Wimbledon 2013: The grass is green, but not for all

Marion Bartoli of France poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy and Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy at the Wimbledon Championships 2013 Winners Ball at InterContinental Park Lane Hotel on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The lush green grass was a welcoming sight after months of grinding on dirt. The heroes moved to the Isles in search of further glory. They flew, happy and excited to stamp the green slivers not knowing what was in store for them. All seemed well; practice went as per schedule and warm-up tournaments were not so bad. It was nice to see green courts – refreshing and awe inspiring.

On the very first day, former champion and in-form Rafael Nadal was sent packing from the lawns of All England Club. Mere disbelief engulfed all of tennis world. He succumbed to the pressures of his knee. And then was born an instant hero, nicknamed ‘the Shark’.

Hitherto unknown and behind the screens, Belgian Steve Darcis resolved not to let Lukas Rosol hold a distinct record. He even denied the Czeck a share of his record by committing an even bigger upset. He was then called the player to watch out for in the succeeding rounds.

Ironically, he couldn’t step onto match court for the rest of the Championships.

But on another day, the green grass would turn red with the blood of slain soldiers, who were born to slay others.

Maria Sharapova was crowned champion when she was just in her teens. She had dethroned the Empress. She came here to be crowned again but was slain by a woman with similar roots. Another upset.

Roger Federer speaks to members of the media during a press conference on day three of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club on June 26, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The Russian supernova slipped out of the women’s draw. With her slipped another pole of women’s tennis – Victoria Azarenka – leaving Serena Williams to battle it out.

Lay slain were many others, submitting to physical strains or suddenly inspired underlings. As the sun blossomed and the day grew, fans, sober and uninspired, looked forward to the King. In him they saw reprieve.

Roger Federer was born to rule, to own trophies and slay mighty opponents. He was determined to equal his nemesis’ glory on clay. These are his courts. He grew and progressed here and they did fear to face him.

Then came a man reminiscing the past and determined to show him the door and he did what he wanted to. He was sent crashing out of the courts he had once owned. The champion had fallen akin to his greatest nemesis.

That day would be etched in history books and the minds of fans alike. A rather unexpected day; a black day it would seem.

Yet we had to move on. The dawn of the next few days could see new faces bask in glory and other old faces carrying on business as usual. But the curse wasn’t constrained to that Wednesday. It seemed to affect the tournament intermittently.

Serena William looks dejected during her Ladies’ Singles fourth round match against Sabine Lisicki on day seven of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club on July 1, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Serena Williams – the Empress, rather safe in the battle with no real peer marched on with triumph after triumph. It seemed routine – but not forever. There stood a woman with extraordinary prowess to fell champions from the neighbouring nation – Sabine Lisicki. And she did stop the progress of the former.

As the second week began, the competition intensified and an octet of men and similarly numbered women took to the stage, determined to lay their hands on that one thing, that one precious thing.

Serena’s conqueror and the woman from the land of Boris Becker and Steffi Graff proved that her momentum was not momentary. By equalling her best performance on grass, she presented herself with an opportunity to progress a step or even two further.

And she did progress, but just a step. On her way stood a hard-working Frenchwoman with oodles of support from a loving father, a great coach and many others. She journeyed on grass all the way to the final battle without dropping a set. She seemed to be on song.

Lisicki found herself carrying the smaller of the two trophies at the end of the day. The larger would adorn the shelves of Marion Bartoli.

This owner of double-fisted shots placed her hands on the trophy that she let slip six years ago. Stepping onto the court to wind up proceedings at Wimbledon for the second time, she has learnt what to do to return home happy and be crowned Champion.

When the male octet shrunk to a quartet, those remaining were Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and Jerzy Janowicz. The Pole benefited from a star-starved draw to reach his maiden semi-final, also the first for his country, at a Slam.

Evading upsets, the top two seeds proceeded to set up a very similar final encounter; one that could be repeated many more times in the future.

Ladies’ Singles Champion Marion Bartoli poses with Gentlemen’s Singles champion Andy Murray at the Wimbledon Championships 2013 Winners Ball on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Athirst Murray, riding on a wave of confidence and burdened with an entire nation’s hopes, geared up to face his nemesis from the Balkans. The British Isles were to be saved from drowning by this brave Scotsman.

On the big day, an inundated arena greeted the hero. Responding well to their cheers and resolving to end their despondence, Murray entered the court. It was the exuberant display of tennis from him that resulted in a straight sets win.

The crowd cheered, Murray fist-pumped in joy and an entire nation rose in celebration. Fred Perry has finally found a successor.

The Championships ended with two deserving players winning the Singles titles. But it was a nightmare for many.

The grass is not, after all, green for all!