Stefanos Tsitsipas among star names set for return of Boodles tennis event

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Stefanos Tsitsipas

The Boodles tennis event is returning to the stunning Stoke Park estate next month and Stefanos Tsitsipas has confirmed he will be among the big names competing on the lush grass courts.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year and often described as one of the highlights of the summer social season, ‘The Boodles’ has made a habit of attracting some of the biggest names in tennis, offering guests the unique chance of an opportunity to get up close and personal with the players while enjoying world-class hospitality.

Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal are some of the superstars who have graced the manicured lawns at Stoke Park and some big names are already signed up for the 21st-anniversary event next month.

Hosted within Stoke Park’s stunning 300-acre estate, The Boodles, which will take place a week before the start of Wimbledon, has an intimate purpose-built stadium of only 2,000 seats.

With no seat further than ten metres from the grass court, The Boodles allows you to be breathtakingly close to the action and it has been confirmed that world No 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and world No.11 Felix Auger-Aliassime will be among the players taking part.

Ranking points may not be available at this event, but it is a crucial stepping stone for players as they look to find their feet on grass ahead of the third major championship of the year.

“The grass and clay seasons should be longer,” says Tsitsipas.

“I know that for clay there are still events in August, but I am in favor of natural surfaces being more valued in the calendar. I really like the tactical analysis of clay-court tennis.

“I think it is deeper than people think. There is a lot of strategy involved. You are not expecting to hit crazy winners on a surface like clay.

“You are dealing with much patience when you are playing. It’s more around unforced and forced errors.

“The way you can open the court. The main priority is not to hit a winner but to be precise and open the court.”

Tsitsipas has struggled to make progress at Wimbledon in recent years, but he insists he likes playing on the surface after he won his first title on the grass in Mallorca last year.

“People kind of doubted that I can play on grass,” he adds.

“I never doubted myself. I said that I can play on this surface, and it remains one of my favourite surfaces that tennis has to offer.

“I guess I proved myself in Mallorca that it’s not a surface that I don’t like. I like playing on grass, probably more than on clay.”

It has also been confirmed that world No.11 Felix Auger Aliassime will be playing at The Boodles, with more big names set to be confirmed ahead of the opening afternoon of action on June 27.

Tennis365 will be counting down to the return of The Boodles with a series of features looking at the players taking part and looking back on the history of one of the most glorious weeks in the grass court season.

Event organisers ACE Group, alongside Stoke Park’s new owners, are looking to further enhance the Boodles experience, and tickets are available to watch the action live.

READ MORE: John McEnroe says ‘villain’ Novak Djokovic is misunderstood

Stefanos Tsitsipas

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