Calamity Jane just blew into New Wimbledon Theatre, bringing a gust of Western whimsy rootin’-tootin’ hilarity to South West London. 

All fringed jackets, firearms and foolery, this touring production is a hearty homage to the Old West, which brings a dash of (potentially) feminist subtext to a bar full of western folk who certainly needed it.

The ever-engrossing Grammy nominated Carrie Hope Fletcher leads the charge as the irrepressible Calamity Jane, delivering a performance that is both feisty and sincerely endearing. 

Her believable charm anchors a show that otherwise leans heavily on style over substance. 

She’s ed by a tight-knit, talent-rich ensemble of actor-musicians, whose live instrumental work – particularly the rustic twang of their banjos – adds texture and authenticity to the frontier-town atmosphere.

Based on the real-life Martha Jane Canary, a hard-drinking, gun-slinging frontierswoman who defied 19th century norms of femininity, this Calamity Jane reimagines the legend of a woman who lived far outside the constraints of her time. 

Fletcher’s performance hints at this subversion, though the script never fully explores the complexities of Calamity’s historical legacy.

Fans of the 1953 film starring Doris Day will be pleased: this revival leans into nostalgia, and several moments invite audience singalongs, including a rousing chorus of “The Deadwood Stage” that filled the theatre with joy.

The musical numbers are where the show does best, particularly Molly-Grace Cutler’s delightfully sultry turn as stage star Adelaid Adams, whose rendition of “’Tis Harry I’m Planning to Marry” is a highlight.

But strip away the toe-tapping tunes and Western costuming, and the narrative begins to languish. 

Character arcs feel undercooked, with relationships that develop abruptly or lack emotional payoff. 

By the time the final scene wraps with a neat double (potentially triple?) wedding, I couldn’t help but feel the show has missed a trick – particularly in the case of Calamity and Katie Brown (Seren Sandham-Davies), whose connection and shared domesticity suggest a far more compelling pairing than their designated male partners.

Katie’s mistaken-identity plot – she’s actually Adelaid Adams’ maid  – sets the stage for some classic musical theatre farce. 

But when she and Calamity decide to live together and sing about “a woman’s touch,” the subtext practically screams. 

A subsequent number, “Secret Love,” sung by Calamity, only deepens the sense that the show flirts with queer themes but it isn’t willing to fully embrace them.

In the end, the men win out, despite their often juvenile or incel-adjacent attitudes, condemning the women’s clothing choices and undermining their supposedly “female thinking”.

Calamity herself isn’t much better when it comes to gender stereotypes, singing “mule-headed men who act like they’re ten” – though in fairness, is she wrong?

Calamity Jane is a fun-filled gallop through the Wild West, with catchy tunes and charismatic performances. 

But as a two-act musical, it occasionally feels stretched, and you can’t help but wish it had the courage to explore the radical potential of its legendary leading lady.

Picture credit: Mark Senior

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After years of inaction, an ill-fated Pimlico property that pushed residents into financial disparity and damaged two businesses is finally being fixed.

Following basement excavation works in 2011, Westminster Council instructed the erection of barriers outside 74 Lupus Street to ‘ensure the safety and resilience of the building and highway’.

Unable to complete the planned works in the basement the freeholder made themselves scarce, limiting progress for the past 14 years.

Amanda McLeod, 54, founder of the McLeod Centre for Learning said: “We’ve been held hostage by this for 14 years. The financial repercussions have been enormous, it’s made such a huge change to my life.

“We’ve started the work to make the building safe, and are looking forward to working with the council to finally restore the building.”

Council cooperation and the bravery of the occupants have breathed some new life into this deadlock and the residents pulled together to acquire the basement late last year after their properties were rendered almost unsellable.

Scaffolding outside the property has prevented a centre ing students with learning disabilities on the ground floor to , forcing significant sacrifices including five redundancies back in 2018.

In a letter posted on social media in February, councillor Robert Eagleton explained the huge financial impacts of the stalemate.

Festooned in protective hoarding, the impact this ime has had on businesses is hard to quantify.

Jonathan Berry, owner of the learning centre, said “The parents who come here drive past and think what the hell is going on here, but inside the teaching is really good.

“We’ve lost loads of business because of the hoarding.”

Directly next to the property sits Pimlico Hardware, a staple of the high street long before the basement excavations of 2011.

