Former tennis player and respected tournament referee at the Wimbledon Championships for more than 20 years There are few more prestigious roles in the world of tennis than Wimbledon referee. Alan Mills, who has died aged 88, held the position with quiet distinction for 23 years, from 1983 to 2005. If this suggests a career sailing on smooth seas, the impression would be false. Being the final arbiter during a fortnight of fierce sporting competition in the full glare of a global spotlight would, rightly, suggest a job of greater turbulence. Throw in personalities bursting with the talent and ..read more

Australian rules out Olympics bid but denies he’s thinking of retiring Kyrgios is working as commentator as he eyes return from injury Nick Kyrgios has quelled talk of his imminent retirement after a newspaper column said he was considering giving up professional tennis. The 28-year-old has been working as commentator during the Australian Open as he continues his recovery from injury ..read more

Councils disagreed on All England Club’s plan to build 8,000-seat stadium on Grade II*-listed park The mayor of London’s office has taken charge of the decision on whether to approve the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s controversial plans to build on a Grade II*-listed park to expand the Wimbledon grand slam championships. “This is a major planning application, of London-wide significance,” a spokesperson for city hall said on Monday. “Therefore, the deputy mayor has issued a direction under article 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order that he becomes the local planning au ..read more

Mills was referee from 1983 to 2005, earning nickname ‘Rain Man’ over role in deciding whether weather should halt play The long-time Wimbledon tournament referee Alan Mills has died aged 88, the ATP Tour has announced. Mills served as the All England Club’s referee from 1983 to 2005, earning the nickname “Rain Man” as it was his call whether or not to suspend play during inclement weather ..read more

London mayor’s office to decide on All England Lawn Tennis Club’s proposal to build on park in face of local opposition An epic planning battle between the All England Lawn Tennis Club and its neighbours will reignite on Monday when the mayor of London’s office rules on whether to allow Wimbledon to expand on to a Grade II*-listed park. The AELTC, which has been running the championships since 1877, has applied for permission to build an 8,000-seat stadium and a further 38 tennis courts on Wimbledon Park, which was landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century and is specially protected a ..read more

Controversial star won’t play 2024 Open due to injury Kyrgios makes announcement via new OnlyFans platform Nick Kyrgios has officially ruled himself out from playing the 2024 Australian Open, but the controversial tennis star will be there in a different form – as a commentator. The 28-year-old crowdpleaser and 2022 Wimbledon finalist was missing from the tournament’s entry list on Wednesday night, but Australian Open boss Craig Tiley hinted the Canberra-born wild child would be at the event in “some form ..read more

London mayor’s office will decide whether All England Club’s expansion plans can go ahead in face of local opposition “To use a tennis analogy, we’re at one set all but we’ve got a long way to go,” says Christopher Coombe, a member of Save Wimbledon Park, as he reflects on the latest plot twist in the fight between local residents and the world’s biggest tennis tournament. “This is a five-set match with no tie-break.” Coombe is speaking the morning after Wandsworth council unanimously rejected the All England Club’s plans to build 39 grass courts, including an 8,000-seat stadium, on the Grade ..read more

Planning committee votes unanimously against All England Club’s proposals to triple size on to listed park A London council has rejected plans to build a new 8,000-seat stadium and 38 further tennis courts on a Grade II*-listed park in Wimbledon. Wandsworth council’s planning committee on Tuesday night voted unanimously to reject the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s plans to almost triple the size of the tennis championship grounds from 17 hectares (42 acres) to 46 hectares ..read more

In today’s newsletter: The home of tennis wants to get bigger so it can compete with other grand slam championships in New York and Paris • Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First Edition Good morning. Israel has extended its ground offensive in Gaza, and ordered the evacuation of a key hospital in Gaza City where 14,000 people are said to be sheltering. You can catch up with the latest developments on our liveblog here. Today we’re taking you to Wimbledon, where the bosses of the tennis championships have been fighting a decades-long battle to take control of the Capability Brown-designe ..read more

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