Inside the Hurlingham Club and the poshest event on the

Your support helps us to inform the story From reproductive rights to climate modification to Huge Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our most current documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American females fighting for reproductive rights, we understand how crucial it is to parse out the realities from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending out reporters to talk to both sides of the story.The Independent is relied on by Americans throughout the whole political spectrum. And unlike lots of other quality news outlets, we select not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism must be available to everybody, paid for by those who can afford it.Your assistance makes all the difference.Read more A fleet of Rolls-Royces lines the drive. Spectators in heels and hats stroll under trellises of roses, past the orangery andmembers-only Polo Club, stopping to appreciate the items of a handful of luxury sponsors. A peacock roams freely along completely manicured lawns. This is the Hurlingham Club, home of the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, the most glamorous sporting event of the summer season. Tucked into a leafy corner of southwest London, Hurlingham is the last stop for lots of elite players before they travel a little further along the District

line for the pinnacle of the grass-court swing. As an exhibit occasion it offers individuals one last weekend of semi-serious competitors, against players who they may well face over the next 2 weeks, albeit with much higher stakes. Coming so close to Wimbledon, the Classic doesn’t really have the feel of an exhibit at all– the rosé-sipping crowd aren’t treated to lots of trick shots or tweeners.

Rather, it seems like important match practice, a trial run of Wimbledon itself, total with all-white kit and utterly pristine lawn. That’s borne out by the names in action; Novak Djokovic headlines use Friday, while top-tenners Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune and Ben Shelton all enter(Musetti later on withdraws

). The star on Thursday is world No 4 Jack Draper, dipping into Hurlingham for the first time. It’s only a few miles far from his Putney home however he takes a while to acclimatise, captured off guard by

a blistering start by Rune. The Dane– once discussed in the very same breath as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, a hotheaded, bad kid character in a potential brand-new”huge 3 “– breaks in the first game and remains one step ahead of Draper throughout the very first set, looking simply that bit sharper, to seal it 6-4. open image in gallery Jack Draper in action against Holger Rune(Timothy Edwards)A forgettable first 3 points begin the second set for Draper as he goes 0-40 down, before waking up and producing some thunderous serves– which have hitherto been rare– to get out of problem. A prejudiced, however really courteous, crowd get their desire as the 23-year-old turns the set around before taking the choosing tie-break. It’s an excellent run-around for Britain’s most significant star, against a fit, aggressive young player and a previous quarter-finalist at SW19, before he starts his campaign on Monday. open image in gallery The Brit recovered from a slow start to win(Timothy Edwards )On Friday afternoon Stefanos Tsitsipas– now down to world No 26– understands the brief better. The Greek showman throws his racket in a vain effort to reach a drop shot from Tomas Martin Etcheverry and responds with mock awe at an especially brilliant down-the-line winner of his own. The crowd murmur appreciatively at the grace and explosivenessof his one-handedbackhand; Tsitsipas enables himself to admire it too, on celebration. He loses in the tie-break, however does not appear too fussed about it. Friday’s heading act is Djokovic himself, delighting in the ideal grass-court warm-up against the poisonous serve of 6ft 6in Karen Khachanov. The Serb makes a mess of a regular overhead but even the game’s premier perfectionist can make fun of himself in an exhibition. Both serve immaculately; Djokovic, at the age of 38, still appears like he was designed to use yard. Khachanov wins 7-6 (4), 6-4, but says it himself: “[ Djokovic] feels at home on turf, the ball constantly goes in. He doesn’t require to play these [warm-up] tournaments– he’s constantly prepared.” Get 4 months complimentary with ExpressVPN Servers in 105 Countries Superior Speeds Works on all your devices Try for complimentary AD. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This income assists to money journalism across The Independent. Get 4 months totally free with ExpressVPN Servers in 105 Nations Superior Speeds Works on all your devices Try for complimentary AD. If you register to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.In action for the first time since the French Open, Djokovic shows couple of signs of rust. He misses out on a couple of shots he shouldn’t

— however neither guy is playing flat out,

so it feels tough to ascribe this to bad kind.”
Undoubtedly remaining in an environment where it looks like the main match, it benefits me– I have not played any lead-up competitions,”he includes.” I still flourish being on tour, find satisfaction in

competitors.” open image in gallery Stefanos Tsitsipas is wanting to discover some type on the lawn after a challenging season(Timothy Edwards)It’s not all Whispering Angel and on-court hijinks: over on the much smaller sized, more intimate Court One, the juniors contest their matches under

the watchful eye of some white-clad

members, keeping tabs on possible stars of the future. There are some ways in which the Hurlingham Classic seems like a relic from a bygone period. The wrought-iron gates, magnificently kept rosebeds, and dolphin-shaped fountains have a tip of the old country home to them. However it’s a sense felt many of all in the existence of line judges,

two at each end of the court, in ties and shirts but allowed to eliminate their coats in the heat. Even Wimbledon, that bastion of tradition, has retired them in favour of electronic line-calling, maintaining 80 in the kind of” match assistants”to shepherd players on and off court. And while Queen’s– another proud, moneyed institution– opened its doors to female players this summer season, for the first time in over half a century, the Tennis Classic remains a male-only affair. open image in gallery Djokovic’s serve and volleying delighted the crowd(Timothy Edwards)For the specialists, a minimum of. Women can play in the relatively new Junior Invitational, walking the very same hallowed corridors as previous guests like Alcaraz, certainly the preferred for next week’s genuine deal a

few miles southwest. Djokovic himself, talked to on court, discovers his attention drifting there .“It’s a big honour to

participate in another Wimbledon, still choosing the youngsters, a new generation that are exciting. That French Open last was one of the very best we’ve seen in years. Tennis is in good hands.”The rosé is ended up, the ballkids snap selfies with the players, and the last well-off punters are shepherded into their Rolls-Royces. The gown wedding rehearsals are over: it’s showtime.