Such is the extent of the barriers outside 74 Lupus Street that the shop is entirely unsighted from those approaching from Pimlico tube station, cutting out nearly all ing trade.

Kish Vara, 60, who owns Pimlico Hardware, said: “I haven’t been able to properly for 14 years.

“They say things are moving, but they’ve been saying that for 14 years.”

Wheelchair access around the property is extremely limited and avoided by the public.

Councillor Eagleton has hopes for the future.

He said: “The situation is infuriating and I feel really sad for the residents. No one should have to suffer what they have been through.

“Recently, I met with residents to discuss ways to finally end this saga and I am pursuing the matter with the council.”

It seems the cogs are finally turning and 74 Lupus Street can be restored for the benefit of its residents, businesses and the wider community.

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It’s hard to find a more prestigious sporting event than Wimbledon.

People who have never even played tennis recognise the name and immediately associate it with talent and drive.

There is no doubt that these impressions are accurate, with the most well-respected and well-known athletes in the industry all vying for a spot at the tournament.

With so many incredible players taking part in the event, which professionals should you root for?

In this article, we’ll explore what 2025 holds for Wimbledon tennis and some of the top players to watch.

Jannik Sinner 3r1259

Jannik Sinner is the very definition of the phrase don’t judge a book by its cover.

The tennis dynamo might be young at just 23, but he has already made a major impact on the sport.

Not only was he the Australian Open 2024 champion, but he was also ranked first in the world for much of 2024.

Sinner did not lift the trophy at Wimbledon in 2024, but he did make it to the quarter-finals before ‘dizzy spells’ spelt the end of his run.

If you’re looking for a likely candidate not only to make it to Wimbledon in 2025 but also to thrive at the tournament, then Sinner is the perfect choice for you.

Novak Djokovic 69282

Novak Djokovic is ranked second in the world, with Sinner inching him out of first.

He has an impressive 24 Grand Slam victories at the time of writing and claimed the Olympic gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This makes him not only the oldest gold medallist in men’s singles, but also the only player to ever earn a clean sweep of Big Titles: Career Golden Slam and Career Super Slam.

Djokovic is expected to make it to the All England Club in July as one of the top players.

Djokovic is one of the best players in the sport and is poised to continue his record-breaking career in 2025.

Elena Rybakina 1sn46

While her form has wavered slightly in past years, Elena Rybakina needs no introduction.

She has played in the last three Wimbledon tournaments and won the event in 2022, becoming the first Kazakhstani singles player to win a major as well as the youngest winner of the women’s title since Petra Kvitová in 2011.

In 2024, Rybakina had another incredible showing at Wimbledon.

She beat the former top player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki, in less than an hour, and reached the semi-finals before losing to Barbora Krejčíková.

Rybakina is a top pick for Wimbledon enthusiasts all over the world, and for good reason.

She’s a talented player with the determination to continue pushing forward in the industry.

Aryna Sabalenka 2c1b35

Aryna Sabalenka is one of the most well-known tennis players in the world. Her illustrious career includes three major singles titles (2024 US Open and 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens) as well as two major doubles titles (2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open).

In total, at the time of writing, Sabalenka has won a total of 24 career titles, with 18 of those in singles and six in doubles.

In 2024, Sabalenka was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after a shoulder injury, but she is a favourite to make it to the 2025 tournament.

Keep an eye on her return to the sport.

Where to watch? 3g4g2c

It’s one thing to read about the top players and quite another to watch them in action.

You can catch live tennis matches on Sky Sports as well as via a live casino UK.

You might have other options available to you, depending on your sports subscriptions and favoured devices.

Note that if you’re watching from outside of the UK, then your options might vary slightly. Refer to your region’s sports channels for more information.

Are you ready for Wimbledon 2025? 22v24

Are you ready for the 2025 Wimbledon experience?

We can’t wait to see what the season has in store for the top players.

Even beyond the players listed above, many fantastic athletes will no doubt put on a great showing.

If you don’t see your favourite top player here, in other words, don’t worry.

This doesn’t mean that they don’t have a shot or aren’t worth watching.

Stay tuned to your favourite tennis news outlets for more information in the coming months.

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A 48-year-old was rearrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving at a Wimbledon school a year and a half ago following a reopened investigation.

Two eight-year-old girls, Selena and Nuria, died when a Land Rover ran into the playground of the Study Prep School in July 2023, but the driver was released without charge when it was determined she had suffered an epileptic seizure.

