Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic: London’s Most Enjoyable Day of Tennis?

The intimate Centre Court at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, hidden away inside London's Hurlingham Club.

A first-hand look at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at London's exclusive Hurlingham Club — including what's included with a ticket, what the atmosphere is like and whether it's worth attending.

Wimbledon and Queen's are the tennis tournaments most associated with summer in London.

For a few weeks each year, Britain seems to reach peak tennis fever. Millions watch from home, some wondering why they didn't think about buying a ticket earlier, while others tried their luck in ballots or ticket sales and missed out altogether.

But hidden away behind the walls of one of London's most exclusive private members' clubs is another tennis event that feels very different from either and each year it opens its doors to the general public to enjoy.

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic feels like discovering one of London's best-kept sporting secrets.

Although it's certainly no secret within tennis, with some of the biggest names in the sport taking to the court each year.

And when I made it through the gates of the Hurlingham Club, I discovered just how intimate that court, and the entire event around it, really is.

At A Glance

Location: Hurlingham Club, London

Event: Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

When: June (annually)

Tickets: Saturday General Admission (weekdays hospitality)

Nearest Tube: Putney Bridge

Time Needed: Half a day

Food & Drink: Available throughout the grounds

Dress Code: Summer chic is recommended

Worth It? Yes. One of Britain's most unique tennis experiences.

Watch the full Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic experience here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnaIkZa3pIo

First impressions of the Hurlingham Club

As you walk from Putney Bridge towards the main gates of the Hurlingham Club, you'd be forgiven for wondering whether you've taken a wrong turn.

You're walking through quiet residential streets. There's little noise, no enormous crowd of tennis fans and certainly no obvious sign that some of the world's best players are preparing to compete just a few minutes away.

But don't be fooled by the understated entrance.

The Hurlingham Club's Georgian clubhouse sits at the heart of its beautifully maintained grounds.

Walk through the gates and you're suddenly inside one of London's most immaculate private members' clubs. At its heart sits the Georgian Clubhouse, surrounded by terraces, gardens, woodland, croquet lawns and an extraordinary number of tennis courts.

Your first glimpse of the grounds comes as a bridge takes you across the lake, before the path continues between grass tennis courts on one side and hard courts on the other.

It's a beautiful place to wander through, but keep going and the atmosphere gradually begins to change.

Suddenly, the quiet streets of Fulham are behind me and I'm standing in the middle of a world-class tennis event.

And there's Novak Djokovic.

That's the strange brilliance of the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic. One minute you're strolling through the grounds of a private members' club, the next you're only metres away from one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Centre Court sits at the heart of the event and is remarkably intimate, with excellent views from throughout the grandstand. Alongside it, The Summerhouse provides somewhere to grab a drink, while The Dip brings together bars and food outlets in surroundings that feel closer to a British summer garden party than a major sporting event.

And yet, just a few steps away, ATP stars and legends of the game are walking onto Centre Court.

I'll be spending the next few hours here, and it's difficult to imagine a better setting for an afternoon of tennis.

What makes the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic so different?

A packed Centre Court during the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

First of all, it's important to know that the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic is an exhibition tournament, so one thing you won't get is the jeopardy and drama of Grand Slam tennis.

But don't let that put you off.

Part of the beauty of this event is its timing. It takes place in the week leading into Wimbledon, giving some of the world's best players an opportunity to get valuable match time on grass before heading down the road to SW19.

Over the years, the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic has welcomed names including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

Jannik Sinner in action on the grass at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, one of the stars to use Hurlingham as preparation for Wimbledon.

The results might not carry ranking points, but put two elite sportsmen on opposite sides of a net with a crowd watching and there's still plenty of competitive instinct on show. You get high-quality tennis and fascinating match-ups, just without quite the same intensity surrounding them.

And that's where I think Hurlingham really comes into its own.

Compared with attending Queen's or Wimbledon, everything feels more relaxed. You can while away the time between matches with a glass of rosé, there's no hunt for a spare seat and, with your reserved place on Centre Court waiting for you, very little need to plan your day around queues.

There's less rushing, less stress and far more opportunity to simply enjoy being there.

That relaxed atmosphere extends to the players too. The route between the Clubhouse and Centre Court brings them remarkably close to spectators and it's not unusual to see players stopping for photographs and autographs along the way.

And the current stars aren't the only attraction.

