Inside the lavish mansions that tennis stars call home during Wimbledon
It’s Wimbledon time, and tennis stars are prepping for the grass courts. But have you ever wondered where they stay during the tournament? Most of them shun hotels, opting for local houses to get that homely vibe
Imagine if your doorbell rang and it was Novak Djokovic at the door. Or visualise having Jannik Sinner or Serena Williams on your couch.
While this may sound highly improbable, it does become reality for those who own a home around Wimbledon, the tennis season’s only Grand Slam played on grass.
As Wimbledon’s grass courts beckon players from around the world, there’s often been chatter about what these athletes do while they aren’t on the courts. And the answer is that most often, tennis players will be winding down and relaxing at their accommodation, which is often swanky houses tucked away in the sleepy village of Wimbledon.
More from ExplainersHomes fit for tennis royalty
Many of the athletes choose to live in bungalows rather than in hotels during Wimbledon. As Rafael Nadal, who last played on the grass at SW19 in 2022, told CNN, “It’s a different way to stay at a tournament. You’re in a house, you feel a little bit different. Sometimes it’s great to change a hotel for a house.
“That gives you a little bit extra calm, you feel more relaxed, and you feel a little bit like you’re at home, so I enjoy that feeling.”
Twenty-four-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is also a fan of living in a private house during Wimbledon. In 2022, he chose a residence that was even big enough to install a trampoline.
Carlos Alcaraz, who is missing this year’s tournament as a result of a wrist injury, also chose a bungalow in Wimbledon. In 2025, he, along with his seven-member entourage, moved into a two-storey residence located just a five-minute walk away from the Wimbledon grounds.
The house had it all: eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, two en-suites, a dining room, a kitchen and a big garden. “I like being in a house because I often don’t feel like I'm at a tournament,” said the seven-time Grand Slam winner. “We’re a family.”
While still playing, Andy Murray chose to live in a £5 million mansion in nearby Surrey. His house came complete with a swimming pool and tennis court, marking his post-match warm-down as an extravagant one.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka also chooses to live in a swanky six-bedroom mansion near the All England Club. As the Belarusian noted in a Times article, “It feels like you are at home and have a little recharging moment. The whole year we are on the road and you get tired of the different hotels. When you are in the house it feels like a very cosy, comfy place to chill.”
Last year, Jessica Pegula, who is also the wealthiest player on the WTA circuit thanks to her billionaire parents Terry and Kim, also ditched the digs provided by Wimbledon and chose a hotel of her choice.
A huge business for homeowners
While tennis players wax eloquence of the benefits of living in bungalows tucked away in Wimbledon village, the proposition is also highly beneficial for those owning homes in the area.
Joanna Doniger has been finding houses for top players at Wimbledon for over 30 years, and with 175 homes on her books, she is one of the leading authorities on what the stars want when it comes to Wimbledon.
In a 2024 Business Insider report, she noted that homes could be rented out for £15,000 (Rs 18.65 lakh) a week for two weeks. Speaking on her experience, she said, “Tennis players are very superstitious, and if they have done well in the tournament, they will want to rent the same house as they did the previous year, as they think it’s lucky. But if they haven't done very well, they don't want to see those four walls again.”
Jane Weldon, who has been renting her house for years in Wimbledon, also talks of tennis stars approaching her. “There was one year when Rafa Nadal was thinking about renting it and I thought that would be really exciting, being able to say that Rafa Nadal has been in my bed,” she told CNN.
According to William Flateau, renting one’s home during the tennis tournament has become an option for many owing to the high mortgages. “It was a good way of helping out with the mortgage. As the years have gone on, I think we just have to enjoy it. It is very interesting having lots of different people,” he too was quoted as telling CNN.
Laura Watts, an associate in Knight Frank’s Wimbledon lettings team, told CBS that it’s highly beneficial for those who rent out their homes. “The money that they make on that rental will pay for a new kitchen, school fees, a holiday, or whatever. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Some other homeowners also enjoy perks such as free tickets to watch the matches. Camilla Hornsby, who rents her home, told The Telegraph that one time a woman player considered her to be a lucky charm. “So I was invited to her matches because she always seemed to win when I was there. They gave me a pass that meant you could go anywhere in Wimbledon except the players’ dressing rooms.”
And what does it feel like to live near tennis stars…
For many, the opportunity to host tennis players is an interesting experience. As Sarah Jane Holden, who’s been hosting players, told the Telegraph: “The surprise is how monastic they are. They have breakfast, they go and practise, they come back, rest, and have a massage. Then they practise again, or play, then go out for dinner. It’s never a drunken party vibe. Not in our house.”
But there have been some memorable ones. Ali Love, who has lived in Wimbledon for years, recounted to The Telegraph about one particular player. “He went out and got so drunk, came back late and lost our front door key. He also destroyed a mattress.”
Another tennis player, according to Love, ate huge tubs of ice cream when she lost.
In Doniger’s long career, she says she has only ever blacklisted one player — and it was because he failed to pay his rent.
For the homeowners in Wimbledon Village, the coming fortnight will be a financial windfall rather than a hindrance.
With inputs from agencies
Roshneesh is on the Explainers team and loves her job. Apart from the everyday 'explaining', she enjoys tennis and is a Rafa fan for life. She is also a Potterhead.
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