Wimbledon set for its biggest ever break with tradition

Wimbledon looks set for its biggest ever break with tradition with serious consideration being given to artificial grass.

Synthetic surfaces are being discussed for the first time at the All England Club.

The fierce culture at SW19 has rarely shifted – but the news that plastic could be installed, the championships believe, makes commercial sense.

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Wimbledon want four matches per day on it’s top showcourts, something they have been unable to commit to before because of the strain put on the grass.

Artificial areas, such as the always troublesome baseline, would allow for more tennis – with an earlier start and later finish then possible.

There is an appetite for evening matches thanks to the roof on Centre, and the newly-installed cover on Court One adding light – allowing games to go on until 11pm.

Speaking to the The Mail on Sunday, former British number one Tim Henman feels it could be a matter of time.

“In an ideal world, you’d like to have four matches on Centre Court and Court number one,” he said.

“What people never focus on is the fact it’s a natural surface. It’s grass. You’ve got to have that court for 13 days and if you kill it in the first five days, then you’re in trouble.

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“Wimbledon are investing a lot of money looking at the hybrid thing. When you see the football and rugby pitches now, they’re three per cent artificial. We’re certainly looking at.

“What does five per cent look like on a tennis court? What does 10 per cent look like on a tennis court?”

Henman added: “We’re getting close to the stage where we put down a hybrid grass court in one of the practice courts.

“We know what 100 per cent artificial is and it’s not great but we’re looking at three, five, 10 . How will it be under foot? What will the movement be like?

“There’s nothing better than a good grass court but there’s nothing worse than a bad grass court. People have an image of artificial surfaces that you dive around and get burns, but it works in rugby.

“If you go back a few generations, it was huge in America, Australia, India and a lot of it has died out because of the maintenance, the cost, the quality of court. If that area can evolve then it may be relevant for Wimbledon.”