Beautiful. Images, words, portrait. I have never been to Wimbledon and likely never will, but this vivid glimpse offers the weight of a genuine memory. Thank you.
After reading your piece, I am going to visit this the first thing on my next Wimbledon visit, which I think is 2-3 years away. Infact, on both my visits to AELTC in the past, this is the one area of the club I skipped. Hope they preserve as it is like this for next few years :)
Wonderful panoramic view of it all, Chris. Fun indeed to stroll those courts and take in tennis' ultimate garden party. I often did this with a notepad in one hand and a bag of Wimbledon candy in the other. Great story.
Thanks for the pics Chris, and the terrific description of the layout and environment. I’ve watched so much Wimbledon over the years, but didn’t have a sense of the configuration or the vibe (to use my kids’ word) until now. Enjoy the rest of the tournament Chris!
Wonderful to read, as ever! I’ve had terrific experiences here in the past, waiting for ages as people leave then the thrill of getting a spot on the bench! Feels like proper tennis, up close after the space of the show courts.
I love this area too. I particularly like stopping in the shade by court 7 on a hot day between matches, taking in what is going on across the courts. Magic!
Yes, Pam has had an impact on so many levels of the game: from playing to tour politics to coaching to commentary. Always great to speak with her, though that was our first interview on a Wimbledon bench
"But players also appreciate what many of us appreciate: the intimacy; the contagious energy from the crowd and adjacent courts; the throwback appeal of the verdant, low-rise view"
Intimacy and contagious energy win every single time.
Let us all embrace and take deep into our hearts, and keep, the old pleasures, that are, seemingly, wasted on the young. Keep a tight hold on such precious spaces as once they are gone they really are gone.
Please, please, ask some of the top snappers to capture the sights and sounds of these beautful spaces; the hustle, the hub-bub, the jostle and, of course, the views from these places of the tennis and the passions that are played out.
There have been some great shots. I love that one from David Gray of Rafa in that intimate setting with a compressed view, bringing Rafa even closer to the public.
Surely some of the old pleasures are wasted on the young but I've had several young couples stop me here at Wimbledon and at Roland Garros and asked me to take a picture of them with an old instamatic-style, single-shot camera with roll film. Seems they are discovering some of the old pleasures, too!
This was great. As I make my way through middle age (and approach the next stage), I have more and more fondness for tradition, and more appreciation for keeping as they are things that have worked perfectly well for a long time. (This can impede progress in a lot of areas, of course, but it's not so bad in sports, right?) That's part of why, although I'd *like* to go to the Australian Open and Roland Garros someday, I *want* to go to Wimbledon.
Everyone should make it to Wimbledon once in their lives, particularly a tennis maven like you. It has changed a great deal, make no mistake, but there are still spaces where the past is very present. Centre Court as well, as long as you don't look up!
We're having extremely high temperatures here in the DC area so I'm spending a good bit of time indoors watching Wimbledon. It's so nice to see the players wearing all white. And I appreciate the lack of advertising on the courts. There's a lot to be said for tradition.
I've never been fortunate to attend the tournament. But on a solo birthday trip to London several years ago I took a tour of the Wimbledon facility. A highlight was standing at the edge of the grass at Center Court. If you can't make it to the tournament, the tour is a worthy substitute.
I have said for years that I'm a lucky guy, as I have lived during what surely is a golden era for tennis. The first live match I ever saw was Laver vs Roche at the USPro Indoor in Philly, in 1969. No one can convince me there's been a better (almost) 60 years of tennis watching.
Part of that luck is that I've managed to attend each of the Big Four, with decades of the USOpen and multiple forays to Wimbledon. Like I say, lucky guy.
I was recently asked which of the four I'd choose to attend again, were I only able to go to one. No question, Wimbledon. Again and again. Aside from all the other reasons you've mentioned, and there are even more, the lack of commerciality is so wonderful.
I have mad respect for Shriver and all she's accomplished, but I disagree re her opinion of expanding courts' space outside of the lines. Think tennis pros are suffering from a surfeit of injuries? No? Then let's make the courts bigger so they have to hit the ball even more violently to create the topspin needed to exploit the larger canvas. We don't *have* to adjust the playing field to accommodate modern trends. And besides, we'd still have the challenges of what to do with the outside courts at many tournaments that don't have to real estate freedom to make courts bigger.
