Wimbledon Tournament organisers have issued a warning, stating that the quiet room, a secluded space near Court 12, designated for prayer and meditation should not be used by couples seeking sex, media reports said. As per witnesses, the quiet room has been reportedly misused for personal enjoyment by couples, causing dismay among visitors. Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, emphasised the significance of the quiet room, referring to it as a "sanctuary" and urged individuals to respect its intended purpose while speaking on the first day of the tournament.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/discovery-of-cocaine-in-white-house-library-prompts-secret-service-investigation-611984">Discovery of cocaine in White House library prompts secret service investigation</a>

Bolton reiterated that the space should be used for prayer, meditation, and even breastfeeding. But she underscored the need for proper usage of the quiet room. “It’s a really important space. So, we will be retaining it and we’ll be making sure that people are using it the right way."

“If people need space to go to pray, it’s the quiet space for that. There is an opportunity to breastfeed in there. But, we are looking for it to be used in the right way.”

<h2>Previous incidents of misuse</h2>

During the previous year's tournament, spectators witnessed couples emerging from the rooms behind court 12 with "sheepish" expressions.&nbsp;

Witnesses described encounters involving individuals, leaving no doubt about the sexual activities taking place inside the quiet room. Reports of "sounds of intimacy" coming from the rooms also surfaced, raising concerns about the misuse of the designated quiet space.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-military-is-completing-mission-in-west-bank-says-pm-netanyahu-death-toll-in-jenin-rises-to-11-611977">Israeli military is ‘completing mission’ in West Bank, says PM Netanyahu; death toll in Jenin rises to 11</a>

The incident prompted comparisons to the "mile high club" associated with intimate encounters on airplanes, leading to the tongue-in-cheek term "Wimbledon high club."&nbsp;

The official access guide for Wimbledon in 2023 describes the quiet room, located in the Southern Village, as a serene sanctuary where guests can engage in prayer, meditation, or simply be present in the moment. The guide emphasises the peaceful nature of the space and its intended use.

WATCH | Gravitas: Russia says Ukraine attacked Moscow with 5 drones

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-russia-says-ukraine-attacked-moscow-with-5-drones-611978/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In Wimbledon, the courts are assigned numbers, with the lower numbers indicating greater significance for the matches held on them. The tournament consists of 18 grass courts specifically designated for the Championships, as well as 20 additional grass courts for practice.

Additionally, there are eight American Clay courts available for use. Notably, Centre Court and Court 1 are equipped with retractable roofs, allowing matches to continue even in unfavorable weather conditions.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Wimbledon Tournament organisers have issued a warning, stating that the quiet room, a secluded space near Court 12, designated for prayer and meditation should not be used by couples seeking sex, media reports said.

Wimbledon Tournament organisers have issued a warning, stating that the quiet room, a secluded space near Court 12, designated for prayer and meditation should not be used by couples seeking sex, media reports said. As per witnesses, the quiet room has been reportedly misused for personal enjoyment by couples, causing dismay among visitors. Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, emphasised the significance of the quiet room, referring to it as a "sanctuary" and urged individuals to respect its intended purpose while speaking on the first day of the tournament. Also Read | Discovery of cocaine in White House library prompts secret service investigation Bolton reiterated that the space should be used for prayer, meditation, and even breastfeeding. But she underscored the need for proper usage of the quiet room. “It’s a really important space. So, we will be retaining it and we’ll be making sure that people are using it the right way." “If people need space to go to pray, it’s the quiet space for that. There is an opportunity to breastfeed in there. But, we are looking for it to be used in the right way.” Previous incidents of misuse During the previous year's tournament, spectators witnessed couples emerging from the rooms behind court 12 with "sheepish" expressions. Witnesses described encounters involving individuals, leaving no doubt about the sexual activities taking place inside the quiet room. Reports of "sounds of intimacy" coming from the rooms also surfaced, raising concerns about the misuse of the designated quiet space. Also Read | Israeli military is ‘completing mission’ in West Bank, says PM Netanyahu; death toll in Jenin rises to 11 The incident prompted comparisons to the "mile high club" associated with intimate encounters on airplanes, leading to the tongue-in-cheek term "Wimbledon high club." The official access guide for Wimbledon in 2023 describes the quiet room, located in the Southern Village, as a serene sanctuary where guests can engage in prayer, meditation, or simply be present in the moment. The guide emphasises the peaceful nature of the space and its intended use. WATCH | Gravitas: Russia says Ukraine attacked Moscow with 5 drones × In Wimbledon, the courts are assigned numbers, with the lower numbers indicating greater significance for the matches held on them. The tournament consists of 18 grass courts specifically designated for the Championships, as well as 20 additional grass courts for practice. Additionally, there are eight American Clay courts available for use. Notably, Centre Court and Court 1 are equipped with retractable roofs, allowing matches to continue even in unfavorable weather conditions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Wimbledon officials warn against use of quiet room for sex. Know about the controversy

