![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_7.png\")
<\/a>Following the conclusion of The Championships at Wimbledon, Maria Esther Bueno has been hitting to a length and catching up with her various clubs in London before heading home to Sao Paulo, Brazil.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been back to Wimbledon a couple of times since The Championships and I am always amazed at how quickly they get the Club back to normal,\u201d says Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expect they are already thinking about next year!<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they can be proud of how well it went, with record crowds and a growing worldwide audience on television and all the other ways people can now watch matches with live streaming on Apps and social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a changing world with all this digital development, and I admit that I find it hard to keep up!<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just happy to be involved with television and grateful I have the use of my iPad and mobile phone which help me keep up with everything I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
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- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/At-Wimbledon-with-ESPN.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tModern TV control\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Colour-TV.jpg.gallery.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tBBC broadcasting has come a long way in 90 years\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Wimbledon_1964_large.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\t1964 programme – a year Maria Esther won\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Wimbledon-21.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tHistoric plaque\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2.20217308.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tFred Perry is visited by Hacker Dog\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Roger-Federer-Wimbledon-2017-photo-Art-Seitz-c2017-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tMen’s Champ – Roger Federer\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/hi-res-8b72f06d5666713dcebc8395f80b65b3_crop_north.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tWomen’s Champ – Garbine Muguruza\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Henman-Hill-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tTelevision on Henman Hill\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DEnkEJhXkAAeDTP-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tInterviewed\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\nFor the first time, television coverage from the\u00a0Qualifying Competition was shown with matches on the main show court broadcast to spectators inside the grounds at the Bank of England Grounds in Roehampton via a giant video screen and to Wimbledon fans around the world on\u00a0Wimbledon.com\u00a0and via the AELTC\u2019s broadcast partners.<\/p>\n
The BBC, who celebrated 90 years of broadcasting Wimbledon this year, served 24.1 million stream requests during The Championships via BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer, making it the most streamed to date.<\/p>\n
The most popular match was Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller\u2019s 66 game epic with 1.4m requests, while the Johanna Konta vs Simona Halep semi-final at 7.4m viewers became the most watched Wimbledon Ladies\u2019 match on BBC record.<\/p>\n
\n- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Rafael-Nadal-826131.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tGilles Muller and Rafael Nadal\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Johanna-Konta-827356-3.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tJo Konta and Simona Halep\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\nThe Men’s Singles Final had a peak of 6.4m viewers and the Ladies\u2019 Singles Final peaked at 4.7m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are amazing numbers and just show the incredible global reach of Wimbledon around the world,\u201d commented Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttendance on the grounds over the 13 days was nearly half a million [473,372] and what I find fascinating is that they were served just over 300,000 glasses of Pimm\u2019s [303,277] and 166,000 portions of strawberries [166,055].<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently the strawberries are specially picked early each day in Kent and transported to Wimbledon.”<\/p>\n
\n- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/wimbledon-view-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tNeeding no caption…\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/wimbledon-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tCrowds at Wimbledon\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/pimms-iced-tea-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tBest sellers – Pimms and strawberries\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/5136.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tWimbledon flowers\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Wimbledon-08bg.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe water feature\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Wimbledon-2017-Day-Four-The-All-England-Lawn-Tennis-and-Croquet-Club.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tChampionship balls\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\u201cThe Club likes to publish these facts and figures each year and they go to show what an incredible stage production The Championships are,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_4357-copy-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>With Karen Phillipps at The Queen’s Club<\/p><\/div>\n
At Queens<\/h2>\n
Maria Esther was thrilled to accept an invitation to lunch at The Queen’s Club the week after Wimbledon, courtesy of Karen Phillipps, on the directors there.<\/p>\n
“Although I have been to Queens, it was during the tournament and I didn’t get to see all the amazing works they have at the club, including the new dining room and bar area, the library, games room and ladies dressing room,” said Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
“It looks fantastic and we had a fabulous lunch too! It was a great day out!”<\/p>\n
\n- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/queens-club-2.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe new Bar at The Queen’s Club\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/The-Queens-Club-Kensington-7.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe Library\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Q_Club.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe President’s Room during the tournament\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\nAt Beckenham<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0636-e1501513997567-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Maria Esther has played several times at Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, which is 136 years old, having been founded in early 1866 and is\u00a0one of the oldest sporting venues in south-east England, although Lawn Tennis was not conceived at Foxgrove Road until November 1879.<\/p>\nFrom an original three grass courts, the\u00a0club now boasts 18 courts\u00a0\u2013\u00a0including six grass, four acrylic, three artificial clay and five\u00a0macadams.<\/p>\n
