Wimbledon the jewel in tennis’ crown. Whilst football has the World Cup and motorsport has the Monaco Grand Prix, there are few sporting events that match the excitement and prestige of the world’s oldest tennis tournament. It’s been home to some of tennis’ greatest moments with the winners establishing themselves in the history of the sport, in Wimbledon’s illustrious Centre Court.
With Wimbledon fever sweeping the nation, there's no better time to give tennis a try. Why not pop down to Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre and find out what all the fuss is about. With six high-quality indoor courts to choose from there's no better place to play tennis in Edinburgh this summer. From court bookings to adult tennis classes and our thriving minis and junior's tennis programme, Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre is a hub for tennis activity in the heart of Edinburgh.
The Magic of Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is revered by many in the tennis community as the sport’s most prestigious event. The tournament has been held since 1877 and forms one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments alongside the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open. Wimbledon is played on outdoor grass courts and is typically held over a two-week period from late June into early July.
As a country, the United Kingdom becomes obsessed with tennis for two weeks. With traditions of the all-white dress code, Royal patronage, Pimms cocktails, and strawberries and cream, alongside some of the world’s greatest tennis players battling on court for eternal glory; Wimbledon is a staple of British summertime.
In the past the famous British weather has put a dampener on matches with rain causing disruptions and breaks in play, but with the construction of a retractable roof on Centre Court in 2009, matches can now be played both indoors and outdoors. This was used effectively in the 2012 Wimbledon Men’s singles final between Andy Murray and Roger Federer which was the first final to be partially played under the cover of the roof.
Although Andy Murray was unfortunately defeated in the final of 2012, he went on to win his first Championship the following year and again in 2016 to the elation of fans across the nation establishing himself as the British icon of the 21st Century.
Danny’s Player Predictions
Danny Curtis - Oriam Tennis Manager
Ahead of Wimbledon we sat down with Oriam’s Tennis Manager, Danny Curtis, to get some insight on the players to watch throughout the tournament and who he thinks could come home with the championship.
Men’s Players to Watch
Carlos Alcaraz
Having experienced a meteoric rise on the ATP tour, he has already secured 3 Grand Slam titles! One of which was achieved following the epic Wimbledon final last year against Djokovic that rivals the epic clash between Nadal and Federer in 2008.
Fresh off of his French Open win last month, Carlos will be looking for the ‘Channel Slam’ which is to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year! Only 5 men in history have achieved such a feat.
Jannik Sinner
Sinner has been on a big winning streak with an impressive tally of 19 consecutive victories to kick off 2024! Earlier this year, he captured his first Grand Slam title in Australia marking a key moment in his career. Renowned for his aggressive baseline play-style and mental resilience, Sinner is fresh from a big win at the grass court tune up event in Halle and he will arrive at Wimbledon brimming with confidence.
Women’s Players to Watch
Aryna Sabalenka
Currently world number 2, Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka is one to have on your radar.
Aged 26, she has won the Australian Open twice, in both 2023 and 2024. She plays tennis with a dominant and aggressive style, and prefers to play on grass - so Wimbledon will be tailor made for her!
Coco Gauff
At just 20 years old, this rising star has already climbed to the impressive rank of 3rd in the world, making her someone to closely watch in the tennis world. She achieved a milestone by winning her first Grand Slam at the US Open last year, defeating world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling match. Coco has a fast, all court game and the tools to win a grass court title!
British Players to Watch
While Katie Boulter and Jack Draper are already known to the British public, their terrific performances in the recent grass court tune up events at Nottingham and Stuttgart followed by (hopefully) a deep run at Wimbledon would take their status to another level!
Boulter, 27, and Draper, 22, will be the nation's leading singles players when the Grand Slam tournament starts at the All England Club on Monday and both players sit in career-high world rankings going into the pinnacle of the British grass-court season having recently won titles on the surface.
The common threads between Boulter and Draper don't stop there either!
Both players will be seeded at Wimbledon for the first time, a reward for their fine progress over recent months.
The leading 32 players are given a Grand Slam seeding, meaning they cannot face another seed until the third round so Katie and Jack have a real chance to make an impact in the draw!
Katie Boulter – Women's Singles
Place of Birth: Leicester
Katie Boulter is the current British No. 1 and has had a successful year with championship wins at the the Nottingham and San Diego Opens. Boulter's victory in San Diego was the biggest title of her career to date, with impressive wins over five top 50 players.
Jack Draper – Men's Singles
Place of Birth: Sutton
Jack Draper is the new British No. 1 and is one of the brightest prospects in British tennis. Off the back of his first ATP tour title at the Boss Open in Stuttgart and an impressive run at Queen's Club where he overcame World No. 2 and current Wimbledon Champion, Carlos Alcaraz, Draper is set to be one to watch at this year's Wimbledon Championships
Andy Murray – Men’s Singles
Place of Birth: Glasgow
Andy Murray is a former men’s world number 1 and was the Men’s Singles Wimbledon Champion in 2013 and 2016. Murray has won a total of 46 singles titles across his career including, 3 Grand Slams and 2 Olympic Gold Medals, making the Scotsman the most successful British tennis player of the open era. Murray is yet to confirm his participation in this year's tournament following surgery.
Gordon Reid – Men’s Wheechair Singles
Place of Birth: Alexandria
Gordon Reid is a former wheelchair singles and doubles world number 1. He won Wimbledon in the singles competition in 2016, alongside a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games. Reid has also won 4 Wimbledon Wheelchair Double’s Championships alongside fellow Brit, Alfie Hewett (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023).
Maia Lumsden – Women’s Doubles
Place of Birth: Glasgow
Maia Lumsden was raised in Bearsden on the outskirts of Glasgow. She studied at the University of Stirling, training at the national academy under the mentorship of Judy Murray. Lumsden was part of Great Britain’s University Tennis Team who won gold at the Master’U BNP Paribas Tournament in 2018.
Tennis at Oriam
Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre
Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre
With our brand new indoor tennis centre now open and the buzz around Wimbledon in full swing, there's no better time to give tennis a try. Our high quality tennis courts are perfect for players of all levels to play tennis and have fun. Whether you've been inspired by the action on centre court or are already an experienced player, make Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre your destination for tennis this summer.
Pay As You Play Tennis
Enjoy access to our fantastic courts with friends and family through our Pay as You Play Sport. There’s no need to be a member, simply book your space up to 14 days in advance online, on the Oriam App, or at our Reception desk to secure your space. Members also enjoy 20% discount on all PAYP tennis bookings.
Minis and Juniors Tennis Classes
With the launch of our brand new Indoor Tennis Centre, we're delighted to introduce our action-packed kids' tennis classes for children aged 3 and over. Our programme offers a great introduction to tennis, it will develop your child’s skills and even build their potential to be the next Andy Murray or Emma Radacanu. Through our programme, we will support and develop the skills of children at mini, junior and teen level, to help them grow as players, stay active and most importantly have fun.
Adult Tennis Classes
Our adult tennis classes are perfect for developing your tennis skills in a welcoming social environment where you can play and train with other players of a similar level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, we have a class just for you. Our experienced coaches will work with you to develop your game and achieve your tennis goals. With recreational play and competitive matches available at Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre, our Adult Tennis Classes are the perfect place to build your skills and knowledge and have fun on court.