Got to agree with you there about the Octuple, Chris. People used to ask me, "Should I got to Wimbledon for the first week or the second week?", and I would tell them, "First week, all the most exciting action is on the outside courts for which you only need a Ground Pass in the first week. By the second week the number of matches has been drastically reduced and you need a show-court ticket with an assigned seat. Hell, you're so close to the players on the outside courts you can even talk to them when they walk past you, and they'll even answer you, I've done it many times." That's a great camera you have there. If you lose your writing credentials, you can get back in as a photographer, and that's a great picture of you atop the Crow's Net behind the old Court 2 that Philippe Bouin took with it. Ah, the good ol' days.
Any tennis story with Philippe Bouin involved is a better story (for those who don't know Philippe he was once the lead tennis writer for the French daily L'Équipe and for my one euro per issue, the best tennis writer in the world for much of his long run)
As for when to go to Wimbledon, I like end of the first week, beginning of the second and I also tell my friends coming from afar that it's better to break the bank and get a No. 1 Court or Centre Court ticket. The roofs are insurance. Hard to take the risk of getting one day at Wimbledon and having it turn into a rain delay on the outside courts. But for anyone who will get a second chance, I'm with you
Beautiful. Images, words, portrait. I have never been to Wimbledon and likely never will, but this vivid glimpse offers the weight of a genuine memory. Thank you.
What a touching sentiment. From writer to writer, thank YOU Stacey
CC
Great story- loved all the history - this is what makes Wimbledon stand alone - very fortunate to have been a couple of times - Thanks Chris
Thank you Joanie
Appreciate your support and our mutual good fortune
CC
After reading your piece, I am going to visit this the first thing on my next Wimbledon visit, which I think is 2-3 years away. Infact, on both my visits to AELTC in the past, this is the one area of the club I skipped. Hope they preserve as it is like this for next few years :)
I hope so, too, Kayezad. It's a special spot and by day's end there is a lot more elbow room out there.
Thanks for reading
CC
Wonderful panoramic view of it all, Chris. Fun indeed to stroll those courts and take in tennis' ultimate garden party. I often did this with a notepad in one hand and a bag of Wimbledon candy in the other. Great story.
Thank you friend Joel
Your kind of place with all the layers of history to dig into.
A toast to notepads!
CC
Thanks for the pics Chris, and the terrific description of the layout and environment. I’ve watched so much Wimbledon over the years, but didn’t have a sense of the configuration or the vibe (to use my kids’ word) until now. Enjoy the rest of the tournament Chris!
Great to hear from you here Paul
Come if you can. You never know how long The Octuple will be left well enough alone!
Best of the summer to you and thanks
CC
Wonderful to read, as ever! I’ve had terrific experiences here in the past, waiting for ages as people leave then the thrill of getting a spot on the bench! Feels like proper tennis, up close after the space of the show courts.
Those benches are prime real estate Hilary. I've been coming to those courts since my first Wimbledon in 1990. Nice to finally write about them
Thanks for the comment
CC
I love this area too. I particularly like stopping in the shade by court 7 on a hot day between matches, taking in what is going on across the courts. Magic!
Glad to hear we have similar taste in tennis havens Stephen. Perhaps our paths will cross there down the path
Thanks for sharing your experience
CC
Thanks for this lovely story. It’s great hearing from Pam Shriver too. I really miss seeing and hearing from her on air!
Yes, Pam has had an impact on so many levels of the game: from playing to tour politics to coaching to commentary. Always great to speak with her, though that was our first interview on a Wimbledon bench
CC
Welcome back to 'down Memory Lane' Mr. C.
"But players also appreciate what many of us appreciate: the intimacy; the contagious energy from the crowd and adjacent courts; the throwback appeal of the verdant, low-rise view"
Intimacy and contagious energy win every single time.
Let us all embrace and take deep into our hearts, and keep, the old pleasures, that are, seemingly, wasted on the young. Keep a tight hold on such precious spaces as once they are gone they really are gone.
Please, please, ask some of the top snappers to capture the sights and sounds of these beautful spaces; the hustle, the hub-bub, the jostle and, of course, the views from these places of the tennis and the passions that are played out.
