Creature vs. Creature: Wimbledon Honors Tennis Traditions

Which Grand Slam Tournament is greater, more prestigious: the U.S. Open or Wimbledon? Rob York selects the Big Apple, while I settle for strawberries and cream...

Introduction

It is simply referred to as Wimbledon.  Nothing more need be said.  It is not necessary to call it the British Tennis Open or the English Tennis Open—because when it comes to Grand Slam Tournaments in tennis, there is no trophy more revered—no championship more honored or sought after than the one awarded by the All-England Club at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon is like the Rose Bowl of college football, the Stanley Cup of hockey or the World Series of American baseball—but more.  

Since 1877 when the first Gentleman’s Single was held before 200 spectators who each chipped in a shilling to watch the action, Wimbledon has survived the test of time, withstood the temptations to modernize and has kept its firmly-held traditions in place.  

Surface

The rarest of traditions involves the surface itself.  Because at the All-England “Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club,” tennis is played on grass—as it was meant to be played.  

For many years grass was the only surface used in playing “lawn” tennis.  In fact, all major tennis tournaments, including the four Grand Slams, were once played on grass.  It is remarkable that today Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament still played on luxuriant green lawns.  

The French Open at Stade Roland Garros officially switched to red clay in 1925.  The U.S. Open moved from grass to clay, finally switching to Deco Turf in 1978—the current surface.  The Australian Open switched from grass to hard courts in 1988.

Why the change?  Grass is a grievously troublesome surface to play on. The ball sails quickly and its bounce remains relatively low. It also tends to rebound unpredictably, because the ball retains its spin as it comes off the grass. 

A powerful serve can be nearly impossible to return on grass. It is the primary reason Pete Sampras excelled at Wimbledon during the 1990s because of his formidable serving prowess.  

The most obvious disadvantage of grass courts is the inevitable difficulty in trying to maintain the natural surface. The type and length of the grass as well as the condition of the soil affect ball movement.  Moreover,  the surface must be continuously monitored and cared for. 

Atmosphere

Sedate and genteel...a trip to Wimbledon is like a trip back in time.  The whole experience is steeped in ceremony and tradition, which is why the Brits have such a hard time accepting excessive grunting and bratty behavior.  It  is just not done in polite society.

Traditionally, Wimbledon is played in the sunshine during daylight hours.  No artificial lighting or night matches are scheduled during the fortnight.  No tennis is played on the middle Sunday except in very rare circumstances. 

A break in long-standing tradition occurred, however, in 2009, when members of the All-England Club bowed to economic pressure to protect against rain-outs by unveiling  a retractable roof over Centre Court.

The Brits are forever hopeful that a champion will emerge from their midst and in that spirit, they flock to the giant television screen at the north end of grounds to watch the likes of Tim Henman for whom the site was named nicknamed “Henman Hill.”  Now they call it “Mount Murray.”

Traditions

Wimbledon is all about tradition.  As such crowd members are  silent and respectful and full accord is given the match proceeding before their eyes.  People do not stand in front of you or yell out during points.  

There is such prestige attached to the annual tournament that being named a ball boy or ball girl is an honor highly sought after by local boys and girls.

Rich dark green and purple/mauve are the traditional Wimbledon colors.  The ladies and gentlemen who play tennis, however, all wear white—a rule fastidiously upheld by the All-England Club.  

The serving of strawberries and cream and royalty seated in the “royal” box often presiding at trophy ceremonies are also time-honored traditions.   

Matches

There is nothing to equal the quality and intensity of the men's and women's finals at Wimbledon; breakfast at Wimbledon has become a tradition for tennis fans throughout the world.  The culmination of the fortnight at the All-England Club offers rewards in outstanding contests of superb play, endurance and drama.

Imagine anyone suggesting matches greater than these:

(1) Bjorn Borg beats John McEnroe, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6; Final, 1980.

If someone were to ask you what was the greatest tennis match ever played, your mind would revert back to Wimbledon when in 1980 upstart John McEnroe faced the ice man Bjorn Borg and fought a match of indeterminate magnitude.  The focal point was the 18-16 tiebreaker in the fourth set which Borg lost. 

