All England Club

Wimbledon will host a ticketed event next year in order to test the new retractable roof on Centre Court.

The All England Club announced the event will be held on Sunday 17 May, five weeks before Wimbledon starts, but gave no other details.

The Daily Mail newspaper has reported that Tim Henman has been approached to take part in an exhibition match.

The club began work on the multi-million pound roof in 2006 as it sought to reduce rain interruptions.

The governing body of British tennis Wednesday approved an agreement allowing Wimbledon organizers to buy back complete control of the All England Club.

The agreement calls for the Lawn Tennis Associaiton to get $83 million in installments over a five-year period. It will take effect in 2013 and last until 2053.

Besides buying back half of the club it gave away in 1934, the organizers of the Grand Slam tournament also will be allowed to keep 10 percent of the profits instead of giving it all to the LTA.

Wimbledon organizers will pay $83 million to regain total control of the All England Club, buying back the 50 percent it gave away in 1934.

The amount will be paid to Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association in installments over a likely five-year period from 2013, after the existing agreement expires, All England Club chairman Tim Phillips told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) plans to sell back its 50 percent stake in the site of the Wimbledon championships to The All England Club (AELTC), the organisations said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The deal, subject to approval by both parties, is part of the extension of their co-operation agreement until 2053.

The AELTC originally gave the 50 percent shareholding to the LTA in 1934 and the new arrangement will release capital for the LTA to invest in the development of British tennis.