Tennis legend Roger Federer to visit Greenwich courts

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Tennis legend Roger Federer will be visiting a South London borough this summer after a major renovation to the area’s tennis courts will force residents to pay to use courts that were previously free.

Greenwich council documents said the eight-time Wimbledon champion will visit Bostall Gardens tennis courts in Abbey Wood – the first of six sites to benefit from a £300,000 refurbishment from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

The new scheme will charge players £3 each to use a court per hour under a new booking system.

Five sites across the borough, which are currently free to use, will charge the fee, while courts in Chesterfield Walk will stay at their current price of £6 for adults and £4 for children.

Updates to the courts in Greenwich will include resurfacing, painting, line marking and repairs to fences and controlled entry gates.

The courts being renovated from the investment include Altash Gardens, Kidbrooke Green Park, Maryon Park, Plumstead Common and Chesterfield Walk – with 17 tennis courts benefitting overall.

Picture: Roger Federer reacts after his final competitive match on day one of the Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in September last year (Picture: PA)