Latest news with #AndreAgassi
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Game, set and cash: How much will it cost you to go to Wimbledon?
If you watched that iconic French Open final recently between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – or at least some of its five hours and 29 minutes – you may be in the mood for more tennis. Thankfully, then, Wimbledon is calling. Its famed lawns are set to welcome the stars of the sport on the 30th of this month. More than 30 years after seeing (on television) Andre Agassi win his only Wimbledon singles title and becoming hooked on the sport, this year I will finally – hopefully – make it to the hallowed grounds of SW19. I won't be the only one trekking across the Irish Sea; Wimbledon organisers say Ireland is one of the leading international markets seeking tickets for the tennis fortnight this year. READ MORE But while it is claimed that the price for a portion of the famed strawberries and cream at the event has remained the same since 2010, at just £2.50 (€3), the cost of watching the tennis continues to climb. So if you, like me, are keen to attend but wish to do so without breaking the bank, here are some options to while it might be too late to get there this time, there's always next year! The ballot This is the route that many take to get tickets. To be in with a chance for the draw, you must sign up around September, with offers sent out in October. Only one application for a maximum of two tickets per account, per email address and per household is accepted. And you must use one of the tickets yourself. Prices at this stage of the process range from just £30 for a grounds pass and £75 for a 'cheap seat' on Centre Court on day one of the tournament to £315 for a Centre Court seat on either the men's or ladies' final day. Buying a debenture seat, for either Centre Court or Court No 1, gives you a premium seat for life, provided you're prepared to stump up the cash While these prices have increased in recent years – back in 2021, for example, tickets for finals day were £240 – they remain significantly cheaper than many other options, as you will see below. If you have a UK address, you could also consider applying for the Lawn Tennis Association ballot – it will cost about £25 to become a member. Resale This is where I struck gold this year (or at least a kind colleague did!). Once you have entered the ballot, you are sent an email when the resale opens – typically about 100 days before the tournament. For example, on a recent day in May, there were two tickets available (rows U-Z) for Centre Court on Tuesday, day nine, for £220 each. Beware, however, that tickets sell out at lightning speed on the site, and it is difficult to be the one who gets them. So be prepared to spend a lot of time refreshing the resale page if you are keen to get tickets via this process. The queue For many, the famed queue is as much a part of the 14-day tournament as Henman Hill/Murray Mound or the plaque commemorating the longest ever Wimbledon match (John Isner against Nicolas Mahut back in 2010) on Court No 18. This opens each day, and gives you the chance of getting a show court or a grounds pass ticket. Some people pitch tent overnight to give themselves the best chance – and is part of the experience for many. If you get lucky in the queue, you will pay regular retail prices for your tickets. Resale on the day Once you're in the gate, remember you have the possibility of upgrading your ticket. This year, there will be an on-site resale kiosk adjacent to Court No 1. If you have a grounds pass, you can apply for a Centre Court or Court No 1 ticket via the Wimbledon app. You will be sent a message and, if successful, can then head to the kiosk to buy your ticket. These are based on returns from show courts on the day, and come at a very attractive additional cost of £15 for Centre Court and £10 for Court No 1. Debentures For those for whom cost is not an issue, why not try to buy a debenture seat? Buying one, for either Centre Court or Court No 1, gives you a premium seat for life, provided you're prepared to stump up the cash. These are the only types of Wimbledon tickets that can be legally transferred or sold on the open market. While the 'big four' of Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic) might have mostly moved on, they are being replaced by the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz, which keeps interest keen With a debenture, you get access to the hallowed grounds through your own exclusive entrance and each debenture