There have been some great shots. I love that one from David Gray of Rafa in that intimate setting with a compressed view, bringing Rafa even closer to the public.
Surely some of the old pleasures are wasted on the young but I've had several young couples stop me here at Wimbledon and at Roland Garros and asked me to take a picture of them with an old instamatic-style, single-shot camera with roll film. Seems they are discovering some of the old pleasures, too!
CC
Love this...the history...the context...the random Pam Shriver meet up for more history....thanks Chris
A pleasure Kristin, and a pleasure to be back on those outside courts
CC
This was great. As I make my way through middle age (and approach the next stage), I have more and more fondness for tradition, and more appreciation for keeping as they are things that have worked perfectly well for a long time. (This can impede progress in a lot of areas, of course, but it's not so bad in sports, right?) That's part of why, although I'd *like* to go to the Australian Open and Roland Garros someday, I *want* to go to Wimbledon.
Everyone should make it to Wimbledon once in their lives, particularly a tennis maven like you. It has changed a great deal, make no mistake, but there are still spaces where the past is very present. Centre Court as well, as long as you don't look up!
CC
We're having extremely high temperatures here in the DC area so I'm spending a good bit of time indoors watching Wimbledon. It's so nice to see the players wearing all white. And I appreciate the lack of advertising on the courts. There's a lot to be said for tradition.
I've never been fortunate to attend the tournament. But on a solo birthday trip to London several years ago I took a tour of the Wimbledon facility. A highlight was standing at the edge of the grass at Center Court. If you can't make it to the tournament, the tour is a worthy substitute.
Good idea Nancy. I believe the museum is part of that tour, as well, correct?
CC
Yes, the museum was very interesting. Tour participants also get to sit at the BBC broadcasting desk.
I have said for years that I'm a lucky guy, as I have lived during what surely is a golden era for tennis. The first live match I ever saw was Laver vs Roche at the USPro Indoor in Philly, in 1969. No one can convince me there's been a better (almost) 60 years of tennis watching.
Part of that luck is that I've managed to attend each of the Big Four, with decades of the USOpen and multiple forays to Wimbledon. Like I say, lucky guy.
I was recently asked which of the four I'd choose to attend again, were I only able to go to one. No question, Wimbledon. Again and again. Aside from all the other reasons you've mentioned, and there are even more, the lack of commerciality is so wonderful.
I have mad respect for Shriver and all she's accomplished, but I disagree re her opinion of expanding courts' space outside of the lines. Think tennis pros are suffering from a surfeit of injuries? No? Then let's make the courts bigger so they have to hit the ball even more violently to create the topspin needed to exploit the larger canvas. We don't *have* to adjust the playing field to accommodate modern trends. And besides, we'd still have the challenges of what to do with the outside courts at many tournaments that don't have to real estate freedom to make courts bigger.
Love this story! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks for making it a better story Pam
Serendipitous to run into you out there
CC
Got to agree with you there about the Octuple, Chris. People used to ask me, "Should I got to Wimbledon for the first week or the second week?", and I would tell them, "First week, all the most exciting action is on the outside courts for which you only need a Ground Pass in the first week. By the second week the number of matches has been drastically reduced and you need a show-court ticket with an assigned seat. Hell, you're so close to the players on the outside courts you can even talk to them when they walk past you, and they'll even answer you, I've done it many times." That's a great camera you have there. If you lose your writing credentials, you can get back in as a photographer, and that's a great picture of you atop the Crow's Net behind the old Court 2 that Philippe Bouin took with it. Ah, the good ol' days.
Hi Joe
Any tennis story with Philippe Bouin involved is a better story (for those who don't know Philippe he was once the lead tennis writer for the French daily L'Équipe and for my one euro per issue, the best tennis writer in the world for much of his long run)
As for when to go to Wimbledon, I like end of the first week, beginning of the second and I also tell my friends coming from afar that it's better to break the bank and get a No. 1 Court or Centre Court ticket. The roofs are insurance. Hard to take the risk of getting one day at Wimbledon and having it turn into a rain delay on the outside courts. But for anyone who will get a second chance, I'm with you
A toast to the Crow's Nest
CC
Like most people, you make a lot more sense than I do. Yeah, Philippe was great. He and I used to exchange jokes in French.