(no subject)

[shinytoaster]

I came into possession of my ticket because my mum and my brother won the ballot at their tennis club for tickets, but my mum couldn't go because of some work commitments, so I have to admit I was kind of wibbly about going at all. I was very conscious that it shouldn't be me going, conscious that she's much more of a tennis fan than I am ...

And then I got there, and my preconceptions were totally challenged and totally changed. If I wasn't a fan before, I am now. There was just something about actually being in that place, in those familiar, green and purple tinged surroundings that, watching from behind the TV screen, you can never quite comprehend the actual existence of. People speak of Wimbledon in reverential tones, aware of the weight of history and tradition bearing down on them, and I was sceptical before, but I have to admit that, when you're there, you see what they mean. There's something undefinable about the championships. Something good that I can't really put into words.

So, it was a lovely summer's afternoon when we arrived on the painfully slow shuttle bus from Wimbledon station - just the sort of afternoon on which to have my preconceptions and worries overturned. My brother and I headed off on a walking tour of the grounds, which are vast, and soon came upon Henman Hill.



I was shocked at how close the terraces are to Court 1, which is the building behind the big screen - I had always thought they were in different parts of the club. I can't imagine how it must be to concentrate on Court 1 with all the noise coming from just outside.

Finding our bearings and facilities, we moved on to the practice courts, where we were treated by none other than Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova, all out practicing. Serena and Venus walked past a minute or so later, but I wasn't quick enough with the camera ...

So, as it was getting on for one o'clock, and play was due to start, we moved into Court 1 and found our seats - just to the right of the main TV camera position - settled in and unpacked our picnic. At this point I remembered I'd forgotten to pack strawberries, but it was too late to do anything, because by now the stands were flooded with spectators, and Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez took to the court.





It was a fast game, won by Federer in straight sets, pretty much as we expected. We ate our picnic. It was sushi. The people next to us - tanned twenty-something lower-upper-middle class snobby women clearly at Wimbledon not to be at the tennis, but to have people see them being at the tennis, were quite rude.

"I don't understand why anybody would bring sushi to the tennis," one said to her companion, in plain earshot of myself.

"Sushi is lovely. Everybody should have it," I said, resisting the temptation to say I couldn't believe she was wearing Prada with those shoes.

"I can't stand the thought of raw fish," she said.

I didn't bother to tell her it was smoked salmon nigiri. Bitch, please, like you don't guzzle smoked salmon with yer Bucks Fizz.

Federer and Gonzales left the court, the they were replaced by David Nalbandian, who knocked out Andy Murray last week, and Thomas Johanssen. They started their first game, and the scoreline had just gone to deuce, when ...



Rain ...



Stopped ...



Play.

And here is a picture of Johanssen winning the match a couple of hours later, with his back to us ...



At this point, scheduled play ended for the day, and the snobby little rich girls (how fucking snobby do you have to be to be snobby about sushi, for God's sake?) left, which was their mistake, because over the PA came the announcement we had been hoping for. We were to be treated to a mixed doubles match featuring the legendary Martina Navratilova.



It was really the perfect end to a perfect day. I felt so utterly gooey and warm inside to be in this woman's presence and it sounds silly, but it was a privilege I will always remember to see her play. It was a fantastic game .. Martina's team won, I'm happy to say - that's her on the far right, closest to the net





And there we go. Clouds over Court 1 at close of play. Home we went. Is Wimbledon full of unpleasant, overpaid people? Yes. Is it fantastic? Yes. Do I want to enter the public ballot for tickets next year? You bet.

Comments

[pinguthegreek.livejournal.com]

#Sigh# You write wonderfully. You make me think I might enjoy it !

[february-sea.livejournal.com]

:) It sounds like a PERFECT day.

And who *wouldn't* bring sushi to tennis? Honestly. Some people just don't know how to live. :D

*snugs you*

[katiemorris.livejournal.com]

Wonderful pictures. Glad you enjoyed it so much. My daughter queued for hours the other year to get tickets and I thought she was mad, but she raved and raved about it and said i was the idiot for not going with her.

I'm inclined to believe her now. Great day.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Sounds absolute heaven, and if an idjit like the one you sat near had told me "I can't stand the thought of raw fish," I probably would have answered something like "The thought? Thinking? You should stop exerting yourself, you'll sprain something."

And the piccies are terrific!

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous pics. This is a place I've wanted to visit since I fell in love with Boris Becker in the mid 80s (I was 13. It all made sense at the time) and I'd still like to make it there. I'm encouraged to hear that the experience holds up.

[titanic-days.livejournal.com]

No, I don't need justification; it makes sense still. Actually, Boris Becker is probably hotter now than he was in 1985. He's a pundit/commentator on the BBC these days so we see a lot of him during the Championships.

[titanic-days.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know exactly what I want to say to people in those situations, only it always occurs to me a few hours after the event.

[titanic-days.livejournal.com]

What is a great way to be introduced to Wimbledon is to go along at about five or six, when the day's big matches are over, and they resell the tickets for about a fiver (money goes to charity) - so when the snobs are all leaving after they've had enough of being seen, you can often get in on their old tickets and see some really good evening matches for less than a tenth of the price.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am sooooo witty in front of my computer...

:)

[cherrybomb07.livejournal.com]

I watched that very same mixed doubles match on TV! Martina is quite incredible, to still be playing blindingly at her age.

You know, I've just actually been to see a single match despite living down in south Wimbledon, but you've made me want to go for the first time ever...

[sweet-merak.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's so cool! It's amazing what seeing a sport played well can do to turn indifference to fanhood. Happened for me with lacrosse just last month - I am now all about seeing another game, when I can.

I'm so excited you got to see Martina play! She is just so amazing... such a longtime role model, a really strong woman in every way. Wow.

:D :D :D :D