ROEHAMPTON, England — In the week before the start of Wimbledon’s main draw, the tournament’s qualifying matches are held three and a half miles away. But it might as well be a different world.
To preserve the lawns at the storied All England Club for the main fortnight of play, the qualifying rounds are relegated to the Bank of England Sports Ground in Roehampton. The qualifying rounds, held here since 1925, are played on grass but lack the amenities or timeless regality that sets Wimbledon apart.
“Definitely you don’t have a feeling that you’re playing Wimbledon,” said Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, the top seed in women’s qualifying.