Emma Raducanu has been invited to become a member at the All England Club, joining Andy Murray, Roger Federer and dozens of other Wimbledon champions on this illustrious list.
Everyone who wins a Wimbledon singles title receives an automatic invitation, but AELTC rules state that the same privilege can also be extended to other “eminent” players. The total number of members may not exceed 500.
Sources have yet to confirm whether Raducanu has accepted the invitation, although it seems certain that she will do so. In practical terms, members can use the club’s courts to practice on, away from the crowds which gather at less exclusive venues.
Any elite player is entitled to use the AELTC’s grass courts in the build-up to the Championships, but Raducanu should gain a wider benefit from hard-court facilities such as the AELTC’s centre at nearby Raynes Park, where Murray often prepares for overseas tournaments.
Raducanu – who turns 19 on Saturday week – will be the youngest member of the AELTC. Her inclusion on the list follows the precedent established by Virginia Wade, who was invited to join the club after winning the US Open in 1968 at the age of 23.
Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie progressed to the third round of the Paris Rolex Masters with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 victory over tennis’s tallest man Reilly Opelka. Another win against Taylor Fritz on Thursday would send Norrie through to the quarter-finals and a potential meeting with world No 1 Novak Djokovic.
A defeat on Wednesday for Jannik Sinner – who couldn’t cope with the aggressive athleticism of Spanish 18 year-old Alcaraz – offers Norrie a chance to move up one position in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals.
But Norrie needs to overtake two players if he is to compete in Turin in 10 days’ time. Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz, both of whom have also reached the third round in Paris, are the other men in his sights.