Each day traditionally finishes with legends taking to Centre Court for doubles, bringing another dimension to the afternoon. Mansour Bahrami has been a fixture at Hurlingham since the event began in 1996, while former players including Nicolás Almagro, Sébastien Grosjean, Marcos Baghdatis, Mark Philippoussis and Monica Puig have all appeared.

So in the space of one afternoon, you can watch some of today's biggest names preparing for Wimbledon before seeing stars from previous generations return to the grass.

It's a very different proposition to London's major competitive tournaments, but that's precisely the point.

Hurlingham isn't trying to recreate Wimbledon. Its relaxed, intimate nature is what makes it special.

A Saturday at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

The Dip gives the tournament the feel of a British summer garden party between matches.

I start my day in what is known as The Dip, an area filled with food outlets, bars and activations. There's plenty of seating to enjoy in the sunshine, and a real sense of summer occasion around the Club's grounds.

From there, I head to Centre Court, which is just a few steps away. Its intimate setting means there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Tennis stars on court, Heathrow arrivals occasionally flying overhead and the immaculate grounds of the Hurlingham Club surrounding you. It's an idyllic setting.

After the first match, it's time to cool down in the Summerhouse, where you can take advantage of the complimentary rosé, beer and other drinks included with a Saturday ticket.

Inside there's a lovely buzz as people gather between matches, while out on the terrace you can sit back with a drink and enjoy brilliant views across the Club's grounds.

Then it's back to Centre Court for a second ATP exhibition match, followed later in the afternoon by the legends doubles.

The day's tennis ends with the legends taking over Centre Court for a much more playful encounter.

Mansour Bahrami is up to his usual repertoire of trick shots and crowd interaction. At one point, the players even pour themselves a glass of rosé during a change of ends, which rather perfectly sums up the relaxed nature of the whole event.

But one of my favourite parts of the afternoon actually comes away from the tennis.

Between the second ATP match and the legends, I take a walk around the Club before finding a bench overlooking one of the croquet lawns. I sit there for a while watching members play and, for a few brief moments, imagine myself becoming a member of the Hurlingham Club.

Then I remember there's a slight problem.

The membership waiting list became so long that the Club stopped accepting new applications.

Nowadays, unless you're born into membership or marry an existing member, my chances aren't looking particularly promising.

Thankfully, once a year there's still an opportunity to experience these pristine grounds alongside some of the biggest names in tennis.

And after spending a Saturday here, that's really what makes the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic so special.

For one summer afternoon, you get to experience a little slice of Hurlingham life, with world-class tennis thrown in.

Is the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic Worth It?

A brilliant way to finish the day: legends tennis in the evening sunshine at Hurlingham.

There's no getting away from the fact that a Saturday at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic is an expensive day at the tennis.

But it's also important to consider what you're actually paying for.

This isn't simply a seat on Centre Court. Your ticket gives you reserved seating for an afternoon of tennis, complimentary drinks during the session and, perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to spend several hours inside the beautiful grounds of the Hurlingham Club.

You're also watching some of the biggest names in tennis from remarkably close quarters, without the queues, crowds and intensity that can come with attending one of the sport's major tournaments.

Of course, if your priority is competitive tennis with ranking points, tournament jeopardy and everything riding on every match, this probably isn't the event I'd choose. It is an exhibition and that inevitably creates a different atmosphere.

But that's also part of its appeal.

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic is about enjoying world-class tennis in a relaxed setting, with a glass of rosé in hand and nowhere particularly urgent to be.

For me, that's what makes the experience worth paying for.

It's certainly a premium day out, but it's also one of the most distinctive tennis experiences I've found in Britain.

Final Thoughts

The crowds have gone and another day at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic comes to an end.

London isn't exactly short of famous tennis tournaments.

Wimbledon is one of the great sporting events anywhere in the world, while Queen's has become an established part of the British summer.

But tucked away behind the gates of the Hurlingham Club is something altogether different.

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic doesn't have the competitive drama of those tournaments, nor does it try to. Instead, its appeal comes from its intimacy, relaxed atmosphere and extraordinary setting.

I arrived intrigued by the idea of a tennis tournament hidden inside one of London's most exclusive private members' clubs.

I left thinking I'd discovered one of the capital's most enjoyable summer sporting experiences.

And while membership of the Hurlingham Club might remain rather beyond my reach, I'll happily settle for one Saturday here every summer.

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