However, concerns raised by the families of the two children led to the Metropolitan Police’s Special Crimes Review Group (SCRG) carrying out a review which revealed new lines of enquiry, followed by the female driver being arrested for a second time on Tuesday.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our main priority is to ensure the lines of enquiry identified by the review are progressed. 

“This is a live investigation and in order to maintain its integrity I can’t go into further detail at this stage. 

“I would urge people to avoid speculation.”

The case was initially investigated by the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command but resulted in a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service that the driver should face no further action due to suffering an epileptic seizure which caused her to lose control of the vehicle.

Yet Selena and Nuria’s families expressed concerns over how the investigation was conducted, with the subsequent SCRG review leading to it being moved to the Met’s Specialist Crime Command in October.

Detective Superintendent Basford appealed for any witnesses or other people with information to come forward.

He said: “Were you attending the local golf course or driving in or around the area of the Study Prep School in Wimbledon at the time of the collision? 

“Did you see the vehicle, a distinctive gold Land Rover Defender, in the lead-up to the collision? 

“We believe there were people in the local area who have not been spoken to by police and remain unidentified. 

“I would ask those individuals to please us.”

Anyone with information is urged to the major incident room on 0207 175 0793, call 101 quoting CAD 6528/27Jan, or message @MetCC on X providing the CAD reference.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

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Residents of Putney and Wimbledon have called for Transport for London (TfL) to drastically reform a bus services in “absolute shambles”.

The petition calls for an increased frequency of buses in hopes of reducing wait times, ensuring adequate sizing of buses to combat overcrowding, and clearer and more timely information to avoid enger confusion.

It is focused specifically on services provided by Go Ahead London and TfL on routes 93, 14, 493 and 430.

The petition – posted on the platform change.org on 16 October – already has over 750 signatures.

Ricardo Arnostti Keidel, 43, a Wimbledon resident who started the petition, said: “People rely on these buses for work, school, and appointments.

“When the buses aren’t reliable, it disrupts everyone.

The petition comes following network performance data published by TfL revealing that from 1 April to 21 June this year, 13.7% of buses departed 5-15 minutes late.

Arnostti Keidel said: “TfL and Go-Ahead usually respond with generic replies and don’t seem to be making any real changes.

“The same problems keep happening, so it feels like they’re not really listening.”

The performance data also found that just over two thirds of bus s felt valued as a customer and only 71% felt they were “in control of their journey.”

Arnostti Keidel added: “These issues go beyond delays and route changes – it’s about respecting engers and meeting community needs.”

Andrea Gilbert, a 36-year-old Putney resident impacted by the services said: “We are ing forces with the bus drivers who are getting the brunt of it through unhappy engers.

“The Mayor and TfL need to come up with a plan for buses to be fully functioning and running so they better serve our community because as it stands now it is an absolute shambles.”

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields also created a petition alongside local councillors in June this year calling for better buses in Putney and Roehampton.

It calls for TfL to reform routes 170, 85 and 265 and has received over 1,000 signatures.

The Labour MP had previously written to Commissioner for TfL Andy Lord in December 2023, outlining pre-existing issues with the bus service.

Fleur Anderson told South West Londoner: “I launched this petition in the summer as our buses were already struggling, in large part due to the ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge.”

She added she receives hundreds of emails each month regarding the bus service – residents have shared s of waiting for up to an hour, with overcrowded buses eventually arriving with no space to pick up engers. 

Due to concerns around the safety of engers disembarking at Putney Heath, bus services have now started terminating at Lytton Grove and Tibbett’s Corner, causing considerable distress for residents and particularly impacting the elderly and disabled. 

Anderson said: “I’ve been hugely distressed to hear of residents experiencing these delays, with little to no useful information, the overcrowding and buses terminating unexpectedly.

“I’ve written to TfL and they have agreed to meet with me urgently, along with bus contractors, the relevant utility companies and bus driver representatives, so they can hear exactly what we need improved. 

“We have had a perfect storm of transport issues over the last two months in Putney, with traffic congestion and the District Line going down, and many residents really are at wits’ end.

“The impact this is having on people is really huge.”

Roehampton Councillor Jenny Yates has been working with Anderson and TfL to improve provision. 

Cllr Yates said that the council have partnered up with Roehampton University to enable free public use of the university bus.

