.
BBC and LTA extend contract to broadcast the LTA’s Grass Court Season until 2027
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BBC and LTA extend contract to broadcast the LTA’s Grass Court Season until 2027
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The qualifying was behind the red button
love Devonshire Park my first visit 2002 and we had a bomb scare on the streets for 2 hours bit before I was literally standing next to the court where Lindsay and Jennifer were pracitising for the doubles final!!!
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