Question about buying tickets for tournaments.

[Suh]

OK.
I tried to find the best place for posting this, but since I didn´t find one I thought I could do it here...so...

How do you know wich ticket to buy when you still don´t know the draw??

I was looking for Wimbledon´s ticket and of course I want to see Marat playing, but since the tournament is only in June, I don´t know for wich day my ticket should be. And I want to buy it now, cause I want to be sure that I´ll watch his match. How do you guys buy it?

[Giselle]

well I don't know the answer but this is what I do. Since I usually have a tight budget and short time I try to pick 2 days where all the players will be. For example second round, because most top players have a bye on the first they have to play a second round, the games are good and if they are not playing then they are practicing...I did it like that this year and it turn out fine, I saw all the players I wanted and had a good time without having to be there the whole week although I would love to have the budget and the time to go to all of them.

[Suh]

Thanks for the tip!

But I have another question?! How do I know wich players will play in wich day if they still don´´t have the draw?! Wimbledon is just in the end of june, and I want to buy the tickets this week or as soon as I can.

[davis]

To buy Wimbledon tickets you have to enter a lottery. You can state a date you are interested in but you can't be sure you'll actually get what you ask for. So there's no way for you to make sure you'll get to see Marat when/if he plays. Go to the official Wimbledon website, they give you details (the obvious choice to start research anyway.... ). It makes more sense to try and get tickets for the Grand Slam events if you like tennis in general and are not focused on just one player.

You can always try and get ground tickets when the tournament already started (which means getting up early and waiting in line) so you might at least get to see him during training.

For all other tournaments, the first rule for buying tickets is: Go to the tournament websites, they provide the best information.

And NO, you can never be sure you'll actually get to see Marat play, unless you buy tickets for every day of the event (and especially the first two rounds....) And even then, he could be injured or sick... So again, you better like tennis in general, you'll avoid disappointment that way.

[Suh]

thanks davis! Now, I guess I can stop looking for and just buy it! lol..

[Suh]

another question...
how much does the ticket worth? for a day or for just one match?

[maryb]

Hi Suh - advice from a Wimbledon expert of many years (my butt still has the imprint of the pavement when queueing) ;D

I'd go to Wimbles on Monday and Tuesday of the first week if you can. Marat's matches will obviously alternate on days and you can come back when he's due to play. Marat's matches could well end up on court 2 again this year - and I'd think he'll end up on day 2 (Tuesday). The order of play will appear on the Wimbledon website in advance anyway.

If you want a seat for court 2, you'll need to queue from about 5.30am - and even then, no guarantee you'll get a seat. There's only about 150 tickets for the show courts (centre, no 1 and 2) sold on the day - the majority go in the ballot (which closes about December). Get off the train at Southfields - NOT Wimbledon, if you're coming from the centre of London. I suggest you get to the Church Road queue about 7.30am-8.00am and then buy a 'ground pass' (entitles you to access to all courts outwith the show courts - 15 of them). Think it'lll be about £17 this year for a ground pass. Once you're in, that's you - unless you queue for the 'charity tickets'. They are sold up close to the practice courts - and it's another queue. A lot of the 'hospitality tickets' end up here. They're too interested in the free booze, more so than the tennis ... but it's often the best seats in the house!

When you get in to the grounds (about 11.30am), run round to court 2 and get in the queue for court 2 - if Marat's on it. You can get to the standing room for no extra charge. If you can fight to the front row, well done. If not, I hope you're tall. I managed to get to the front for both of Marat's matches last year. If he's on first, you'll need to get there quick, if he's second or third - get there while the previous match has started ... and then wait. You should eventually get yourself in to a good viewpoint. If he's on another outside court, say 13 or 17, you'll need to get round to the stands quickly. They fill up pretty fast and then you're back in a queue again.

Get ready to stand around like you've never done before! But you'll enjoy the experience.

I'll be there again this year ... and queueing ...

[maryb]

Oh, meant to say. Marat will go out and practice round at the practice courts. You can go round there and see all the players before their matches. ;D It's up at the back of the site away from all the courts.

When you're in the queue to get in to the grounds, you'll get a queue ticket - and a booklet that explains most of what you'll want to know about Wimbles. And there's a map of the grounds in it.

Check out the Wimbledon website - they probably have a map on it as well. ;D

[Suh]

thanks a lot mary!! It helped me so much... you have no idea!!