She added: “We’ve also started the Roehampton Transport Club minibus to provide door-to-door service for those who find it difficult to use public transport.”

TfL’s Director of Public Transport Service Planning Geoff Hobbs said: “Our buses form a vital part of London’s transport network, providing millions of Londoners affordable, green, and accessible ways to travel around the capital every day.

“Unfortunately, bus services in this area are being affected by several sets of road works, delays on Putney High Street, and the ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge, and we are working to reduce the impact of this wherever possible.

“We continue to regularly review the bus network performance and will keep working closely with Wandsworth, neighbouring authorities, the operators and relevant utility companies to ensure we provide the best possible service for all.”  

TfL was involved in an attack on its cyber security network starting on 1 September this year which has impacted technical issues with displays and the TfL app.

Customer data had been accessed by hackers which included thousands of names, addresses, bank details and other information.

The public transport network told the BBC the cost of the cyber-attack had been “several million pounds”.

Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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A south London-based charity is holding a sleepover event at AFC Wimbledon’s stadium to raise poverty awareness.

The Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) is hosting its fourth Big Sleep Out at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on 9 November, where sponsored participants will be sleeping overnight.

The event not only aims to combat the crisis of homelessness and poverty, but will also give people the experience of discomfort that some struggle with daily. 

Ana Perov, furniture and marketing volunteer, said: “By spending just one night uncomfortably, you really can make a huge difference.”

The fundraising goal for this year is to match last year’s amount of more than £40,000, which would go towards maintenance of DLAG’s work.

To help achieve this, the Big Sleep Out is encouraging groups to sign up, as well as individuals, to foster community involvement and increase participation.

Perov explained that this will create a unique experience because it is unusual to be able to sleep in a stadium with friends, colleagues or family and at the same time be contributing to a good cause.

To ensure participant safety, first aiders and volunteers will be available to assist with any problems, also tea and coffee will be provided throughout the night to keep warmth.

Managers from AFC Wimbledon took part last year and while there could be big names this year too, it is unlikely that players will attend.

Regardless, Dons players have always ed the cause as Josh Kelly and Alistair Smith demonstrated by collecting food donations in Morrison’s.

DLAG will be working in coalition with Faith in Action and Tooting Community Kitchen in the Big Sleep Out to raise money for those charities too.

The charity was formed as a response to Covid-19 with AFC Wimbledon fans to those struggling, but the demand has never stopped.

Ana said that in August this year the charity received its highest number of new referrals for food.

She added: “There are lots of people who are working, they’re working very hard.

“But unfortunately, the cost of living is so high that sometimes even if you work full time and you are doing everything you can, you can’t even cover the basics.” 

DLAG relies on donations and fundraisers, like the Big Sleep Out, to be able to cover the costs of the services they provide. 

Ana said: “We wish that we didn’t exist, in the sense that you don’t want people to need food banks or need help getting laptops for their kids, because they can afford it.” 

Since 2020, it has provided around six million meals, 3,700 laptops and thousands of furniture items and appliances.

To sign up and make a difference in your community, follow this link.

Featured image credit: Ana Perov

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The House of Burlesque took over New Wimbledon Theatre for one night only, with an immersive evening filled with thrilling dances, risqué outfits, and nipple tassels galore.

Burlesque, which involves comedic and daring scenes, is a live performance art that can both entertain and empower audiences worldwide.

Since creating House of Burlesque, Tempest Rose has confronted society’s outdated perceptions of sensuality, sexuality, and gender while championing self-expression and body positivity.

Tempest said: “We need some escapism in this day and age, and burlesque is a fantasy world full of glamour where you can be unapologetically yourself.”

I stepped into Tempest’s fantasy world without a clue what to expect after seeing TimeOut claim House of Burlesque would blow my mind.

Saturday night was the second time House of Burlesque has welcomed guests to Wimbledon, following the success of the first ball in 2022 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, which was the first event of its kind to grace London’s West End.

The Masquerade Ball was one of many on-stage sessions held at New Wimbledon Theatre throughout September.

In between multiple electric burlesque performances at different locations throughout the theatre, guests were able to mingle, drink and dance to the music of resident DJ Darren Hart.

Tempest’s artistic vision to deconstruct the traditional stage through immersive performances came to life in the second half of the night, where the audience ed burlesque stars on stage to enjoy a one-of-a-kind cabaret-style show.

