The Wimbledon trophy is the most prestigious award that every professional tennis player dreams of. The Wimbledon Championship is one of the most prestigious champions in tennis and is held in high regard by those who watch and follow the developments in tennis.
From a casual game to a world championship tournament, Wimbledon has sure come a long way. Wimbledon champions have changed but the game hasn’t lost its charm even once and continues to win over fans and keep them hooked to the game year after year.
The game originated in the 12th century and was inspired by a French game called the paume, which means palm. The game was initially played with palms and on different courts.
The croquet courts were introduced later and today there are different kinds of courts such as hard court, which is used in the Australian Open; clay court, which is used in the French Open; the DecoTurf court used in the US Open.
The game was initially played on a grassy court which gave it its name ‘lawn tennis.’
There are certain traditions associated with Wimbledon. The dress or costume of the players is strict; the balls used for the game have to be essentially white or yellow; the audience usually eats strawberries and cream during the match etc.
The courts, unlike cricket stadiums, are devoid of flashy advertisement signs and are usually fitted with a retractable roof to save game time during rains.
The game has some very set rules that specify the size of the court, the kind of balls and rackets to be used in the game etc. Patience and self confidence are the most important values that a player keeps close to his heart while playing on a tennis court. Some of the biggest stars of this game are Andre Agassi, Roger Federer etc.
Wimbledon is a dream for all those who aspire to become tennis players in the future or for those already in the game. It is a prestigious achievement institutionalized by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Internationally acclaimed, the Wimbledon is a platform for tennis players to realise their dreams. Players such as Andre Agassi and Roger Federer are internationally recognized and acclaimed.
There are many promising players in India such as Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza who have taken their shots at the Wimbledon championship. However, it is a matter of time when the coveted title is held by an Indian.
