The Magic of Wimbledon

Ravi Perera

In 1977, the centenary year of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, while the Ladies Final between Britain’s Virginia Wade and Betty Stove from the Netherlands was being played on the Centre Court, the last rehearsal for the world premiere the next evening of a new play by Tom Stoppard with music by Andre Previn was in progress at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the middle of the tensed rehearsal an attendant nervously handed over a small note to Previn who then tapped his baton on the music stand in front and announced “ Our Ginny won!” The Concert Master demanded to know the score and the entire London Symphony Orchestra stopped and applauded.

Aura

Such is the aura and the majesty of this annual Tennis Tournament, conducted in that suburb of London since 1877. Wimbledon, considered by most Tennis enthusiasts, as the unofficial world championship is surprisingly not a national tournament. Conducted by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club it is run as a club event.

But the popular standing of the Tournament is such that it is difficult to conceive of a World Tennis Champion without this coveted trophy under his belt. Rod Laver, one of the greatest players ever and a four time winner here insists, “Wimbledon is the great event”.

Tournament

The Tournament starts each year, six weeks before the first Monday of August. While such unwavering devotion to tradition could be expected from a club whose President is the Duke of Kent, its commitment to staging one of the finest sporting events in the world is not less impressive.

When the leading Tennis players from far and wide gather at this holy of holies of their game they are presented with facilities and an atmosphere not easily matched. The preparations for the next year’s Tournament begin, no sooner this year’s end.

It is typical of the attention paid by the organisers to detail that every year over 57,000 thoughtfully selected plants and shrubs are planted throughout the grounds. One year, 26,000 petunias and 3500 hydrangeas were planted. Rival gardeners have long envied the true bounce and firmness of the lawn courts that the Wimbledon Grounds Men have painstakingly achieved.

Surprise

It is no surprise that this impressive setting inspires the stars of the game to offer an unparalleled dish of tennis drama year after year to the faithful.

The standard of the participating players is so high and near equal that the difference between the top seed and a wild-card entry could be a matter of only a few unforced errors. To win, the champion must maintain a superlative form round after round against bruising opposition.

In 1969, when a 41 year old “Pancho” Gonzales walked into the famed Centre Court for his first round match against the bustling countryman Charlie Pasarell who was only half his age, most spectators only came to see the old lion demolished by the young mans thundering power.

But the veteran campaigner had different ideas. In a supreme battle of wits and endurance that lasted five hours and 12 minutes, spanning two days, he tamed the young challenger in a 5 set epic, 22/24 1/6 16/14 6/3 11/9 (these were days before the introduction of the tie-break.) The crowds standing ovation to the old-pro was heard a mile away.

Wimbledon unfailingly attracts some of the most enthusiastic and discerning sports spectators. During the Tournament thousands sleep along the perimeter fence of the club in a bid to grab the few tickets available for the next day.

Royal personages, diplomats, statesmen, high-powered businessmen and other celebrities can be spotted on the courtsides from day one. Their appreciative presence adds further glamour to the sporting dramas of skills, guts and sweat unfolding on the courts.

The facilities available to the spectators include banking, post office, first-aid, information service, left luggage and lost property counter, cushions for hire, picnic area and numerous restaurants and cafes including a ‘food village’.

Among the most popular refreshments are strawberries and cream, pimms and champagne, pizza, baguettes and Dutchees. Wimbledon is the largest single annual sporting catering operation carried out in Europe.

This year’s seeding again anticipates a Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal showdown in the final. The 26-year-old Federer is a five-time winner of the Wimbledon trophy and is now considered by many as the greatest Tennis player ever.

When confronted with the bustling athleticism of the 22 year old Spaniard, the graceful Federer probably feels a tad jaded. But Federer is a campaigner of the highest calibre. If the seeding is proved correct, we will yet again be treated in this year’s final to a confrontation of a quality, which almost defies human limitations.

After witnessing one of their riveting clashes an enthusiast wrote, “I consider myself privileged to have lived in this era when Federer played Nadal”

If they meet again in the final this year, one will only lose because there can be only one winner. But when the two warriors walk into the hallowed battle ground for their gladiatorial conflict they will notice the immortal lines of Rudyard Kipling inscribed over the entrance to the Certre Court

“If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same....”