The Wimbledon Wombles Return…

Thoughts that pop into your mind when you think of Wimbledon…
Strawberries and cream?
Henman Hill?
Grass?
All white?
Pete Sampras?
Tradition?
RAIN?
Will Tim do it this year?
Will ANDY do it this year?

The Wimbledon Championships are just days away, and while Andy puts the finishing touches to his game at SW19, everybody else tantalisingly awaits 1.00pm on Monday, when Roger Federer will play the first ball on Centre Court. The strawberries and cream have been ordered, the Pimms and Champagne are on ice, and the British newspapers busy themselves with the age-old question of ‘When will a Brit next win Wimbledon?’

Wimbledon sets itself apart from other Grand Slams in many ways. One of the most special and treasured parts of the Championships is the queuing aspect. Fans turn out in their droves, armed with tents, sleeping bags, barbeque kit, and on often occasions, umbrellas! The atmosphere in the queue is something very unique to Wimbledon…from the card schools, to charades, to barbeques and music, to the early morning shaking of your tent by a steward, with the cry, ‘Is anyone alive in there?’ As long as England feature in the World Cup, that is sure to add an extra spice to the queuing as people group around portable TVs and radios (even in the pouring rain – yes, we’ve all been there!), but during the day, the focus will purely be on tennis.

Wimbledon is one of the major sporting events throughout the world, and whether one comes for the social occasion, or simply the hard core tennis, people worldwide come to the Championships. Andy acknowledges Wimbledon as one of his goals in tennis, and one of his favourite tournaments to return to each year. Andy loves the tradition of Wimbledon, and has declared this year, “I would give anything to win Wimbledon!”

Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘If…’ is closely associated with the Wimbledon Championships. The last two years, Andy has had time to ponder that poem before stepping out on court for his title challenge.

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;”

As a two time finalist, will this be the year, that Andy finally lifts the elusive Wimbledon trophy?