Why The Boodles exhibition is the quintessential British tennis event

WATCH: The Boodles: Why players and fans love this Wimbledon tune-up.

Planning to head to Wimbledon in 2024? Make sure to make a pit stop at Stoke Park for a day out at The Boodles.

The grass-court exhibition event, which was played for the first time in 2002, was founded by longtime tennis agent Patricio Apey, in an effort to get his rolodex of clients—primarily clay-court players, he said—more grass-court matches.

But over the last 20-plus years, the event has grown into a bucket-list experience for players and fans alike, from its idyllic scenery to its world-class tennis.

"We describe this event as an English garden party, with some world-class tennis thrown in," Michael Wainright, managing director of Boodles jewelers, says. "The emphasis is on having a beautiful day in the England countryside, drinking champagne, eating British scones and clotted cream, strawberries, looking at our beautiful jewelry."

In the event's first year, for example, Pete Sampras was the starring attraction, and it's boasted major-winners including Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in its field in years past.

This year, after it was canceled for three years as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021) and renovations at Stoke Park (2022), the Boodles returned in style: All of the participants were men who've been ranked inside the ATP's Top 25, including Felix Auger-Aliassime, Borna Coric, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

And with Tsitsipas' participation this year, fans even got a glimpse of the famous 'Tsitsidosa' as Paula Badosa joined her beau for a practice session.

"[The players], they have fun. They can work on things their coach wants them to work on, and they also let off a little steam," Apey says. "The crowd loves it, and it's just a good place to hang out before all of the pressure of Wimbledon."

Still not convinced? Take heart from the rave reviews from the players themselves.

"I feel like here is a whole different atmosphere. It's very peaceful," Auger-Aliassime said. "You get competitive matches with great players and rest in between. For me, it's a perfect setup."