Wimbledon’s amazing non-stop show
All are aware of the inclement weather the French Open had to put up this year notwithstanding the many rain delays and innumerable postponed matches clearly demonstrating the importance of retractable roofs. As yet the French Open is the only Grand Slam venue not to have a retractable roof although construction plans are scheduled for Court Chatrier to start this year but it could take a couple of years ro complete. Fortunately this years Wimbledon was blessed with mostly fine weather and the retractable roofs now on both Centre and Court One were only needed when fading light threatened to stop matches mid-stream. Centre Court’s retractable was first used back in 2009 and definitely an added bonus for ticket holders who were able to watch five set matches under a closed roofs. Court One’s roof only opened in May to eclectic collection of musical performances and entertaining tennis matches, The newly designed court holds over 12,000 with wider and comfortable seats than those on Centre Court. Neither of the retractable roofs were used for bad weather and only closed when fading light enabled tightly fought five set matches to be completed. A couple of matches went on to well into late evening giving ticket holders an extra bonus and proving Wimbledon’s investment of over a couple of million pounds was well worth it.
Days spent watching Wimbledon this year were limited but fortunately I was able to share the first day with my two nieces who I had given two Court One tickets to as birthday presents. First I advised they arrived early to lap up Wimbledon’s unique atmosphere even if it did mean leaving Bath at some ungodly hour. As planned we all met on Henman Hill for morning coffee before nieces disappeared to their seats on Court One determined to enjoy every minute of their special day while I remained on Henman Hill watching last year’s winner Novak Djokovic’s opening Centre Court match against Philipp Kohlschreiber on the huge screen opposite. Various friends had agreed to join me for an early picnic lunch including neighbours who I had somehow managed to get hold of a couple of Ground passes for them at the last minute. Through various texts everyone ended up sitting with me and together we watched Centre Court’s first match while eating delicious salmon sandwiches and basking in the warm sunshine. As soon as this match finished, I slipped into Court One to join my nieces.
Friends on Centre Court had suggested exchanging their tickets with nieces should they want to go onto Centre Court but as luck would have it they wanted to stay put. Later these joined us on Court One in time for the much anticipated last match of the day between the ‘new kid on the block’ fifteen year old Coco Gauff and 38 year old Venus Williams. This was by all accounts an intriguing encounter which Gauff won in three thrilling sets making tennis history by becoming the youngest ever wild card qualifier to win a first round match at Wimbledon.
Of all the days I spent at Wimbledon this year the first day was by far the most memorable particularly having time to spend with nieces. It was well after 8 pm before we finally left the grounds. .
The rest of Wimbledon is a bit of blur but feel privileged to have watched so many great matches including the amazing finals between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. To this day I will never comprehend how Federer let the match slip between his fingers when he served for the Championships in the fifth set having finally broken Djokovic’s serve. With the fifth set finely balanced at 5 all, it took another hour before the match reached 12 all when the new rule instigated this year came with into force with a deciding tiebreak which Djokovic prevailed winning his fifth Wimbledon title.
Later, at the Champions Dinner held at the Guild Hall later that evening, I secretly missed not seeing Roger Federer. First to arrive was Simona Halep looking fantastic in a long black evening dress followed by the ever smiling Novak Djokovic, both gave short speeches to 400 hundred seated guests. It was an amazing end to an amazing fortnight!
.Apologies for taking so long to finish this but blame a busy summer!