The Sporting Day: Wimbledon

It is one of the most revered sporting events in the world. Wimbledon. Undoubtedly the number one tennis tournament on the calendar, Wimbledon stands tall as the defining tournament for each player. Simply known as The Championships, Wimbledon represents tradition, prestige, history and greatness. They still call the men’s tournament the “Gentlemen’s Singles”.

Located in a green hamlet getaway in a city known for its hustling and bustling nature, Wimbledon has been the scene of much history and many memories and deeds so great that words rarely do them justice. Wimbledon is tennis at its purest and most noble, where the best peak and the greats leave it all on those lush green courts. Strawberries and cream and tennis dreams.

Some great names have built untouchable legacies on the greens of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. William Renshaw and the Dougherty’s Reginald and Lawrence as well as ladies Lottie Dod and Charlotte Cooper, early pioneers whose greatness waving a racquet enhanced the greatness of the Wimbledon tournament. Between War champions like Bill Tilden, Fred Perry, Suzanne Leglen and Helen Wills Moody who took the story of Wimbledon and all it stood for to the world. The great Australians of the post-war and Baby Boomer times-Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong- who enhanced not only the global attraction of Wimbledon but the identity of Australia as a nation. The great American females like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova who took the game to the modern era and demanded equality through grand athletic feats. The great rivalry between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe- the first of the real characters- that enthralled for a decade as Jimmy Connors struggled for the recognition he deserved. The heroes just gone like the German duo of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf, the mighty Pete Sampras and the much-loved Andre Agassi. The champions of today who will be remembered favourably by history; Roger Federer on the gentlemen’s side, the Williams sisters on the ladies.

The 2007 Championships will be no different with more great deeds to be played out and more lore to be written.

On the men’s side of the draw, the unparalleled champion Roger Federer chases his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. He is rated by bookmakers as a $1.45 shot to do so and thus, equal Bjorn Borg’s domination of the trophy in the late seventies. Federer is near-unbeatable on grass and always ensures he is at his best for Wimbledon. Only clay court king Rafael Nadal could down him at the French Open and defeats are a rarity for the Swiss Master. Some roughies with a hope if the draw turns favourable are Cypriot Marcus Bahgdatis, local legend Andy Murray and the big serving Croat Ivan Ljubicic. But Federer does look invincible and it does seem destiny will hand him yet another Wimbledon trophy.

The ladies side is much more open. Last year’s champion Amelie Mauresmo will have to overcome some ordinary recent form if she is to go back-to-back. Justine Henin will hope to parlay her French Open success into her first Wimbledon singles title. The Williams sisters will again be there and will again strike fear into whoever they play. The glamorous Maria Sharapova has shown she has what it takes. The joint favourites are Henin and Serena Williams but Henin is in such great form it is tough to go past her.

Get ready for some sleepless nights. The most prestigious tennis tournament on the calendar is on the doorstep.