Jugs of Pimms, strawberries and cream, and the thwack of the tennis ball as it sails across the net on Centre Court are all synonymous with the Wimbledon Tennis Championships – the quintessentially British event which is one of the highlights of the English social scene and summer itself.
I spoke to Pippa Horn who competed in the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and lives near the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) where the Wimbledon Tennis Championships are held. Pippa talked exclusively for Dainik Bhaskar about her thoughts on this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Q. What preparations are taking place in the run-up to Wimbledon, both in and out of the All England Lawn Tennis Club?
“I really like the run-up to Wimbledon Championships, as there is a great atmosphere at the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the surrounding areas of Wimbledon village and Southfields.
The grounds people at the Club start preparing the grass courts from 11th May and they keep the grounds in excellent shape leading up to the tournament. I love the attention to detail at the Club from the grass courts to the flowers! Members of the Club are allowed to play on the courts to harden them so that the tennis ball bounces properly during the Championship matches. The stands in the adjoining courts to Centre Court start going up and so do mobile tents and marquees for corporate hospitality.
The preparations for players and fans consist of a whole grass tennis season including the Queen’s Club Championships, Nottingham Open and the Birmingham Classic women’s tournament in the lead up to the Wimbledon Championships. The Aceify Cup at the prestigious Parsons Green Club is held on the eve of Wimbledon Tennis and this year is holding a charity auction in aid of Ukrainian child refugees fleeing the war, with Elina Svitolina, the Ukrainian tennis player who reached world number three in women’s singles and was the first Ukrainian woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon Championships 2019.”
Post-Covid Championships
In 2020 the Wimbledon tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. The only other time in history it did not take place was during the second world war. In 2021 the Championships took place with reduced capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Q. What will be different this year compared to the last two years affected by Covid-19?
“This year it’s very exciting because for the first time in two years it’s at full capacity again. Wimbledon Tennis Championships is the only grand slam event which allows fans to queue for tickets. Also, the first Sunday of the tournament was previously a practice day for the players and the next day was always called “Manic Monday” as so many matches were held. This year Sunday 3rd July, matches will be held. Another defining factor this year is Wimbledon Centre Court is celebrating its 100 year anniversary and there is a special moment planned between the second and third matches on Sunday. In addition, the AELTC is marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and producing two special coins which will be used for the toss-up to determine who serves first in the men’s and women’s matches. I am looking forward to seeing Serena Williams competing again after her break, as will many fans.”
Wimbledon’s booming economy
Q. How does the economy in Wimbledon village and the surrounding areas get boosted because of the tournament?
“The sheer volume of people coming to pubs, cafes, bars and shops is huge. Typically, after a day at the Wimbledon tournament, people head to the pubs which are at full capacity. We are expecting plenty of visitors in the coming weeks.
Wimbledon Championships are a huge opportunity for residents looking for additional income from renting their properties to players and fans. Properties for short lets are advertised on online sites such as AirBnB and SpareRoom and command high rental income for residents who often go and stay with friends and family during the tournament; freeing up their homes for rental which often runs into thousands of pounds.
Many residents also rent out their parking spaces to visitors as parking at the Club is very expensive. Taxi firms make all-day journeys from the two train stations near the tournament and benefit from the rise in passengers throughout the weeks leading up to and during the Championships.
There are other tennis tournaments during the summer in nearby areas such as Queens in Barons Court and Aceify in Parsons Green, so players and fans are always looking to rent houses and apartments during that time.”
Pippa’s predictions on the players
“For the men’s, Rafael Nadal is a strong contender after winning the Australian Open and the French Open, but there are concerns as to whether he will play because of injuries. For me, I think Novak Djokovic will win. His track record in Australia makes his preparation in the lead-up to the Wimbledon Championships not great, but on grass he’s the best. Matteo Berrettini won the Stuttgart Open and the Queen’s title, and although he’s not included in the seasoned player’s group, he’s a strong contender as he made the Wimbledon finals last year.
In women’s tennis Serena Williams is back in action and she’s so good that no one will want to play against her. Iga Swiatek is the first Polish player to be ranked number one and she is on a winning streak so she will be hard to play against as well. Tennis is all about confidence and momentum. If Iga can make the transitions between clay and grass it wouldn’t surprise me if she takes the title.”
