PHOTOS: Rublev, Eubanks, Hurkacz & more warm up for Wimbledon at The Boodles
Set at historic Stoke Park, the annual pre-Wimbledon event offers players calm before the storm—and fans a taste of tennis luxury.
While players scramble for last-minute grass-court action at ATP and WTA events across Europe, the best Wimbledon warm-up might just be happening a stone’s throw from London—at The Boodles Tennis Challenge.
Set in the idyllic surroundings of Stoke Park, one of the oldest country clubs in the UK, the annual men’s exhibition offers fans a chance to watch top-ranked players compete in an intimate and exclusive setting. Founded in 2002 by veteran sports agent Patricio Apey in partnership with luxury jeweler Boodles, the event was designed to help players fine-tune their grass games in the final days before Wimbledon.
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Now a beloved staple of the British summer season, The Boodles has drawn legends like Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray. English socialites, celebrities, and minor royals regularly grace the stands.
“We describe this event as an English garden party, with some world-class tennis thrown in,” said Michael Wainwright, managing director of Boodles, in 2023.
“The emphasis is on having a beautiful day in the English countryside—drinking champagne, eating British scones with clotted cream and strawberries, and admiring our beautiful jewelry.”
Fan favorite Andrey Rublev, world No. 14, headlines the 2025 player field. He’s joined by top-ranked Australian Alex de Minaur, Christopher Eubanks, Hubert Hurkacz, David Goffin, Alexei Popyrin, and more.
“Playing at The Boodles is good because everybody is preparing for Wimbledon and all the courts are super busy [at the All England Club],” Rublev said.
“But here, you have an empty, amazing gym, a practice court to train on, plus you’re playing matches—it’s really great preparation before Wimbledon.”
“The Boodles is an event that I've seen for a number of years now,” Eubanks added. “A lot of the players in preparation for Wimbledon come here and get some practice. So to get the call, to have the opportunity, I couldn't say no. So it was really fun, good atmosphere, and glad I was able to make it…
“Since getting here in London and practising, I feel my game is as good as it's been all year. So I'm excited to get going on the grass, and I'm excited for the next six months.”
This year’s lineup also features Hannah Klugman taking on Zeynep Sonmez in a women’s match. Britain’s Klugman, who recently reached the Roland Garros junior girls final, was awarded a Wimbleodn main draw wild card.
“The venue is so pretty, the court is amazing and the atmosphere was really lovely,” she said.“It's my first time playing an exhibition, so it is something different. It's different but it's also nice, it's kind of like a match scenario.”
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Running for five days, The Boodles guarantees each player at least three matches on grass, plus opportunities to take part in interviews, meet-and-greets, and fan engagement events—offering spectators a one-of-a-kind tennis experience.
Main-draw action at Wimbledon begins Monday, June 30.