Serena Williams put aside her concerns about the air quality at Melbourne Park as she breezed into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday to remain on course for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

Serena Williams put aside her concerns about the air quality at Melbourne Park as she breezed into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday to remain on course for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. Buoyed by securing her first WTA title as a mother in Auckland two weeks ago, the 38-year-old American great kept her stay out on Rod Laver Arena to a minimum with a 6-0 6-3 trouncing of Anastasia Potapova in under an hour. The air quality was officially rated good on Monday but Williams had not forgotten the choking smoke from Australia's bushfires that greeted her when she arrived in Melbourne earlier this week. "I definitely was concerned, and am. I think it changes every day," the eighth seed told reporters. "There is a lot of factors on how it can change. That is still a concern for pretty much everyone. Every day all the players and the tournament make sure that all the players are updated on what the play conditions would be like. "It's literally every day, we are just waiting every day to see how the air quality would be ... Today, it seemed normal. Yeah, it seemed pretty good... It definitely felt like that. Williams said she was particularly concerned because of the pulmonary embolism she suffered after giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017. "I'm, like, 'oh no, I'm already playing a little down than most people'," she added. "But we'll see. Just have to focus on what happens and we'll see what happens." The good news for Williams is that the outlook for the rest of tournament is promising, with the rain that has lashed Australia over the last few days helping contain the fires that have killed 29 people and millions of animals. The rain also stopped play on the outside courts on Monday which means that Williams might have to wait another day to find out whether she plays Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek or South Korean wildcard Han Na-lae in the second round. Her victory over Russian teenager Potapova to kickstart her 19th campaign at Melbourne Park was no great surprise given she has now lost only once in 74 first-round matches at Grand Slams. "I felt like I started out really well, played really strong in the first set and just building on that," she said. "So, I feel like I can still improve and get better throughout this tournament, for sure. This is a good stepping stone for right now." An eighth title at Melbourne Park would bring Williams level with Australian Margaret Court as the most prolific Grand Slam singles winner in the history of the game -- a feat she said had been on her mind. "I think it's factored a lot into my game, and now it's just more or less about doing the best that Serena Williams can do," she said. "Margaret Court was a wonderful, great champion. And now how great is Serena Williams? "That's it. That's kind of what I have been thinking about the last couple of weeks and months. It definitely helps me relax a lot."

Australian Open: Serena puts aside air quality concerns to clear first hurdle

Angelique Kerber was presented with the end-of-year trophy as the world&rsquo;s number one player after all but booking her place in the knockout stage of the WTA Finals with a clinical 6-4 6-2 win over Romania&rsquo;s Simona Halep on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old was already assured of finishing 2016 at the top of the rankings after Serena Williams withdrew from the WTA Finals with a shoulder injury but it was officially recognised when she was handed the trophy and a sparkling diamond ring.

