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Former British Number One Tim Henman has waded into the row over plans to expand Wimbledon by using his BBC commentary of the Championships to back the development.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has sought planning permission to treble the size of the 42-acre site to include a new 8,000-seat stadium and 38 new grass courts on 73 acres of the former golf course that it has bought across the road.
Local residents have lodged a judicial review challenge to the decision by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to approve the planning application, which will be heard in the High Court this week.
On Friday, while commenting on British player Cameron Norrie's victory over Mattia Bellucci, Mr Henman - a four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist who sits on the club's board - said when the camera shot to an aerial view of the site: 'Those drone shots as we've seen through the tournament give a great view of the land around and hopefully what might be developed in the future'.
In response, a spokesman for the Save Wimbledon Park group (SWP) said: 'Yes, it is a glorious view and SWP are campaigning to keep it that way, without the 8000 seat stadium, the 38 extra tennis courts and the miles of concrete walkways and maintenance hubs that AELTC wish to impose on this grassland.
'We also want to keep those glorious trees whose existence is threatened by AELTC's plans to turn Wimbledon Park into an industrial tennis complex.'
Last week, the Mail on Sunday revealed that seven-times champion Novak Djokovic had criticised residents who objected to the expansion project.
He said Wimbledon is a 'special place', but delivering on the expansion will make it 'truly outstanding'.
Tim Henman (pictured) used his BBC commentary to back the controversial Wimbledon expansion on Friday
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has sought planning permission to treble the size of the 42-acre site. Pictured: An aerial view of Wimbledon on July 8, 2019
The proposed expansion will include a new 8,000-seat stadium and 38 new grass courts on 73 acres of the former golf course that it has bought across the road
Sally Bolton, chief executive of the AELTC, said the club 'remain confident' that the development will be allowed.
She added that the judicial review was of the GLA's decision, rather than the club's, which she described as a 'very interested party'.
Backers of the proposals say that they would 'deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012' and were 'crucial to ensuring Wimbledon remains at the pinnacle of tennis... and a global attraction for both London and the UK.'
Emma Raducanu was narrowly beaten by Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka, says the balls favour the ‘bigger hitters’ as they fluff up so quickly and become heavy and slow
Raducanu’s volley over ‘fluffy’ balls
The cry of ‘new balls please’ is familiar at Wimbledon – but this time it’s from the players, who say the current ones get too fluffy too quickly.
Emma Raducanu was narrowly beaten by Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka, says the balls favour the ‘bigger hitters’ as they fluff up so quickly and become heavy and slow.
Seven-times champion Novak Djokovic has noticed a big difference to 15 years ago and believes the balls benefit the baseline hitters and ‘slow the game down to some extent’.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam to use Slazenger balls and world No 3 Alexander Zverev hints at changes to the rubber used. But the All England Club, Slazenger’s partner since 1902, says there have been no major changes to the ball since 1995.
