Tim Henman is on the board at the All England Club, and knows Wimbledon better than most.
The former four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist continues to play an important role in the development of his favourite tournament.
But what changes would Henman like to see made to Wimbledon?
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During an interview with Andy Roddick, Henman shared his hopes for the future.
Tim Henman wants faster balls and a new 8,000-seater stadium at Wimbledon
When appearing as a guest on ‘Q&Andy‘, Henman was asked what the main changes he would like to see at Wimbledon over the next five to ten years are.
“I’d love to see Wimbledon be a little bit quicker,” he said.
“I actually think it’s ball-wise [not surface].
“There’s been so much research done on the quality of the grass… I don’t think I’d be that inclined to try and fiddle with the court, but I think you could make the ball a little bit quicker.
“We know that the balls vary from Penn to Wilson, to Dunlop, to Head, to Babolat, and at Wimbledon, it’s the Slazenger ball. I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but if I could make it 5/10% faster, I think it would give people the opportunity of being perhaps a little more aggressive and coming to the net.”
Henman also commented on Wimbledon’s expansion plans.
“Wimbledon, as part of its DNA, has a history and tradition of innovation,” he said.
“The big project is across the road, and the All England Club bought the golf course.
“About 30 years ago, it was on a 50-year lease. We paid 65 million to buy the membership out of the golf club, so now, that land is potentially going to be part of it, developed for the club and the tournament.
“But then a big chunk, I think it’s about 27 acres, given to the community as a park, 365 days a year.
“So, 5-10 years, hopefully that will have started. We’re the only Grand Slam that doesn’t play qualifying on site, so we’d love to have qualifying there with much better facilities, but then, when qualifying is finished, you’ve got a whole load more practice courts for the main draw players.”
Henman wants to see a new stadium built to replace Court 2.
“We’d love to have an 8,000-seater stadium with a sliding roof,” he said.
“Centre Court and Court One are fantastic, but our third show court is a big drop off, between 15,000, 12,000, and then 4,000.
“So, if we could have 8,000 across the road, that’s the vision.
“5-10 years, the big emphasis will be on moving into that land, fingers crossed, if we get the permissions we need.”
Getting that permission is easier said than done, as several activist groups have pushed back against the expansion.
Wimbledon did, however, receive some good news earlier this year, as the High Court ruled the development was not restricted by land-use rules.
There is still a way to go, but it might not be too long before we see the new-look Wimbledon.
What will Tim Henman be doing at Wimbledon this year?
Henman will continue his work behind the scenes with the All England Club, but is also set to entertain British tennis fans as a part of the BBC’s coverage of the Wimbledon Championships.
He will be joined by former tennis pros John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Pat Cash, Jamie Murray, Eugenie Bouchard, Laura Robson, Annabel Croft, and Kyle Edmund.
This year’s Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday, June 29, with the draw set to be released on Friday, June 26.