Kerber, looking sharper and more focused than she was in her opening round-robin victory over Slovakia&rsquo;s Dominika Cibulkova, was all smiles after she posted a surprisingly lop-sided victory over the combative Halep, who had looked in ominous touch during her opening match win over American Madison Keys.

&ldquo;I was feeling very well today. I think that I was moving good and I was going for it when I had the chance. I think that was the key,&rdquo; Kerber said.

&ldquo;For me, I think it&#39;s always good when I start a tournament with tight and close matches where I get my confidence.&rdquo;

A finalist at the end-of-season championship two years ago, Halep was brimming with confidence ahead of her clash with Kerber but found the lefthander too good on Singapore&rsquo;s slow indoor hardcourts.

Kerber, electing to receive first, broke Halep&rsquo;s opening service game and despite later dropping her serve and falling 4-3 behind, the German reeled off the last three games in a row to take the opening set after just 43 minutes.

Kerber was even more dominant in the second set as Halep, one of the best returners in the game, struggled to impose her own game on the in-form German, who reached the top of the world rankings when she won the US Open last month.

Two service breaks gave Kerber the advantage she needed and although Halep saved the first two break points she faced with two spectacular winners, it was too little late as Kerber wrapped up the win.

&ldquo;I had the opportunity to get that first set. I was coming back very well. But, maybe I didn&#39;t finish the important points,&rdquo; Halep said.

&ldquo;But she played a great tennis. She&#39;s very strong and on her legs she&#39;s moving great. She deserved to win.&rdquo;

Despite winning her first two matches, Kerber still has a mathematical chance of missing out on the semi-finals of the elite $7 million tournament after Keys beat Cibulkova 6-1 6-4 in Tuesday&rsquo;s other Red Group match.

Kerber plays Keys in their final group match on Thursday while Halep faces Cibulkova.

(AFP)

Kerber plays Keys in their final group match on Thursday while Halep faces Cibulkova

Angelique Kerber was presented with the end-of-year trophy as the world’s number one player after all but booking her place in the knockout stage of the WTA Finals with a clinical 6-4 6-2 win over Romania’s Simona Halep on Tuesday. The 28-year-old was already assured of finishing 2016 at the top of the rankings after Serena Williams withdrew from the WTA Finals with a shoulder injury but it was officially recognised when she was handed the trophy and a sparkling diamond ring. Kerber, looking sharper and more focused than she was in her opening round-robin victory over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, was all smiles after she posted a surprisingly lop-sided victory over the combative Halep, who had looked in ominous touch during her opening match win over American Madison Keys. “I was feeling very well today. I think that I was moving good and I was going for it when I had the chance. I think that was the key,” Kerber said. “For me, I think it's always good when I start a tournament with tight and close matches where I get my confidence.” A finalist at the end-of-season championship two years ago, Halep was brimming with confidence ahead of her clash with Kerber but found the lefthander too good on Singapore’s slow indoor hardcourts. Kerber, electing to receive first, broke Halep’s opening service game and despite later dropping her serve and falling 4-3 behind, the German reeled off the last three games in a row to take the opening set after just 43 minutes. Kerber was even more dominant in the second set as Halep, one of the best returners in the game, struggled to impose her own game on the in-form German, who reached the top of the world rankings when she won the US Open last month. Two service breaks gave Kerber the advantage she needed and although Halep saved the first two break points she faced with two spectacular winners, it was too little late as Kerber wrapped up the win. “I had the opportunity to get that first set. I was coming back very well. But, maybe I didn't finish the important points,” Halep said. “But she played a great tennis. She's very strong and on her legs she's moving great. She deserved to win.” Despite winning her first two matches, Kerber still has a mathematical chance of missing out on the semi-finals of the elite $7 million tournament after Keys beat Cibulkova 6-1 6-4 in Tuesday’s other Red Group match. Kerber plays Keys in their final group match on Thursday while Halep faces Cibulkova. (AFP)

WTA finals: Kerber crushes Halep, Keys downs Cibulkova