It's all green and white- The grass court, the line-markings, the net, the player's uniform's, et al. The World Cup of Lawn Tennis, kick-started way back in 1877 and has only gotten better till 2007. Wimbledon has given the world some of the best moments to talk about. There isn't a greater joy on the planet than watching the Samprases and Federers return a one-handed backhand, swooshing past their opponents, leaving them disabled. Or maybe getting to hear the grunts of Monica Seles, wondering if its her racquet or her voice-box which is doing the harder work, was in fact, the greatest music to the ears. And checking your entry passes, on watching Michael Chang run like hell, to confirm that it's Wimbledon you're serving as an audience to and not a 100 mts dash in the Olympics.
Talking about Gentlemen's Singles Championships, one very strange fact about the Wimbledon is that England being the host, there hasn't been any English player that has even reached the finals since 1939. To even that fact out, we have had all-English Men's Singles finals since the Wimbledon's inception in 1877 to 1904. Ladies have also had a similar run, dominating till about 1914 and then they've been hiding since 1970. But one major support the winners in earlier times got was, up until 1921, the winners of the previous year's competition (except in the Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles) were automatically granted byes into the final round.
Now some interesting facts-
-Charlotte (Lottie) Dod became the youngest player ever to win a Wimbledon Singles event when, in 1887, she won at the age of 15 years, 285 days. In 1996 Martina Hingis became a Wimbledon Doubles champion at 15 years, 282 days. And by the way, Dod was also a silver medalist in archery at the 1908 Olympics, a member of the British national field hockey team in 1899, and the British Amateur golf champ in 1904. When I was of the age of 15 years and 285 days, I was probably preparing for my 11th grade 1st Terminals.
-In 2007, the men’s and women’s singles winners will each receive £700,000 (close to Rs 5,60,00,000.) This is the first year that women will get as much prize money as men. In 1968, the year of the first “open” championships, the prize money was £2,000 for the male champion and £750 for the female champion.
-Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova have won the Gentlemen's and Ladies', respectively, the maximum number of times (7 & 9 respectively again).
-Each year, the tournament begins on the Monday falling between 20 and 26 June (six weeks before the first Monday in August).
-The All England Club (where Wimbledon is held) requires players to wear "almost entirely white" clothing during matches, a reason why a young Andre Agassi boycotted the tournament in the early 1990s. No other Grand Slam tournament has such a strict dress code for players.
-For the spectators, strawberries and cream is the traditional snack at Wimbledon. Approximately 62,000 pounds (almost 28,000 kilograms) of strawberries and 1,540 gallons (approx. 6450 kilograms) of cream are sold each year during the Championships.
It always is a matter of concern how will Lawn Tennis be carried forward in the coming years. Will it still retain its charm then? Will it keep filling the world over with the same excitement as it has been in the past and now? And what about the class? But Wimbledon has made sure, every single time, that it does not let its supporters down. From the Bjorn Borgs & McEnroes & Connors to the Samprases & Agassies and now the Federers in men and from the Billie Jean Kings & Navratilovas to the Grafs now the Sharapovas & Williams. The class has been maintained, if not bettered. We still have fond memories of the 2001 Wimbledon when, the then Swiss prodigy, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras, the seven time and defending champion, in the 4th round. Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots.
Like i said, the quality shall never fade away. Roger Federer aka Fedex, is someone who's today considered as one of the all-time great lawn-tennis players. And who produced him? Wimbledon.
-Charlotte (Lottie) Dod became the youngest player ever to win a Wimbledon Singles event when, in 1887, she won at the age of 15 years, 285 days. In 1996 Martina Hingis became a Wimbledon Doubles champion at 15 years, 282 days. And by the way, Dod was also a silver medalist in archery at the 1908 Olympics, a member of the British national field hockey team in 1899, and the British Amateur golf champ in 1904. When I was of the age of 15 years and 285 days, I was probably preparing for my 11th grade 1st Terminals.
-In 2007, the men’s and women’s singles winners will each receive £700,000 (close to Rs 5,60,00,000.) This is the first year that women will get as much prize money as men. In 1968, the year of the first “open” championships, the prize money was £2,000 for the male champion and £750 for the female champion.
-Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova have won the Gentlemen's and Ladies', respectively, the maximum number of times (7 & 9 respectively again).
-Each year, the tournament begins on the Monday falling between 20 and 26 June (six weeks before the first Monday in August).
-The All England Club (where Wimbledon is held) requires players to wear "almost entirely white" clothing during matches, a reason why a young Andre Agassi boycotted the tournament in the early 1990s. No other Grand Slam tournament has such a strict dress code for players.
-For the spectators, strawberries and cream is the traditional snack at Wimbledon. Approximately 62,000 pounds (almost 28,000 kilograms) of strawberries and 1,540 gallons (approx. 6450 kilograms) of cream are sold each year during the Championships.
It always is a matter of concern how will Lawn Tennis be carried forward in the coming years. Will it still retain its charm then? Will it keep filling the world over with the same excitement as it has been in the past and now? And what about the class? But Wimbledon has made sure, every single time, that it does not let its supporters down. From the Bjorn Borgs & McEnroes & Connors to the Samprases & Agassies and now the Federers in men and from the Billie Jean Kings & Navratilovas to the Grafs now the Sharapovas & Williams. The class has been maintained, if not bettered. We still have fond memories of the 2001 Wimbledon when, the then Swiss prodigy, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras, the seven time and defending champion, in the 4th round. Sampras, gunning for his fifth straight title, which would have equalled Bjorn Borg's record, was silenced in a five-set thriller by a composed teenager with a tantalising array of shots.
Like i said, the quality shall never fade away. Roger Federer aka Fedex, is someone who's today considered as one of the all-time great lawn-tennis players. And who produced him? Wimbledon.
Wimbledon has it all... Federer's one-handed backhands, Nadal's aggression, William sister's grunts, Andy Roddick's express serves, Mauresmo's manly strength, Sharapova's intoxicating charm, also our very own Paes-Bhupathi's chest-bumps.
If Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, Lawn Tennis is the most respected one- a major thanks to Wimbledon. Let's hope that the Wimbledon this year, produces real champions, yet again and some prodigy registers her/his name into super stardom yet, yet again.
Let's salute and thank THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Let's salute and thank WIMBLEDON!
And with the prize money being £700,000 this year, I'd like to try my hand at Lawn Tennis too. Anyone for doubles?
