AMIDST POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE WIMBLEDON’S FLAWLESS GRASS SIZZLES WITH ANTICIPATION
LONDON: Pristine, fresh and waiting – the flawless grass on Wimbledon’s Court One shines with a shimmering purity.
In a world that embraces order and sensibility, the table is now set oh-so-properly. This tournament shall serve us a meal like no other.
Yes, out on Court 14, a dad lifts his six-year girl in a pink frock, to catch a glimpse of the play. But on opening day, it is all about the show courts.
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It’s 12:50 P.M. – ten minutes before the start of play and the anticipation sizzles. The slightly aging woman in her high heels who long has supervised the VIP International Box smiles: “It’s the first day,” she says. “Anything can happen.” The Navy security guard – cropped hair, picture perfect unnie topped by a flawless black beret – sighs, “I’ve been here 12 straight years. I’ve seen it all.”
Now the proud chair umpire – crème pants, blue blazer, studied tie – climbs to his perch while the ball boys stand stiff and focused on their pasty thin legs. The scoreboard pictures two feisty characters. Serb Janko Tipsarevic (who is known for his tattoo “Beauty Will Save the World”) and Davide Nalbandian (who became infamous overnight for an ugly incident where, in the Queen’s Club final, he kicked the advert boards and bloodied a linesman’s leg.)
There was outrage and he was booted out. The Argentine should have just apologized for his impulsive blunder. But he went on to muddle the already murky waters when he offered a rant against the ATP. Now there may be criminal charges.
Still, as he walks out on Court One, the kind Brits applaud. This ain’t Philly, not a single boo is heard. But in the press box, Dutch, British and American writers wonder whether Nalbandian has now cracked the top ten list of Open Era bad boys. Sure, all-time nasty Ilie Nastase tops the bad boy list. Roscoe Tanner and John McEnroe are not far behind. Some recall the punkish misdeeds of one Andre (“Don’t worry, I’m Almost Going to Become a Zen Master”) Agassi.
Still Nalbandian has a fine resume of violations and spats: tossing water at Aussie officials, being rude to unknowing reporters, feuding with Lleyton Hewitt and fighting in the locker room with his own teammate, Juan Martin del Potro, after a Davis Cup loss to Spain. Now unseeded due to his Eastbourne misdeed, Nalbandian must face the tough Serb, seeded 8. Tipsarevic breaks early in the first set and never looks back.
The anticipation for Wimbledon play is never routine. But Tipsarevic’s 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win is. At least now the once flawless court is broken in. Skid marks remind us of desperate lunges and the ample history books tell us by the time this court shows its brown spots and kicks up grainy dust, drama will have reigned.
After all, this is Wimbledon.
