There’s nothing quite like Wimbledon. If you’re looking for tradition, prestige and legacy in a tennis tournament, then you don’t have to look much further. Almost every tennis fan, commentator, current player and ex-player agrees that Wimbledon is the tennis tournament that both players and spectators prize above all the others. But why exactly is Wimbledon so revered? Check out below why Wimbledon is widely considered to be the ultimate tennis tournament:
It’s about the grass
Historically, tennis was always played on grass, much like most other sports. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, most tennis venues started shifting towards clay or hard courts, and Wimbledon is the last of the four Grand Slams to still be played on grass. This is a point of pride for Wimbledon, which allows spectators to revel in the entertainment and challenges associated with grass-court tennis. A grass surface produces a faster type of play than other surfaces, suits power players with big serves, and caters to the finesse shots artistically crafted by the most skilful players. All in all, a grass court produces exciting, dynamic and riveting tennis.
The classic matches
Wimbledon has produced some of the best matches of all time in its illustrious history, including the 1980 final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, the 2008 final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and the 2019 final between Federer and Novak Djokovic. There have also been incredible feats of endurance, such as the 2010 1st round match between John Isner and Nicholas Maut (the longest professional match of all time) and the nearly 7-hour semi-final between South Africa’s Kevin Anderson and Isner in the 2018 semi-final, which resulted in the South African reaching the final.
History and Tradition
At over 100 years old, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. And amazingly, it still follows many of the same rules and traditions that were initially established all those years ago.
The immense amount of history and tradition associated with Wimbledon makes the two-week-long tournament particularly special and loved. Aspects such as strawberries and cream, white-only clothing, embroidered towels,” Henman Hill" (which became "Murray Mound), and even rain delays are forever linked to the SW19 venue. Mostly though, the tradition of fantastic tennis, great champions and iconic players participating embodies what the tournament is all about.
The Media Spotlight
Wimbledon draws considerable media attention from all over the world; you really feel the sense of occasion as renowned media houses such as NBC, ESPN and BBC Sport, provide in-depth and consistent coverage, while Radio Wimbledon offers excellent coverage and commentary throughout the tournament and is the first ever radio show of its kind for a Grand Slam tennis tournament. You can also expect former players and established journalists to provide great insight, nuance and humour, with names such as Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Sue Barker and Sam Lloyd gracing the airwaves during the tournament.
Celebrities abound
Besides watching the sizzling on-court action, you should also keep an eye out for celebrities, who often frequent the All-England Club, particularly in the 2nd week of the tournament. Royalty is often in attendance, famous actors such as Ben Stiller, Bradley Cooper and Kirsten Dunst love to pay a visit, while the famous former champions such as Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors can often be spotted checking out the action as spectators.
Fanatic Fans
Wimbledon have some of the best and most committed tennis fans in the world. People don’t mind queuing for hours to get a chance to enter the famous grounds, and will even sit on a hill and watch a match on a big screen outside the stadium if they can’t get into Centre Court or Court no 1. They always show parochial support they show for British players such as Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie, which often provides extra spice and livens up the match.
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