Tempest said: “We’ve inverted the traditional theatre narrative, a lot of tonight’s immersive elements centre around that.”

Before heading inside I spotted audience member Max, who sparkled on the red carpet in his head-to-toe sequin outfit.

Though he itted none of his friends were interested in attending the masquerade ball, Max said he didn’t let that stop him from celebrating female empowerment through burlesque.

He said: “I’m looking forward to enjoying the artform, and the burlesque outfits too.

“I was brought up really conservative, and I think coming to this show is a way to rebel against that”

The evening proudly challenged traditional standards of femininity by spotlighting sexual liberation, which was epitomised by dozens of phenomenal outfits.

Hannah Arteaga, a costume designer who makes many of the House of Burlesque costumes herself, expressed how much she enjoys collaborating with Tempest Rose during the creative process.

Arteaga said: “When I hand a costume over to Tempest to try on and I see her face light up, it’s all the happiness I ever need.

“When I say blood, sweat and tears went into making a costume, I mean it. I’m very emotionally connected to everything I’ve made.”

Immersive performer Calum Robshaw hailed Tempest Rose a creative genius, while he sported a Marie Antionette style glittering corset and pannier, complete with a foot-tall white wig.

I couldn’t agree with Robshaw more when it comes to Tempest’s creativity and originality.

While it wasn’t the masquerade ball I expected (due to the lack of waltzing), it certainly was the mind-blowing experience I was promised.

After an evening of boisterous fun, I left feeling like I was part of a far wider movement which defied outdated attitudes towards women’s bodies and promiscuity.

Audience Leah and Pip shared these feelings of self-acceptance and liberation.

Leah, a longtime House of Burlesque fan, said: “House of Burlesque made me feel better about myself.

“No matter what shape you are, what size you are, all that matters is that you feel sexy.”

Pip was invited to Leah having never been to a burlesque show before.

Though she itted she didn’t have any idea what to expect from the evening, Pip later concluded she would love to try burlesque and felt inspired to embrace her sensuality.

A House of Burlesque spokesperson said: “Tempest’s House of Burlesque Academy runs courses and workshops for total beginners all the way through to professional development masterclasses and private tuition.

“Alongside these she also hosts a weekly drop in burlesque style dance class that captures the spirit of the House of Burlesque ethos at the world famous Pineapple Dance studios in Covent Garden.

“People come to learn for confidence, to connect with their own sensuality, learn to take up space, and also to train for a career in Burlesque.

“Watching women blossom into the best version of themselves is the best part of teaching for her.

“In 2024 Tempest launched her Burlesque Essentials Online Burlesque Course for those who wanted to learn at home or were unable to travel to London.”

For more information about House of Burlesque’s classes, visit: https://www.houseofburlesque.co.uk/shows-home

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The Wimbledon Sustainable Fashion Week returns for its third year, championing sustainability, community and women’s empowerment.

The Fashion Week is running until 22^nd September, with events, including catwalks, workshops, showrooms and a fashion design competition, all being held at the Wimbledon Quarter this weekend.

The event aims to empower the community to choose well and wear their values, emphasising that sustainability can mean upcycling old clothing, restyling vintage clothing or wearing sustainable materials.

The fashion show, which launched on 18^th September, began with a sold-out clothes swap and offers free events with activities for the whole family.

Sophia Lorimer, the creative director, explained: “It is really to make sure that everybody has a chance to see sustainability in such a light that it doesn’t have to be boring, it doesn’t have to be dull.

“It can really be exciting and fun, and also really encapsulate the whole community in a gorgeous way”

The weekend will feature 30 showrooms of sustainable local businesses and catwalks showcasing six different female designers, all handpicked by Lorimer, who also is the founder of Fine-Tuned wardrobe, a sustainable styling business.

Lorimer added: “Most of the women that are in the showrooms or showcase on the catwalk are women that have started this from their kitchen tables with baby in tow.”

The whole event is produced by Go Inspire International, a women-centred company founded by Marina Sardanopoli, also a founder and the CEO of the fashion week.

Sardanopoli explained that the whole fashion week is about celebrating women and building a sisterhood within the realm of sustainable fashion.

She said: “It’s good to see women coming together, leading by example, creating something positive.

“For us it’s all about positivity in a world of negativity.”

The 40 models for the show are all applicants from the community, the majority with no prior experience, who get trained and are supplied with hair and makeup.

