So did moi!
I love the Wimbledon Tennis Championship!!! Always had. Somehow, i never had the same sentiments for the other grand slams.
Maybe it has to do with the traditions that are being held so strongly - all players still have to wear predominantly white. And if you look carefully, there hardly are any ads around! The only one you can see is Rolex.
Wimbledon is different from the other grand slams as the players not only pit themselves against each other but also against the elements. With the typical British summer weather, they have to contend with the rain, the strong winds, the rain, the scorching heat and also, the unpredictable rain. And oh, did i mention rain? Many feel that the courts should be covered so that play would not be disrupted - but this is part and parcel of Wimbledon. The ability to stay focussed and not be put off by the weather.
Then, there's the grass! The ball just seem to move differently on grass courts. There seemed to be an elegance - unlike the ponderous slow clay courts or the squeaky fast hard courts. The grass also allows the players to play some nice serve-volley games. Altho those who do that seemed to be getting extinct fast.
Most of all, Wimbledon brings back memories! I remember watching Steffi Graf battling out with Monica Seles, Jimmy Connors playing John McEnroe, Goran Ivanisevic blasting everyone away with his serve, Martina Hingis being untouchable in her prime (and drug-free days).
It also brings back the memories of summer in the UK as i watched the matches online. And of course, i remember when one of my dreams came true and i walked among the tennis players (flanked by some stern looking stewards) and other fans at the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. That was a wonderful and almost surreal experience. Let me share my experience with you in photos:-
*Though not the original versioin, this was arguably the most famous - topping the UK charts way back even before i was born.
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