By Chris Burns
During the summer months, SW19 is awash with tennis stars as they flock to London for Wimbledon . The prestigious tournament attracts a host of big names each year, necessitating a wide range of accommodation options. As we enter the second week of the All England Club event, several high-profile players , including British star Cameron Norrie, have advanced to the quarter-finals . From Carlos Alcaraz and the enigmatic Novak Djokovic to Jannik Sinner, and Emma Raducanu’s conqueror Aryna Sabalenka, the district continues to be a hub of tennis talent. But where do the athletes reside during their Wimbledon stint? The answer varies, but includes private luxury residences to some of London’s top hotels. The Park Plaza hotel in Westminster has often served as a base for competitors in the past. Property agent Joanna Doniger previously revealed to Business Insider that she rents out homes for up to £15,000 per week during Wimbledon, catering to players, journalists, and fans alike, reports the Express . However, the more prominent the player, the more choice they have regarding where they stay. With opulent properties in Marbella, Monte Carlo, Miami, New York, and Belgrade, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic often elects for a more upscale dwelling when in London. The Serbian tennis legend made such use of his space that in 2022, he had a trampoline set up in the garden of his residence, reflecting the grandeur of his accommodation. Rafael Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion, has also shown a preference for the homely atmosphere over hotel stays. “You’re in a house, you feel a little bit different. Sometimes it’s great to change a hotel for a house,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner shared with CNN in 2015. “That gives you a little bit extra calm, you feel more relaxed and you feel a little bit like you’re at home so I enjoy that feeling.” Andy Murray, another two-time Wimbledon winner, resided in a lavish £5million Surrey mansion, which afforded him a short journey to the Championships. His home, equipped with both a swimming pool and tennis court, provided a fine setting for his post-match cooldowns. Britain’s Katie Boulter experienced disappointment at this year’s Wimbledon, bowing out in the second round. In the past, the 28-year-old has expressed her preference for “really nice, spacious” lodgings near SW19 to “fully relax and make myself at home.” In 2021, amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the expansive Park Plaza hotel designated its 63 suites for top-seeded singles players, while those lower-ranked were allocated standard rooms. In what was a blow to those who liked their own space, government directives insisted that all competitors must stay in official accommodation near Westminster, rather than private houses closer to SW19. However, exceptions were in place for those with children. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula is also a fan of seeking out her own accommodation. The US star is the daughter of Terry Pegula, an oil and gas businessman who is worth £5.5billion ($7.6bn) according to Forbes, and prefers to rent a property that gives her a degree of privacy. “When you’re 20 and you’re just starting to travel, you’re not complaining that much: you’re more out there grinding and embracing life on tour. Once you hit 30 and kind of need a better pillow, that stuff honestly becomes really important,” Pegula once told Tennis.com . “Oh my gosh, being away from everyone else is a massive thing for me… I just felt like, ‘I can’t do [player hotels] anymore! When you’re staying at a tournament hotel, I feel like it’s so mentally draining. “It’s not like anyone is a problem. But if you were going to work with someone, you wouldn’t necessarily want to eat breakfast with them.” However, her stay in a swanky pad this year will have been short-lived as she crashed out in a shock first-round shock to Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Pegula was one of a record-breaking eight top-10 seeds who fell at the first hurdle.