Nothing defines English Summer better than The Championships, Wimbledon. The rain interruptions, the crowds, strawberries and cream, the professionalism, the tradition – everything together make it special, quintessentially English yet global event.
I had the pleasure to attend the Wimbledon Finals this year. It was a promise I managed to keep to get my son a Wimbledon live match as reward for his effort and splendid results at the curiosity that are the 11+/13+ exams in English prep school education system (more on that in separate blog post).
We went in for the Women’s Finals (which also had the Men’s Doubles Finals). The good thing is that Wimbledon tickets give you access to the court for whole day vs. a single match (like how US Open does).
My son plays tennis and it was not unexpected that he was delighted to have the chance to attend the Finals in Centre Court and I was delighted to go with him and have a nice summer day out!
The Journey
We started the day by travelling from our home in Chiswick to Southfields (an easy 45 min by tube). Once you arrive at Southfields – you enter the The Championships event horizon. From the moment you step out of station – the crowds are lined up and all road lead to Rome. It is a 15 mins walk to the stadiums and around you is English summer on display – roads decorated by flowers, people of all manners and customs but especially the English – dressed in best of summer attire and clothing, distinctly upper class in many parts (as perhaps it was the finals and privilege does count for access to seats at the finals).
The Experience
The Championships are well organized. Seamless and easy flow through courts. We arrived at 11 am and Centre Court matches (Ladies Finals onwards) don’t start until 2 pm. Given the schedule, figured it’s best for Advik (son, 10) to start by watching Under 14 semi-finals to then progress to Boys Finals. One is amazed at both the professionalism, focus, endurance and skill at display. Excellence at anything is a joy but professional sports is something special (I come to this later in this blog).
We also took time to go through the Wimbledon shops, some strewn around but a few that are attached to the major courts. Advik was keen to get his hands on tennis ball (large one) with the hope of getting some autographed signatures from finalists. He also got a Wimbledon branded cap – which he was keen to add to one from the US open from last year.
We took a break for lunch at 12:30 pm and then headed off to the Centre Court around quarter past 1 pm to settle ourselves in. But before that we headed to grab the beloved Strawberries and Cream to indulge in tradition as well as grab a bottle of Champagne to enjoy with the match.
The Colosseum
Entering the Centre Court (or any large stadium – take Twickenham in London for Rugby, the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid for Football) is akin to entering a modern Colosseum. One cannot but draw parallels to cheering people watching modern day gladiatorial contests. More than even football or soccer, tennis feels more gladiatorial – with one person pitched versus the other. The visual of the court, when the sun is shining on the centre court, and the green reflecting off it – presents a visual focus on the battlefield, the arena that is certainly worthy of celebration – if not less violent, and rule based but nonetheless still claims a loser and celebrates the victor, no less than it might have been in Roman times. I did wonder, but who knows?
Watching the matches unfold is a joy and pleasure to behold. Players at the top of their game and at the top of the professional league battle it out, with grunts and fist pumps. We the audience sat in seats (often the edge of our pants) watch with alternating anticipation and applause.
It was great to see both the finals – Women’s and Men’s Doubles go to three sets and remaining a close call until the final game.
The Side Gig
My son came with the intent to pursue autographed signatures as much as he wanted to watch the game. Getting those signatures was not a given however. He asked me how to get those autographs. I pointed him in the direction of the place where players offered signatures when they are departing at end of the game and suggested to he figured a way to get there from where we were sat which was diagonally opposite in stadium.
Advik was successful in getting signatures, in the end from the both the Womens finalists – Paolini and Krejchikova and the Men’s Doubles Winners – Harri and Henry. The large tennis ball and the Wimbledon cap now sit pretty with signatures at home.
Inclined to offer a lesson, as parent does, in every available instance – I credited Advik for his enterprise, wherein he did a few special things that allowed him to achieve something that can be considered improbable at the outset. These were
- Choose hope and ambition over realism
- Sign up for the lucky draw for tickets – which opens in October. You will be notified if registered with LTA online – when the draw is open and later, if you have won. Other option to line up and queue early on the day.
- Follow through – as he did to make sure I fork out £16 for a oversized tennis ball and then another few quid for a cap. He also remembered when inside the court that we forgot to get a pen, and ran out of the stadium and bought a pen back, in case he needed one.
- Be resourceful – when I offered scant advice on how best to get in front of the queue or indeed to get to the strategic location in stadium – he went up to one the stewardess to ask for help. She provided the necessary tips – to leave the seats roughly 2 games before the match might end and head up to the specific gate and seek entry.
- Be brave – everyone can guide but you must walk alone. He didn’t ask me to and I encouraged him to go by himself and he did venture out, half way across the stadium and soon enough, I could see him, stand there is brightly coloured striped t-shirt, waiting for the players benevolence, good mood and luck!
Lucky it was and those who venture, win. He came back with signatures as he had hoped. To top it all up, when we returned home that evening and watching the recap of live streaming on BBC iPlayer – we saw Advik captured live on video in his fanboy mode capturing autographs! Well done Advik!!
A short awards ceremony followed on court, done in style – in a way that Wimbledon does best.
Overall, it was a wonderful day out with my son. The weather was perfect for English summer, the experience was par none, and my son had topped it by making it extra memorable with some unique souvenirs he bought home!
Practical tips:
If your are heading to The Championships, the following may come handy
- Take the tube to Southfields from where ever you are in London. It is an easy 15 min walk from there to the courts.
- Dress up for the occasion (and The Championships are an occasion, much like though a notch below the Ascots) – summer clothing but not without the umbrella!
- Enjoy the Strawberries and Cream – the only item within the precincts that are not priced high. At £2.50, you get a decent serving of the most perfect strawberries with cream that are best to enjoy while watching!
- Explore the history of the place and go to the Museum on site – where the actual trophies are kept and you can explore the history of Tennis. The Championship winners are awarded the actuals during the awards ceremony but they have to return those and given another version to keep that is ~2/3rd of the size.
- Relax and enjoy esp. if you are lucky to soak in the atmosphere of Centre Court!