But the Swede hung on to win the fifth set and the match.  With this victory Borg captured his fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown at age 24.

(2) Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7; Final, 2008.

The next greatest match took place 28 years later, same time, same place.  The combatants were Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer and they, too, struggled against the rain, the darkness and each other with the Spaniard finally prevailing as light died in the fifth set. 

The match eventually cost Federer the No. 1 ranking, his sixth consecutive Wimbledon trophy, and marked the high point of Nadal's career—his first grand slam victory not on clay.

(3) Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14; Final, 2009.

Andy Roddick's serve was never broken in 37 service games—the only break of serve occurred in the 38th game and it cost Roddick the match.  It was the mark of the champion that he is that Federer endured and swept up his 15th grand slam victory surpassing the record set by Pete Sampras. 

Federer's primary focus was not to lose. It was the longest and most watched Wimbledon final in the long history of the tournament.

(4) Venus Williams beats Lindsay Davenport, 4-6, 7-6, 9-7; Final, 2005.

Venus Williams has won the Wimbledon Championship five times in her illustrious career.  It is, by far, her best surface.  But in 2005, she faced her stiffest challenge up against the number 1 seed Lindsay Davenport. 

They battled for two hours and 45 minutes—the longest women’s match in the history of the tournament before Venus fired a forehand winner to stop Davenport who held a match point.  Venus continued to strike home winners when she needed them and eventually overcame Davenport in the greatest women’s final. 

(5) Goran Ivanisevic beats Patrick Rafter, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7; Final, 2001.      

It was the people’s Monday…first come, first serve!  The final on Sunday had been rained out.  Ivanisevic, a wild card entry ranked 125 in the world, had bludgeoned his way into the final to face Pat Rafter. 

The two put on a magnificent display of classic serve and volley tennis that kept the crowd enthralled.  Ivanisevic who had been struggling with a shoulder injury for two years pulled it all together one last time on Centre Court.  

You might also consider some of these memorable Wimbledon matches: 

Pancho Gonzales beats Charlie Pasarell, 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9; First round, 1969.

This match spread over two days and lasted five hours and 12 minutes for 112 games.  It became the impetus for instituting the tie-break.

Andre Agassi beats Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; Final, 1992.

Edwin Pope wrote before this match that if Andre Agassi ever won Wimbledon he would eat his t-shirt.  Agassi who had claimed that Wimbledon was stuffy and obsolete-treasured this win more than any other.

Steffi Graf beats Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Final, 1995.

There was one game in the final set that lasted 20 minutes, garnered 32 points and had 13 deuces.  Arantxa Sanchez Vicario held eight match points, but Graf refused to fold and imposed her will on the match, finally seizing the victory.  This match symbolized Graf's competitive spirit and revealed her championship caliber.

Conclusion

These and many other matches at Wimbledon over the years illustrate the special aura of play on legendary Centre Court.  The whole panorama of spectacle brings out the very best tennis on the most famous court in the world.  It is, after all, Wimbledon.

Special Notes

There have been 18 men Wimbledon champions who have also won the U.S. Open that same year, starting with Bill Tilden back in 1920.  Of these 18, three have done this miraculous feat consecutively.  Bill Tilden won both the Wimbledon title and the U.S. Open  Championship in 1920-1921; Don Budge did it in 1937-1938; and Roger Federer did it in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  Can he do it again in 2009?

There have been 15 women champions who have won both the U.S. Open Championship and the Wimbledon trophy in the same year.  Of those women, six have accomplished that feat in consecutive years. 

Helen Wills Moody won both championships in 1927, 1928, and 1929; Maureen Connolly Brinker did it in 1952-1953; Althea Gibson in 1957 and 1958; Martina Navratilova won both titles in 1983 and 1984 and then again in 1986 and 1987; Steffi Graf took both titles in 1988 and 1989 and then again in 1995 and 1996; and Venus Williams captured both crowns in 2000 and 2001.