offers a 'premium seat' on Centre Court (rows A-N) or Court No 1 (rows A-Q) for five years. It also allows you to access certain restaurants and bars. There are 2,520 such seats on Centre Court, and 1,250 on Court No 1. While you get the same seat for the championship, you will be allocated a different seat each year. With a Centre Court ticket, you can access your seat on all 14 days of the tournament while, on Court No 1, as play finishes earlier, you will get 11 days, 'plus the right to buy face-value tickets for the last three days'. Tim Webb is head of institutional trading with UK stockbroker Dowgate, which runs weekly auctions for debenture seats. He says there are a number of Irish debenture seat holders. When we chat, he has 'literally hung up the phone to a new Irish buyer' of debenture seats for Court No 1. So what's the price the Irish buyer paid for five years of pleasure in SW19? Well, last month, Wimbledon opened its 2027-2031 debenture series for Court No 1 at £73,000 (€86,166) per debenture – up almost 60 per cent on the price of the last issue. In the most recent sale of Centre Court tickets (2026-30), debentures were sold at £116,000 (or £1,657 for each day of tennis). As with stocks, there is a secondary market for debentures, which are financial instruments though they are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The aforementioned 2026-2030 Centre Court issuance for example, were selling for £156,000 as of April this year, according to Dowgate – even though one additional payment, the third and final instalment of £43,500, is to be paid on February 27th, 2026. And when buying, you have to buy two, so you can double that cost. For Court No 1, Dowgate sold a 2022-2026 debenture for £35,000 back in February. This seat has two years to run. Webb says traditional owners of such seats were British families, who passed them down. These days they are being joined by a younger cohort of international buyers. 'It's a good investment. The value of the ticket has gone up quite drastically,' says Webb, 'Tickets are significantly more expensive than they used to be.' But is there a better time of year to buy, when prices might be more muted? 'There isn't a good time, to be honest,' says Webb. 'There are four grand slams a year, and debentures are often bought for Christmas or birthday presents!' While some tennis lovers will buy a debenture for the love of the game, others may see it as a canny opportunity to make some money- or at least help defray the cost of their own tickets. In addition to trading your debenture, you also have the opportunity to sell your seat for each day of the tournament through a platform such as Wimbledon Debenture Holders. Canny resale of the tickets can mean a 'free Wimbledon', says Webb, as you can go yourself for a few days, and sell on the tickets for the others. If, for example, you've paid £80,000 for a five-year debenture, then the annual cost of the ticket is £16,000. By selling access to your ticket on certain key days, you might make this back – and more. Last year, for example, you could buy a debenture ticket for the men's finals on resale site Viagogo for a staggering £23,602. This year, Wimbledon Debenture Holders was recently offering two tickets for Centre Court for men's semi-final day for £15,800. Tickets sell out at lightning speed on the site, and it is difficult to be the one who gets them. So be prepared to spend a lot of time refreshing the resale page To some extent, prices are driven by the popularity of the game. So while the 'big four' (Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic) might have moved on – or will be doing so soon in the case of Djokovic, they are being replaced by the likes of Sinner and Alcaraz, which keeps interest keen. 'There is also a resurgence in American players, both men and women,' says Webb. Package option It is these debenture tickets that many will avail of if booking a package to Wimbledon. This year, Keith Prowse Travel is offering a package – including return flight from Ireland, three or four-star hotel for one night, and debenture seats for one day on either Court No 1 or Centre Court – from €3,019 for Centre Court, for day two, rising to €3,959 for the ladies' final and almost €11,000 for the men's final. You can save a bit by going to Court No 1, where prices start at €2,456 on day one and two. It's a steep price, but going this way means you can guarantee seats together with your travelling companion. You can also book debenture seats only through a resale broker such as Green and Purple.
