AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC

Written by: Staff on 4th July 2015

AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC |

Photo by Lovey Jergens.

This morning as I entered the All England Lawn Tennis Club, I saw Lindsay Davenport and nearly gave her a hug. She was my idol growing up, but I forgot that we actually didn’t know each other.

It’s early, what can I say.

Photo by Lovey Jergens.

So I brush off my nearly awkward encounter and sit myself by the balcony edge. Everything is quiet. The hush around me puts me in a meditative state as I nestle into the best rooftop cafe in all of Europe: the Player’s Lounge Cafe at Wimbledon. I feel like a bird perched on top of the highest tree, my view of Center Court and its mini-me companions is absolutely unparalleled.

From up here, I can really get a sense of how this tournament breathes and operates. To my right, in the stands of the No. 3 court, an officer hosts a meeting for the grounds’ policemen. Gatekeepers in the distance stand idly by gate 13, waiting to scan pass holders and perform bag checks. Directly behind me, the waitresses perfectly arranges the chairs in the renovated players’ space. The court supervisors on No. 4 Court place the wooden net poles into the ground next to which the ball boys and girls will be kneeling. I think to myself, this event is only made possible by the hundreds of workers who have devoted their days to this job– albeit some jobs more glamorous than others. I know now why the Champions and Runner-ups thank the tournament staff in their acceptance speeches… Wimbledon would be impossible without them.

Photo by Lovey Jergens.

A warm breeze passes and I think about how lucky I am to be here, rubbing elbows with the stars, playing the occasional game of Charades with Djokovic and the Serbian Davis Cup team. The only thing that would be better than this is to be a competitor myself. And with my forehand, what luck that would have to be!

Last week I spent most of my time at the Aorangi practice courts (if I wasn’t up here sipping on a delicious Lavazza cappuccino). I watched Nadal, Djokovic, Nishikori, Federer, Tsonga, Berdych, Sharapova, Kvitova, pouring their hearts out on court. I must say, apart from seeing these humans perform extraordinarily human feats, it was a pleasure witnessing people at work doing what they love. As such, I can’t quite explain the energy here because it truly is a rare one. Realistically, on any average day and at any normal place of work you would be hard-pressed to find all employees in exceptionally good spirits, in love with what they do. Perhaps it is because our jobs, for the most part, are a means to an end. But to these athletes, their job defines their very existence.

Photo by Lovey Jergens.

As the first week of competition now progresses, sure, the sentiments are changing. Stress levels are higher as friendly smiles from the players and their coaches are replaced with focused gazes. It’s hard to imagine how quickly the number of competitors will decrease in only a few short days. By next week only a fraction will remain– although I guarantee you that the fans currently lined up outside by the thousands will still be here.

An announcement on the loud speaker has a very pleasant English man telling us that the gates are about to open. I look at the tables around me, slowing being taken over by fancy women, Club members and anxious teams. Below, the grounds now fill with all sorts of colors, contrasting with the purple, white and “impossibly green” greens of the All-England. The hush I came into this morning now grows into loud murmuring crowd. Spectators politely race for unreserved seats and my meditative state quickly fades as Nadal takes the court for practice.

I should probably go down and say hello.

Photo by Lovey Jergens.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Grass tennis, Jelena Zivanovic, Lovey Jergens, Sw19, tennis update, Wimbledon 2015

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10sBalls_com says:

June 30, 2015 at 2:15 pm

AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC- http://t.co/0Zst156O0X @Wimbledon #tennis #SW19 #Wimbledon2015 #WimbledonToday
dusanVemic says:

July 3, 2015 at 3:23 am

RT @10sBalls_com: AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC- http://t.co/0Zst156O0X @Wimbledon #tennis #SW19 #Wimbledon2015 #Wimble…
ninak33 says:

July 3, 2015 at 3:41 am

RT @10sBalls_com: AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC- http://t.co/0Zst156O0X @Wimbledon #tennis #SW19 #Wimbledon2015 #Wimble…
10sBalls_com says:

July 4, 2015 at 1:09 pm

AN EARLY MORNING AT WIMBLEDON BY JELENA ZIVANOVIC- http://t.co/0Zst156O0X @Wimbledon #tennis #AELTC #SW19 #Wimbledon2015 #Wimby