Wimbledon 2007
Last year at Wimbledon, my forth or fifth visit, I thought at the time it was unusual that I was having to wear trousers as opposed to shorts. Every other year, it was scorching hot and I was burnt to a crisp under a relentlessly hot sun. Last year though, it was a bit cooler. This year, I needed more than trousers. Even with three layers on top, one including my winter coat, I still felt I was underdressed and that a scarf and hat would have been appropriate. I don’t remember a June like it. It’s been freezing, and my day at Wimbledon was the coldest of the month so far, with highs of around 15C. Unfortunately, just to wind me up a bit more, Mother Nature decided to turn on the rain for most of the day too. The start of play was delayed by two and a half hours. Typical!
My day started at 04h50, in my hotel room. I hadn’t really slept. I never do when I know I’m getting up early in the morning. The longer I stay awake, the more I worry that I rally ought to be asleep by now otherwise I’m going to feel it during the day. I got ready, made sure I had all my stuff packed, checked out and caught the tube to Southfields station. By 06h20, I was in the queue. Had I have started my day at home and not at the hotel, I would have to have got up at 03h00 so the £90.00 I paid for the night’s stay was certainly worth it (a review of the hotel is available if required). The Wimbledon queuing experience will be thought of differently by different people. Some will hate having to stand around for hours. I, as a seasoned Wimbledon queuer don’t really mind it. If you’re with someone, at least you have someone to pass the time with. If, like me you queue on your own, chatting to those around you is a good time filler. This year, I had two public school boys in front of me with an Australian couple in front of them and a Kiwi mother and son behind me. The public school boys laughter at their own jokes and forced wackiness made me want to kick my own head in, so I chatted about Australasian politics, weather and life with the long distance visitors. It’s always good to hear natives talking enthusiastically about their own countries.
By 10h30ish, I had passed through the gates, paid my money and was waiting for the grounds to officially open. The good thing about the queue is that it starts some distance from the grounds and it keeps moving almost the entire length of time you’re in it, so at least you’re not standing still for hours wondering whether DVT is setting in.
I’d managed to get a good seat on No.1 Court, oddly within the press enclosure. While waiting for play to start, I made a brief visit to the roofless Centre Court (see my separate post on this). The guard at the entrance was happy for me to go in and take some photos before played started. The atmosphere was markedly different. After that, I went to the Aorangi Pavilion and practice courts to do some star spotting. Serena Williams, Dinara Sarina, Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova, who a few years ago I accidently shouldered into a flower bed, were among the players who walked past, each doing a very good job of totaling ignoring the fans yelling their names. I don’t blame them, I’d do the same.
After a brief wander around the Wimbledon Shop, I joined the queue to buy some food in the food court underneath No.1 Court. Catering is something the AELTC has never been very good at. The quality and selection of the food is poor and the pricing is absolutely horrendous. Medium glass of Pimms? £6.00! Crayfish and Rocket sandwich? £4.00. Instant Coffee? £1.50. The only reasonably priced food is the Chicken and Chips at £5.00. Then there’s the queues. Even for a cup of tea, you can expect to queue for 15 minutes. And don’t even think about trying to find the milk and sugar, because they’re inexplicably miles away from the counter, on a tiny table in the middle of the queuing masses. Even with a brand new food court underneath Centre Court, the food situation was still a total shambles, which is a shame considering how well organised everything else is.
When play finally started, I enjoyed an almost one sided match between Andy Roddick and Justin Gimelstob, both of the United States. I find Andy’s game very boring to watch. His serve is almost unreturnable, so most of his service games were over within a few minutes. Justin though made the match a good one by playing to the crowd. As the underdog, he automatically had the crowd’s support, but by kissing the net when the ball hit it in his favour and by celebrating winning games by mockingly raising his arms, soon everyone was shouting his name. You can watch a bit of the match from my vantage point in this video on Vimeo. The following match was even more one-sided. Justin Henin beat Jorgelina Cravero 6-3 6-0. The third match was cancelled due to it being late evening when the second match ended.
In all, it was a good day at Wimbledon. It would have been better if there was more play, but I’ve grown used to play being interrupted due to rain and I was expecting it to happen anyway. I’ll be watching to rest of the fortnight on the BBC (they always do a spectacular job). I’m sure Roger Federer will win the men’s title. As for the women, I think it’s a bit closer. I think it’ll be between Serena Williams and Justin Henin, although last year’s champion Amelie Mauresmo might be able to win it for a second year. Maria Sharapova can’t be ruled out either, despite not being quite a good as she used to be.
To see photos of my day, go to the Wimbledon 2007 on Flickr.
