Today, I skipped out on the Chiswick Gardens. But, I took the spiderweb path on the tube to the quaint and wonderful town of Wimbledon. And you guessed it! Wimbledon Tennis Club.
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| This is the infamous centre court. The location actually changed from the first time the Club was built. Due to the expansion First and Centre courts were shifted to be more central to the design of Wimbledon. |
To become a member of the Club you either win Wimbledon or you contribute to the overall organization. At the outset, Wimbledon uniforms were either pink or white. That mostly had to do with the supplier of the uniforms contributing money to Wimbledon. All the companies that sponsor the tournament remain the same except for the uniform supplier, at least until recently when Ralph Luaren took over.
The courts are all grass. They remain unlined for most of the year until Spring. There are at least 20 courts used during Wimbledon each year. They all look like the above court. However, the court pictured below is important because the longest game of tennis in history was played on it - a match lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The scores for John Fishner and Nicholas Maut were: 6-4 / 3-6 / 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3)/ 70 -68.
The most amazing factor in this was the Commentator who had to sit in the Hawk Eye for the duration of the match. Hawk-Eye is the system created to track the tennis ball as well as the players footing. It is used to call if a ball is out of bounds or in-boudns a common argument that will stop up matches.
Anyways, there is so much about Wimbledon that the public doesn't see or know. For example - there is a system of underground tunnels which allows players to move from court to court without being seen. The main courts also have a set of door in the right-bottom corner which the players emerge from to begin a match.
One of the areas we got to see was the Press Chamber. I was excited because I've always been facinated by the press and the atmosphere of the Press Room. The desk in front is where players sit to be interviewed. It felt cool to step foot in a place no other public have gone (expect other tour junkies).
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Another great aspect of Wimbledon is the hill - on which people with tickets will sit to watch the matches on screen. The Hill is known by many different names depending on the reigning victor of Wimbledon. The view of London from it is spectacular.
The courts are all grass. They remain unlined for most of the year until Spring. There are at least 20 courts used during Wimbledon each year. They all look like the above court. However, the court pictured below is important because the longest game of tennis in history was played on it - a match lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes.
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| Court 18 saw the longest game of tennis in history. It lasted from 22nd-24th June 2010. John Fishner (USA) emerged the victor Nicholas Maut (France). |
The scores for John Fishner and Nicholas Maut were: 6-4 / 3-6 / 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3)/ 70 -68.
The most amazing factor in this was the Commentator who had to sit in the Hawk Eye for the duration of the match. Hawk-Eye is the system created to track the tennis ball as well as the players footing. It is used to call if a ball is out of bounds or in-boudns a common argument that will stop up matches.
Anyways, there is so much about Wimbledon that the public doesn't see or know. For example - there is a system of underground tunnels which allows players to move from court to court without being seen. The main courts also have a set of door in the right-bottom corner which the players emerge from to begin a match.
One of the areas we got to see was the Press Chamber. I was excited because I've always been facinated by the press and the atmosphere of the Press Room. The desk in front is where players sit to be interviewed. It felt cool to step foot in a place no other public have gone (expect other tour junkies).
I
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| I thought of my friend and rabid tennis fan Rambow when I set foot in this room. I thought - he'll be totally jealous. |
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| My non-lived dream as a child was to be a professional footballer and sit at desks like this. I am happy, however, to settle for some fake-tennis star photo op. |
Other memorable areas in terms of architecture and design are below. The building of Centre Court was done by a man using an astrolabe and sketch book to determine the angle of the sun. Then in 2004 a computer programme came up with the exact same design. What's cool about the newer design is the retractable roof. If the weather is going to turn horrible buttons are pushed in succession and metal panels rise up to form a ceiling. This helps to keep matches at the correct length and not have to stop them like the Court 18 match for volatile weather conditions.
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| This is Centre Court. In the right corner are the doors present at all courts from which the tennis players will emmerge as if by magic. |
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| The commentators box to the left of the score board belongs to the CNN sports commentator. Above this box and below sit the families of the players - and it is tradition - that whomever wins jump into the seats and hug their family. |
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| Me at centre court. An interesting fact - they have a tournament for the children in school districts around Briian. Whoever is the reigning champion of their district's tennis competitions is allowed to play at Wimbledon in an overall tournament. |
Another way, besides the overall District Championship - played by the winning children of local Tennis Clubs in Britain - another way tennis is being introduced to children is through the Ball Runners Camp. Children interested in tennis with exemplary grades are allowed to train at Wimbledon to be ball runners. Without these kids there would be loose balls all around the court. It takes good character, discipline and drive to be a ball runner. They also get to watch matches during the tournament.
Also, last but not least, is the Wimbledon Museum. It is worth going through if you can. It explains the start of the sport and it's modern day popularity. Tennis began as a male dominated sport started by two men bored with cricket who decided to hit a ball around. Once their club got poplar it expanded and tennis became Britain's past time.
Some cool museum treasures are below:
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| This is the mind behind the game Walter Wingfield and first victor of Wimbledon. He is also one of the men who inspired companies to manufacturer tennis oriented decor and furniture. |
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| The original trophy for the Gentleman's Singles tournament of Wimbledon. It was presented as the Challenge Cup to the victor of Wimbledon by the Field newspaper. The Champions of 1877 - 1883 are engraved upon it. |
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| The second place Silver Cup awarded to William Marshall in 1877. The engraving reads : "W.C. Marshall, Winner of the Silver Prize, Lawn Tennis Championship Meeting, Wimbledon, 1877. |
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| This grandfather clock - of cheery or oak wood (I forget which) was manufactured as a tennis-themed decor item. Above the gold -engrafed framed clock face is a strip containing tow tennis players - which would move and hit a ball back and forth as the pendulum swang and the clock struck the hour. |
Even if you aren't a fan of tennis - as I am I love watching it in season and during Wimbledon and Olympics - or you don't play the history and beauty of Wimbledon is worth the visit. The history is interesting and the view of London is beautiful from the Hill.
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| This is the hill on which people - lucky enough to get tickets to Wimbledon - sit upon to watch the televised matches. It's quite beautiful. |
Also, taking a tour in the off season allows you to see one of the worlds' most famous sporting arenas without a ticket. It is well worth the journey.
~ H.C.
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