Roger Draper, the chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), is to contact his opposite number at MCC, Keith Bradshaw, next week, with a view to staging a tournament for the leading women players at Lord’s from 2008.

An operations manager has examined the grass in front of the Grandstand, which is not affected by the famous slope on the ground, and at the Nursery End.

Draper is attracted to Lord’s as a sports venue that is in the process of undergoing considerable change under Bradshaw. “Keith and I have similar thoughts in terms of how sport can grow and Lord’s has a lot going for it. I would hope we can run exhibition events from 2008 and a tournament for the top women preWimbledon,” he said.

“Lots of players want to be in and around London at that time and there are very few locations with the infrastructure for world-class events.

“Technically we could hold another event at Queen’s, but we would still have to build a tennis city. At Lord’s, the Grandstand and transport infrastructure are in place already and it would be a matter of erecting three temporary stands. We shall have to make a decision after Wimbledon is over.”

Bradshaw emphasised that MCC’s focus at Lord’s, at a time of considerable change off the field, is on cricket. “But we would look at staging tennis if Roger Draper suggested it,” Bradshaw said.

“We have had talks with the LTA to see if the main ground would be suitable for an exhibition contest. I don’t think it would work in front of the pavilion because of the slope, but the Nursery End might be a possibility.

“Boris Becker has been to visit Lord’s and loved it. He was very interested in the history of cricket and the similarities between the sport and tennis.”

Bradshaw also revealed that the two proposed real tennis courts could be built underground behind the pavilion as part of MCC’s masterplan for developing Lord’s.

Meanwhile, one of the foremost restaurateurs in London expressed interest yesterday in investing in either the restaurant that is proposed at the Nursery End, or the hotel that could replace the Thomas Lord Suite inside the Grace Gates, or both. Jeremy King, who ran The Ivy and now owns The Wolsley, emphasised that, unlike existing catering outlets on cricket grounds, these would serve a wider public.

“There is a dearth of good restaurants in North London and Lord’s is irresistible,” he said. “I have not had a really good meal on any cricket ground, although the Oval, where I am a member, has improved a good deal. This morning I saw spectators bringing Carluccio’s bags – there is a desire for better food among spectators generally, not just in private boxes.

“Caterers on cricket grounds operate under very difficult conditions and it would be wonderful to have a truly purpose-built facility created.”

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