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Martin Blackman recognised at 2025 Tennis Black List Awards
Blackman was a junior star during his playing days and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Andre Agassi and Jim Courier in a career that saw him become a two-time NCAA champion at Stanford University and Blackman served as General Manager of Player Development at the USTA from 2015 to 2024, where he led efforts to develop the next generation of American talent and oversaw national training programs. Founder of Athena Sports, Blackman currently consults with federations and start-ups to build world-class pathways and drive innovation in sports development and he was honoured for his contributions to the sport with the Administration award at this year's edition of the Tennis Black List awards, presented in association with Dante Talent and held during the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club, London on the 11th of June, supported by the LTA. Tennis Black List is the global celebration of Black and mixed black excellence across the game — spotlighting the unsung, the visionary and the next generation of changemakers. Taking place in the run up to The Championships at Wimbledon, the Tennis Black List recognises the contributions of individuals and organisations from grassroots level up to the professional game in Britain and internationally. It follows the example set by the successful and respected Football Black List, created by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds, and Rugby Black List which have demonstrated the power that celebrating black excellence can achieve in sport. The event was an opportunity to inspire the next generation in the tennis community, with the commitment shown by the winners on and off the court. Awards were handed out in ten categories across the evening at the ceremony, with several recipients present at the The Queen's Club. Founders Anne-Marie Batson and Richard Sackey Addo said: 'This movement is about legacy. Tennis Black List is creating space for Black and mixed-black heritage excellence to be seen, honoured and remembered across all areas of tennis. We are building a global legacy that makes space for what is next.' Launched in 2022; Tennis Black List is the only global platform dedicated to celebrating and documenting Black and mixed-black impact in tennis — from grassroots organisers to elite players. A movement rooted in recognition, legacy, and cultural celebration.
Rhyl Journal
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Martin Blackman recognised at 2025 Tennis Black List Awards
Blackman was a junior star during his playing days and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Andre Agassi and Jim Courier in a career that saw him become a two-time NCAA champion at Stanford University and Blackman served as General Manager of Player Development at the USTA from 2015 to 2024, where he led efforts to develop the next generation of American talent and oversaw national training programs. Founder of Athena Sports, Blackman currently consults with federations and start-ups to build world-class pathways and drive innovation in sports development and he was honoured for his contributions to the sport with the Administration award at this year's edition of the Tennis Black List awards, presented in association with Dante Talent and held during the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club, London on the 11th of June, supported by the LTA. Tennis Black List is the global celebration of Black and mixed black excellence across the game — spotlighting the unsung, the visionary and the next generation of changemakers. Taking place in the run up to The Championships at Wimbledon, the Tennis Black List recognises the contributions of individuals and organisations from grassroots level up to the professional game in Britain and internationally. It follows the example set by the successful and respected Football Black List, created by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds, and Rugby Black List which have demonstrated the power that celebrating black excellence can achieve in sport. The event was an opportunity to inspire the next generation in the tennis community, with the commitment shown by the winners on and off the court. Awards were handed out in ten categories across the evening at the ceremony, with several recipients present at the The Queen's Club. Founders Anne-Marie Batson and Richard Sackey Addo said: 'This movement is about legacy. Tennis Black List is creating space for Black and mixed-black heritage excellence to be seen, honoured and remembered across all areas of tennis. We are building a global legacy that makes space for what is next.' Launched in 2022; Tennis Black List is the only global platform dedicated to celebrating and documenting Black and mixed-black impact in tennis — from grassroots organisers to elite players. A movement rooted in recognition, legacy, and cultural celebration.
Fast Company
09-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Tennis star Andre Agassi leads $20 million investment in Ballers, a multisport members' club
Ballers, a social multisport venue and members' club, just received a $20 million Series A investment led by tennis star Andre Agassi ahead of its Philadelphia flagship opening in July. With the location, Ballers aims to combine competition with culture. It will include courts where members can play pickleball, squash, and padel. There will also be a golf practice area with real sand traps and a large turf field where members can play soccer. 'These are all social sports,' cofounder David Gutstadt tells Fast Company. 'They're cool, relevant, elevated, but most importantly social.' Courting crosscourt players Pickleball, specifically, is America's fastest growing sport; participation has increased by 311% in the last three years, according to data from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). But almost half of racket sports players are 'crosscourt consumers,' meaning they enjoy playing more than one of these sports, according to research by RacquetX. And racket sports as a whole are in a growth phase, with five out of seven increasing their year-over-year participation totals, according to SFIA. By creating a dedicated space for these sports, Gutstadt says he hopes to 'bring country club sports to the city.' 'As consumers seek richer social interactions, competition has evolved from pastime to platform,' Lloyd Danzig, a managing partner at Sharp Alpha, a firm that co-led the investment, wrote to Fast Company. More locations on the horizon Founders Gutstadt and Amanda Potter say that Ballers is the first of its kind: a multisport venue with a focus on hospitality and creating a culture. Outside of just offering sports practice and competition areas, the Ballers space also includes a full bar, a restaurant, and social activations like DJs or art installation pop-ups. The Ballers space has been constructed from the shell of an old power plant, giving the club a unique but 'grand and majestic' look, Potter says. Throughout the rest of 2025 and 2026, expect to see Ballers locations pop up in Boston, Downtown Los Angeles, and Miami. Ballers has amassed a group of celebrity and athlete investors that represent the venue's array of sports offerings. These investors include tennis stars Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and Sloane Stephens; pickleballer Connor Garnett; and soccer player/padel aficionado Maarten Paes. As lifelong tennis lovers, Gutstadt and Potter told Fast Company that working with Agassi was a 'dream come true.' Agassi was the 'obvious first pick' to represent Ballers, says Potter, because he represents a shift in racket sports' fashion and culture. 'Andre Agassi came into a sport that was pretty buttoned up and proper—you know, white collar shirts and Wimbledon mentality,' Potter says. 'He came in with a bit of an attitude and shook things up. And that's what we want for Ballers.'
