Wimbledon is widely recognised as the greatest tennis tournament there is, and Novak Djokovic is one starring name who subscribes to such a theory.
The mystique of the grass combined with the storied legacy of the club itself helps forge narratives that other Grand Slams could only dream of.
However, there are a few pitfalls which prevent Wimbledon from being as good as it could possibly be.
Fortunately, those changes could now be in the offing, and Djokovic has provided his thoughts on them.
Novak Djokovic speaks out on proposed Wimbledon changes
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the latest Grand Slam, attention was naturally on why Novak Djokovic was so intent on playing Wimbledon despite his injury concerns.
However, that did divert briefly, with the Serbian having then been asked for his thoughts on some proposed changes to the competition.
He answered in length and detail: ‘Last year and this year I have had a couple of conversations with people from the All England Tennis Club and the organisation of Wimbledon because I was curious to understand how that’s progressing.
‘I think it’s a very good project. It’s a project of expansion of arguably the most important tennis tournament in the world in the history of the sport.
‘We know Roehampton holds qualifications for many years, so I would be really glad, if you would move quailies here and connect the two plots with the new land, which would I think increase the experience and create an experience that is better for fans and players.
‘In the practice week, we are usually at Aorangi and fans normally don’t have access to see our sessions, so that would change.
‘The most important one is that it used to be a private golf club and a big part of the land would be turned into a public park, so people from the community and from this area will have access to the park.
‘Those are all thumbs up, great signs for me, and of course, as a tennis player, I would love to see that happen. I think the decision is coming a week after Wimbledon so we will just have to wait and see.’
What changes are Wimbledon trying to make?
Given Tim Henman has also lobbied for this change for Wimbledon, it does seem like momentum is gathering for its success.
However, whether it is ratified remains to be seen, as there are so many moving parts in such a huge project.
What is being proposed is that all qualifying matches would finally be played at the same venue, courtesy of a £200m expansion package to take the club’s size from 42 acres to 115.
In taking this land, some of which is tied to a former golf course, they would then build 39 new grass courts, including an 8,000-capacity show court.
The opposition comes from local campaigners, who have branded it an ‘industrial tennis complex’.
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