After having had an enriching experience at the mother of all races Formula 1 not very long ago, watching the likes of michael schumacher, kimi and montoyo racing through it was time for another historcal international event the mother of all GRANDSLAMS ,"WIMBLEDON".
Though it had been decided that we would be on there at the event , there was lot of apprehension amonst the guys here and never till the fag end did we decide on which day we would be on.
Having decided upon the day as Monday , with Sunday being an holiday we were quite enthusiatic amidst the "cold" here which almost crossed a neat "33 degress" !!!!!
Wimbledon was an 1hr drive from london , and no wonder each one of us were cynical to the fullest all the way and moaning confidently about making to wimbledon late, not getting tickets for the next day and so on….only reason being the huge queue outside the stadium, all the more a reason to demotivate us!
Btw it was 5 of us me (kate),arun(muchellavari),shiva(shivakumar) ,ashok and mani(manikandan) :))
We were there a little later than noon eagerly expecting to get TICKETS for Monday, with a few security guards boosting our confidence saying we were too early for the next day's tickets , but only to realise that we were almost the last in the queue (some waiting in the same queue right from Friday !! ). No wonder we had more reasons to be cynical … As we settled down ,all of a sudden we decide to try the other queue quite a distance away up hill , on the way counting the number of tents and the people pitched up . In order to make it to THE CENTRE COURT one needs to be within the first 250 in the queue.It was at ARTHUR ROAD,North Wimbledon Conservation Area, 3 of us me,mani and arun decide to go to the other queue hoping to be part of the 250 .At about 4 p.m the volunteers give a queue ticket , the number on that indicating whether one gets centre court,court 1 or court 2. Ours was a lucky 190 - 195 and all of us were in splits with a guarantee that we would be at the CENTRE COURT come what may and the adrenalin rush .
Waiting in the queue is considered an honour at WIMBLEDON and any comon man is treated with dignity.All along the stretch , are these "HONORARY STEWARDS" and the wimbledon volunteers who manage the crowd in the queue.The amount of space on the footpath required for pitching the tents etc.. Is decided based on the number of people . The best part about that is the preparation that goes on. One gets to see a variety of tents, with sleeping bags etcc.. And a few catchy tents as well with table , chairs fitted in and a mini kitchen in all and the camaraderie was just brilliant. On the contrary all we'd managed to do is get a couple of sleeping bags and a few papers (based on the advice by friends who'd been there before) . As always we were short of the essentials and we went pretty much "OUR LOCAL" way of putting the papers down and use the sleeping bag as a quilt while evey alternate person had a tent to live in.
The stewards (most of them) were old men and women (close to age 55 to 65) updating every one about the itenary, time in the queue,ticket details on match day etc.. ,ofcourse with a few doughnuts from some of the church volunteers. All in all the preparation for the event and the hospitality was admirable.
DAY 2:
As we decide to call it a day close to midnight , we are woken up by the VOLUNTEERS sometime between 5.50 a.m and 6 a.m giving everyone ample time to get geared up for the D-day .Between 8to 9 a.m the queue is moved towards an pretty big field opposite the arena where the STEWARDS provide everyone with a band tied to the hand on which indicates CENTRE COURT,COURT1 ETC..As we head towards the stadium to collect the tickets the STEWARDS give a label indicating "I QUEUED" which is a wimbledon momento. !!!!
The ticket for the centre court costs 59£ which is issued only a couple of hours before the match begins. Finally worth the wait !!!! Both the courts centre and court 1 are magnificient and majestic with the traditional GREEN paint all over the stadium . The forgettable thing there personally would be the WIMBLEDON SHOP with sky high prices on each of the items , but nothing ends without someform of a souvenir .
With heat taking its toll on everyone and with the wait finally ending we get to see the first match at COURT 2 between MARIA SHARAPOVA and Penetta. The advantage of having CENTRE COURT tickets is one can get to STAND and watch the matches at the other courts . Business as usual MARIA with her awesome powerdisplay and wide array of shots plays down the newcomer with much ease , not in straight sets though was given a run for her money.
At 13.00 , was another exciting line up at the CENTRE court between the "never say die " JUSTIN -HENIN-HARDENE and the pretty damsel from russia "DANIELA HUNTCHUCOVA" , to be honest was no where a match to the champion , lost out in straight sets .
The feel of just being a part of the centre court was brilliant . We were just below the "ROLEX DIGITAL WATCH " in the secod row , just behind the MURRAY fans, just in case some one happened top see 5 dark and tanned guys .
As we headed to watch Hewitt at court 1 , out came SHARAPOVA and the crowd mobbed around her and understably din oblige for all those desperate autograph seekers .
With no signs of the heat reducing , we order for a few "STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM " supposedly the best at WIMBLEDON . The dish is a mixture of berries and cream with sugar added on to it .. Slurrppppppppppp!!!. Meanwhile I manage to spot our very own "VIJAY AMRITRAJ" and get a pic with him, sad to say none of them realising they were amidst an ex- tennis player and an INDIAN HERO and not far away was "MAHESH BHUPATHI " as well. On our way to court 1 through the press box we spot the legndary and aggressive "JOHN McEnroe" in his own inimitable style.
Alongside we also get to watch the french star amele mauresmo play as well. With ROGER FEDERER's match at 16.00 at centre court , on our way we spot our very own "PADMASHREE SANIA MIRZA" playing doubles alongside with michaela kraijaeck . With sania's family there to support there and a few INDIAN's around ,the luck unfortunatley was not on her side .
Finally , the greatest moment of all ROGER FEDERER AT CENTRE COURT. Here he is elegant, graceful and with so much of poise defeating his opponent within no time . This GUY is the one to watch out for , and no wonder he is the GRASSKING . Impeccable !!!!!!!!!! As we head home we were on for a charity doubles match between THE ACE® GORAN IVANISEVIC teaming with LECONTE .
About Tickets :
If in case one gets a centre court ticket etc,.. And that is not utilised supposedly for the entire day , there is an official way where in the tickets are dropped on to a box and the re-saled and the amount given to charity making sure that the ticket once given can be reusable at a price and officially .
Finally while heading home are again "TAXI STEWARDS" helping out each one get to his/her place which was again notable which rarely happens elsewhere . !!!
All in all a LIFE TIME experience at the QUEEN of all grandslams cherished with great memories.
Cheers,
Karthik..
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