Maria Esther, one of only a small number of players who won both the Wimbledon and Beckenham titles, is a regular summer visitor and player at the club.<\/p>\n
In 2004, The Maria-Esther Bueno Lounge was opened in The Summer Pavilion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very honoured to have the lounge in pavilion named after me because it makes me feel very much a part of the club\u2019s history,\u201d said Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have had many good times there, when I was playing and over the years since I\u2019ve been coming back to Beckenham on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history of the club is amazing. Did you know they only started allowing women into the new clubhouse in the late 1960s?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe used to change in the old Summer Pavilion and have our meals there so I never knew about that rule until now!\u201d<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_6.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tBLTC logo\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/BCC761-1024x856.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe original ‘Ladies Pavilion’\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/BCC196-300x236.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe Summer Pavilion before weatherproofing\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Pavilion2012-630x300.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe Summer Pavilion today\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/100-0008_IMG_3-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tMaria Esther Bueno celebrating Beckenham’s 125th anniversary\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0620-e1501514852237-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tThe English Heritage plaque\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nIn fact, nine years after the first Championships at Wimbledon in 1877, Beckenham organised its own tournament, earning a reputation for a garden party atmosphere.<\/p>\n
For the next 110 years Grand Slam and world champions plus players of every nationality played on the club\u2019s well-manicured grass courts as a warm-up to Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Scan-211x300.jpeg\")
<\/a>Beckenham\u2019s Summer Pavilion was English Heritage Grade II listed in March 2013 and features\u00a0in a book, \u2018Played in London\u2019 by Simon Inglis (2014) [https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Played-London-Charting-Heritage-Britain\/dp\/1848020570], alongside other historic sporting venues in the English capital.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m really proud that they have put up a plaque on the pavilion that mentions my lounge,\u201d said Maria Esther. \u201cI hadn\u2019t seen it before so it was a huge surprise!\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria Esther played several times with Peter Kiss, one of the teaching pros at Beckenham.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have really good hits together, although it does get pretty windy there at times!\u201d laughs Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you have to pay attention!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0629-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tHitting to a length at Beckenham\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_10-1024x921.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tPeter Kiss receives the Men’s singles trophy in 2014\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0624-e1501514743176-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tVolleying…\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/IMG_0623-e1501514767936-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\t… volleying\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_5-1.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tPeter Kiss\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\nWoodfield Grove<\/h2>\n
She also has returned several times to Woodfield Grove Tennis Club where she has hit with Lucia Sariscanova and Silviya Grosdanova.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve said it before but I really enjoy hitting on the courts at Woodfield Grove,\u201d says Maria Esther.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have cushioned acrylic and are pretty fast, which suits me just fine, besides which it is not so windy there.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately the weather hasn\u2019t been too great these past couple of weeks and there has been quite a lot of wind around!\u201d<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_8-189x300.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t- \n\t\t\t\tLucia\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tPeter Kiss\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\t… volleying\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tVolleying…\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tPeter Kiss receives the Men’s singles trophy in 2014\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tHitting to a length at Beckenham\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe English Heritage plaque\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tMaria Esther Bueno celebrating Beckenham’s 125th anniversary\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe Summer Pavilion today\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe Summer Pavilion before weatherproofing\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe original ‘Ladies Pavilion’\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tBLTC logo\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe President’s Room during the tournament\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe Library\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe new Bar at The Queen’s Club\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tChampionship balls\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tThe water feature\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tWimbledon flowers\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tBest sellers – Pimms and strawberries\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tCrowds at Wimbledon\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tNeeding no caption…\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tJo Konta and Simona Halep\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tGilles Muller and Rafael Nadal\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tInterviewed\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tTelevision on Henman Hill\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tWomen’s Champ – Garbine Muguruza\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tMen’s Champ – Roger Federer\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tFred Perry is visited by Hacker Dog\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tHistoric plaque\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\t1964 programme – a year Maria Esther won\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tBBC broadcasting has come a long way in 90 years\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
- \n\t\t\t\tModern TV control\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Snip20170731_9.png\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t