The Boodles Challenge - Stoke Park Club, Berkshire UK
17th - 21st June 2008
pic credit http://www.balancephysio.com
The Boodles Challenge is a private professional tennis tournament on the lawns of Stoke Park Club, a grand event on pristine grass courts the week before The Championships Wimbledon, the worlds most famous tennis event.
Every seat is within 10 metres of the tournament court and visitors have great access to the practice courts which every year since it began in 2002 have been graced by the world's tennis elite.
Past players include Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Mark Philippoussis, Fernando Gonzalez, David Nalbandian, Tim Henman, Jamie Murray, Tommy Haas, The Brian Brothers (Mike and Bob), Nikolai Davydenko, James Blake, Marat Safin, Ivan Ljubicic, Nicolas Kiefer, Feliciano Lopez, Evgeny Korolev, Robin Soderling, Fernando Verdasco, Nicolas Massu, Nicolas Lapentti, Max Myrni, Gaston Gaudio, Greg Rusedski, Gael Mofils and Carlos Moya.
And then there was Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Goran Ivanisevic.
I can vouch for the grandeur and intimacy of this event as I worked there as the tournament physiotherapist in its inaugral year.
More details will follow on how you can make the most of your travel to the Wimbledon Grand Slam by including this tournament the week before, or alternatively you actually want to see, close up and personal, some top class mens players but dont have centre or number 1 court tickets for SW19.