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Alcaraz stuns Sinner in all-time great French Open final
By Neil Fulton , AFP Italy's Jannik Sinner, left, is comforted by former champion Andre Agassi after losing the final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz at the the French Open in Paris on June 8, 2025. Photo: AFP / Thibaud Moritz Jannik Sinner said he would try to "delete" the memory of his five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final on Sunday (French time), after the world number one passed up three championship points as the Spaniard roared back to claim victory. Sinner had looked set to pocket his first French Open title with Alcaraz serving at 0-40 when 3-5 down in the fourth set, but the reigning champion pulled off a battling hold before forcing a decider via a tie-break. "Obviously this one hurts. Yeah, there's not so much to talk about right now," Sinner told reporters after his 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/2) defeat in the longest final in Roland Garros history. "It was a very, very high-level match, was long. Yeah, and it happens. You know, we saw it in the past with other players, and today it happened to me. "So we try to delete it somehow and take the positive and keep going. There are no other ways." It was the 23-year-old's first defeat in a championship match at a major. Photo: AFP / Thibaud Moritz Sinner boasts three Grand Slam titles and entered Sunday's final looking to win his third successive major after claiming the US Open last season and defending his Australian Open crown in January. Sinner's maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne came as he battled back from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev. In Paris, he found himself on the other side of the net as he was the one to fail to convert a 2-0 lead. "I tried to delete everything, every set. In Grand Slams you try to start from zero again," explained Sinner of his mindset ahead of the deciding set. "You know, I was of course disappointed about the fourth set and match points and serving for the match. But again, I stayed there mentally. I didn't give him any free points. "When it was over, it was over. That's different feeling, different things coming through your mind. So, yeah, you cannot change anymore when the match is over. But when you start a fifth set, you can still change some things." Carlos Alcaraz with the winner's trophy. Photo: AFP / Julien de Rosa Sinner will have to reset quickly and turn his attentions to the next Grand Slam on the calender - Wimbledon, which gets underway at the end of June. The Italian said he would be leaning on his down-to-earth family to help him get over the loss. "My family, the people who knows me, you know, now they are helping me, no? It's a giving at times, and sometimes you take something, no? And now it's my time to take something from the close people I have," he explained. "We are just a very simple family, you know. My dad was not here because he was working today. Nothing of our success changes in the family. "It hurts this yes, but in other way you cannot keep crying, you know... So it happens." The match-up was the long-awaited first meeting of the two new stars of the men's game in a Grand Slam final. And it more than lived up to the hype as 22-year-old Alcaraz and Sinner served up one of the all-time great matches in tennis history. "It's good to see that we can produce also tennis like this, because I think it's good for the whole movement of tennis and the crowd," Sinner said. "It was a good atmosphere today, no? And also to be part of it, it's very special. Of course, I'm happy to be part of this. Would be even more happy if I would have here the big trophy. But, yeah, as I said, you can't change it now." -AFP