One of the models from this year is a grandma who visited the show last year and loved it so much that she was inspired to apply for this year’s catwalks.

Aisha Ngabile, a founder and the media and style director, explained that the models will ride down the escalators in the newly refurbished Wimbledon Quarter, before strutting down the catwalk and weaving through the crowd.

The event, which is sponsored by Wimbledon Quarter, LoveWimbledon, Elys, Wimbledon Club and Wagamama, will have a Wagamama food truck and Graveney Gin stand providing food and drink for the visitors.

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Wimbledon’s Louis Laville has played his way up to the professional ranks in pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and greatly enjoyed facing some of the world’s best players at the Skechers English Open.

The 28-year-old operations manager at the Roehampton Club competed in three events at the Telford International Centre reaching the quarter-finals each time in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Playing pickleball has allowed Laville to travel the world, with him touring places such as India, Spain, Belgium, the United States and Sweden with paddle in hand.

But it’s not too often that he gets the chance to face professionals from America, which was the case in Telford, where they not surprisingly dominated the ‘open’ competitions.

Laville, whose younger brother, Guy, also plays, said: “It’s doubled in size from last year, the atmosphere and camaraderie of the players makes it an awesome tournament and I’m having a great time.

“I don’t get to face players from around the world as much as I’d like, which is why this event is great.

“We’ve got players over from the US, players from India, Australia, New Zealand, and that’s what it’s all about.

“We face a lot of Europeans when we play tournaments, but playing guys from the rest of the world is awesome.

“There’s a different level of play, a different style of play, which makes this tournament really exciting.”

The 2024 English Open was the largest pickleball event to take place outside of North America, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries set to participate.

Over 30,000 people around the United Kingdom now play the sport and there are over 700 places in which to play, with pickleball displaying an exponential growth in recent years.

Pickleball England, meanwhile, have reported a 41 per cent increase in member registrations since the end of 2023.

Laville said: “I have loved the growth of pickleball and what I’m liking in Europe at the moment is everyone is obviously competitive on court, but it’s still sociable.

“People are here chilling with each other and chatting – the last thing I’d one is for everyone to be sitting around in a corner with their headphones in. I’m here for the full sociability of the sport.

“The sport now is a lot bigger, faster, stronger and it’s a pro sport now. It’s gone from a hobby that everyone does to a pro sport, which is awesome.

“I think the sport sells itself. People see it and then they want to have a go as it looks quite easy, and then they realise it’s not necessarily easy but they get into it and that snowball effect then comes into play.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org

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European singles champion Louis Laville expects Olympic fever to take hold of Telford for this week’s Skechers English Pickleball OPEN.

Wimbledon’s Laville, 28, flies the flag for Great Britain as a host of international stars battle it out at Telford International Centre with a record number of players set to compete.

The column inches have been dominated by events in Paris recently, but Laville doesn’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing for pickleball.

“The aim for pickleball is obviously to go the Olympics, I think it’ll be an absolutely perfect Olympic sport.” he said.

“In of taking away from this week, I almost think it might do the opposite.

“To be honest, everyone’s going to be really buzzed. I picked up two French players last night, and they just couldn’t stop talking about watching the Olympics and we’re all just going to probably sit there in the evenings, watching some of the big races.

“The camaraderie amongst players is phenomenal so I think the Olympics will maybe fuel that and some ion on court as well.”

Taking place from the 8th – 14th August, the English OPEN will be the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries set to participate.

One of the big draws of pickleball is its’s sociability, with many budding players citing the camaraderie on offer as the decisive factor in leaving tennis or squash behind.

Laville competes at the top level and is sponsored by Franklin, who he will represent in Thursday’s Battle of the Paddles event, but agrees that pickleball offers a unique and warm environment.

“It sounds ridiculous – I want to win on court – but the main reason I play pickleball is because of the sociability of it,” said Laville.

“I’ve met some of my best mates through pickleball. I get to travel all round the world meeting loads of new pickable players. I’m picking up a few New Zealand players shortly, and I’ve only met one of them once or twice but I’m more than happy to pick them up and take them to Telford and have a chat in the car for a few hours.

“We’ll be fiercely competitive on court against each other, but the second we come off, we’re back to being mates and maybe we’ll go for a beer in the evening and have a nice, chilled time.”

Photo credit: Sean Ames / Beat Media Group

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org

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