 The Champions' Ball is a tradition at Wimbledon |
For many people around the world, Wimbledon is not only the most important tennis championship in the world. It is the only one. Like the World Cup, Wimbledon is an event that goes beyond the confines of the sport itself.
People who never watch a tennis match for the other 50 weeks of the year suddenly becomes experts on cross-court, top-spin backhands and sliced serves.
Virtually the whole of Britain grinds to a halt to watch the drama unfold on Centre Court, and interest is sure to be just as high this year.
And it is not just popular in Great Britain. Impressive as the other three Grand Slam championships in Australia, France and the United States undoubtedly are, they are still simply tennis tournaments.
In America, such is the competition from other sports that in September many people would not even know the US Open is on.
But not only does Wimbledon dominate screens in the United States, breakfast television is even broadcast from there.
 Crowds throng the outside courts at Wimbledon |
Despite the development of new courts and facilities in the grounds at Church Road, Wimbledon, the feeling of a traditional English garden still surrounds the place and makes it unique. The traditions of Wimbledon also add to its aura. It is the only major championship to be played on grass and the only one which still insists on the players wearing predominantly white clothing.
If an umpire at the US Open asked, Wimbledon-style, for "Quiet, please", the din would more than likely increase.
The previous year's men's singles champion will always start the defence of his title on Centre Court at 1400 BST on the first Monday, the following day the women's champion will start at the same time.
The Open era, when professionals were at last able to play in the Grand Slams, began at Wimbledon in 1968 and the service line monitor, nicknamed Cyclops, was first introduced to the tennis world at Wimbledon.
 Agassi and Graf at the Champions' Ball back in 1992 |
But more than anything, Wimbledon is about the fans. And while the excitement can reach fever pitch at times, especially when a British player is on court, more than anything the supporters come along to have a good time no matter what.
And in great numbers.
Unfortunately, getting into the tournament is not so simple as ringing up the day before with your credit card number.
Every year the demand for tickets outstrips supply by about 10 to one. People queue overnight for the few show court tickets that go on sale on the day and on the occasions rain meant there had to be play on the middle Sunday, the queues stretched for miles.
Wimbledon certainly gets its fair share of criticism, usually from players who have not developed the skills to play on grass.
But as Mats Wilander, who never won there, once said: "They should never change it. They could destroy the tournament if they did so."
MMIX
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