Why is Wimbledon special?

Wimbledon, known for its perfect blend of tradition with tennis, can be called the Mecca of the tennis world.

The invincible aura and the atmosphere of the All England club is an experience every tennis player gets overwhelmed with. The place breathes history and the earth here is soaked with the blood and sweat of the players. The lush green grass enhances the reputation of Wimbledon, from being just another Grand slam to the most sought after Championship.

The gates see record breaking spectator numbers every year. Fans’ camping in tents for tickets is another spectacle unique to Wimbledon. The Henman Hill has game enthusiasts cheer on its top. The walls have memories etched in indelible form. The infamous court no.2 has seen epic defeats, earning the sobriquet as the graveyard of champions. And Center court stands witness to the indomitable spirit, untainted elegance and incredible achievements of the players.

Wimbledon has been host to numerous spell-binding occasions. The longest match in the history of tennis at 11 hours and five minutes on Court 18 between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, Roger Federer surpassing Pete Sampras’ record of highest number of Grand Slams, Rafael Nadal‘s first Wimbledon title claimed in a hair raising display of tennis between Roger Federer and him, the local hero Andy Murray coming from two sets down to win the fourth round match against Richard Gasquet are some moments that remain forever in a tennis fan’s mind. The Williams ‘ sisters domination on the Venus Rosewater trophy, Maria Sharapova becoming the champion at the age of 17, Marion Bartoli’s uprooting of Justine Henin are memories still fresh in our minds.

If rivalries have ever come more alive anywhere, then they have to be at Wimbledon. The confrontations between Chris Evert-Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf-Monica Seles, Bjorn Borg – John McEnroe, Pete Sampras- Andre Agassi and the more recent Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal always brought the court alive with each player’s thirst for the win.

A few players made Wimbledon their second home by creating a special space for themselves in its history. Billie Jean king and Martina Navratilova are one of the very few to do so. They won more than 19 titles, an astounding achievement in the championships inclusive of all the categories.

It is not only the players who make their presence felt at the Wimbledon. The Royalty of England has always made an impact as well. The Queen visited the championships in 2010 after 33 years and watched Andy Murray’s duel with Jarkko Nieminen.

The presence of the tennis stalwarts during the Championships only adds to the grandeur of the occasion. The invitational doubles events are equal crowd pullers where these players enjoy their return to Wimbledon. One such example was Vijay Amritraj having tea while seated on the Center court grass midway through the match.

If people mark their attendance here every year, then rain also makes its presence felt every time. It almost serves as a litmus test for the successful completion of the championships as some of the best contested matches have seen rain interruptions as a part of them. It wouldn’t be unfair to say that it evokes the best tennis in a player.

The convergence of all these factors make Wimbledon special. The serenity of its white clothing gear, the acceptance of changing times while still holding the old world charm, the famous strawberries and cream and more beautify this grand slam. It is loved by every tennis player and every tennis fan. While some players grow up dreaming to win it one day, for some it teaches to respect the sport like it did for Agassi. To capture its mammoth sporting heritage is a colossal task but to acknowledge it is fairly easy.

Wimbledon is my favorite tennis championships among all and I eagerly wait for it every year to see a few more moments being added to its history.