Wimbledon - All about traditions, epic matches and great rivalries

As has been the tradition for more than 100 years, the coming Monday will signal the commencement of the oldest tennis tournament in the world – Wimbledon. It has truly stood the test of time. Historians will recall that the centre court at the All England Club was bombed during the World War II and as many as 1,200 seats were destroyed. It literally rose from ashes and play resumed after the war in 1946.

Wimbledon is the epitome of tradition at least in the sport of tennis. Be it the all-white dress code, the strawberry and cream bowls or bowing in front of the Queen; they all are as old as the tournament itself. At the Wimbledon, even an arguing John McEnroe becomes a “Gentleman” because that is how you address a male player. One can like or dislike the traditions here, but no one can ignore it.

While most of the players blend in with the customs at Wimbledon, there have been few exceptions. The great Andre Agassi went on record to say that he finds the traditions “stuffy”.

Legendary matches and rivalries

Britishers, who have a strange love for tradition in anything and everything that they do will tell you that the Wimbledon would not have been the tournament it is without the traditions. But fans across the globe will tell you that Wimbledon is not just about traditions. Over the years, it has witnessed some of the epic tennis battles.

The longest match in professional tennis took place in this very tournament in 2010 between John Isner of the USA and Nicolas Mahut from France. The match, which lasted for 11 hours and 5 minutes, was played over three days with the final score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68(!) in Isner’s favour. Then, there have been classics like the 2008 final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in which the Spaniard emerged victorious. In women’s tennis, the 2005 final between Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport which Venus won 4-6, 7-6, 9-7 is a story of utmost grit and determination.

Wimbledon has also witnessed some of the greatest rivalries in professional tennis – Margaret Court vs Billie Jean King, Chris Evert vs Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe vs Bjorn Borg, Steffi Graff vs Monica Seles, Boris Becker vs Stefen Edberg, Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal to name a few.

With top seeds, defending champion Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, apart from Rafael Nadal, who is ranked 10^th, in action, the men’s category promises to be extremely competitive. On the other side, last year’s champion Petra Kvitova will be looking to defend her crown while top seed, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will provide tough competition to the Czech player.

All this has the promise of giving us two weeks of action-packed tennis. So in truly English style, put on your best blazer, don your hat and get yourself a bowl of strawberry and cream; for the referee would soon be saying – “Quiet please, the players are ready”.