This Monday (27) begins another edition of the old Wimbledon Tournament, attached to its traditions. Played since 1887, the championship remains prestigious on the world tennis circuit, but will have an atypical dispute, without ranking points, without some important players and, after a long time, with an athlete from Brazil among important names in the singles bracket.
This year’s competition was preceded by uncertainties. In the context of the invasion of the territory of Ukraine by Russia, with the support of Belarus, the All England Club vetoed the participation of Russians and Belarusians. To prevent this from having any weight in their rankings, the ATP and WTA (men’s and women’s associations, respectively) have decided that the dispute will not be worth points.
The choice of the entity that organizes the event was criticized. The Serbian Novak Djokovic, 35, who occupies the third place in the men’s list and had his participation possible with the end of the mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 previously imposed by the English government, pronounced himself in favor of the excluded.
One of them is Russian Daniil Medvedev, 26, number one in the world. He reached the finals of two of the grass season’s tournaments, considered preparatory to Wimbledon, but will not be able to repeat the feat in London. His compatriot Natela Dzalamidze, 29, changed his nationality and will enter the court, in the doubles bracket, under the Georgian flag.
The announcement that there would be no points discouraged the participation of some of the athletes on the circuit. But the prestige of the very traditional championship made Spaniard Rafael Nadal, 36, and North American Serena Williams, 40, struggle with physical problems to enter the court. The Japanese Naomi Osaka gave up and gave way to the Brazilian Laura Pigossi, 27.
The big name in Brazil, however, is Bia Haddad Maia, 26, who arrives packed with great performance in the grass season. The São Paulo native won her first two WTA series tournaments in a row, in Nottingham and Birmingham. The following week, she reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne.
The results took her to the 28th place in the ranking, the best position of a Brazilian in the WTA – Maria Esther Bueno led the list of the International Federation, in the 1950s and 1960s, before the creation of the current association. She will be the 23rd seed and will debut this Monday, against Slovenian Kaja Juvan.
The match will be the second on court 12, whose schedule will start at 7:00 am (BrasÃlia time). Broadcast by ESPN 2 and Star+, the competition will also have a representative from Brazil in the men’s singles contest. Thiago Monteiro hopes to advance beyond the second round for the first time, an objective also sought by Bia.
The idea, especially with Haddad, is to evoke the great moments of Maria Esther, three-time Wimbledon singles champion. Among men, the most were the quarterfinals. Gustavo Kuerten, three-time champion at Roland Garros, reached that stage in 1999. Three years later, it was the turn of the underdog André Sá. Armando Vieira, in 1951, and Thomas Koch, in 1967, reached the same stage.
The championship’s fast grass floor has not been kind to the Brazilians. But the aura of traditional competition remained attractive. Brazilians, non-Brazilians and even those who are not exactly passionate about tennis, since Wimbledon is also a social event, with nobles, politicians and celebrities in the audience.
The cream meets in the Royal Box, a kind of box opened in 1922, with 74 seats. Until 2003, tennis players were required to bow to guests, something that still applies when the Queen of England or the Prince of Wales is present. In 2015, for not wearing a suit and tie, British driver Lewis Hamilton was prevented from seeing the men’s final.
The code is also strict for tennis players. The wardrobe has been regulated since 1890, with a clear requirement: all white. Cream only accompanied by strawberry, a traditional snack of the championship — there are 190,000 servings served around the courts annually.
Colored details are allowed in minimal expression, such as parts of collars and bars and logos measuring no more than one centimeter. It is also requested that the use of colored health equipment be avoided.
Even the soles of sneakers are an issue. Roger Federer – greatest champion, with eight titles, this year out of the tournament for the first time in 23 editions – already had to change his shoes, in 2013, because the sole was orange. Andre Agassi, in the early 1990s, came to rebel and boycott the event, in part, precisely because of the “dress code”, which has classist origins.
Clothing is such an important part of the competition that couture stylists have made their inroads. In 2003, Belgian Diane von Furstenberg designed a dress with American tennis player Venus Williams.
It’s part of the show. In white, injured, near-retired or hopeful rookies will be in action from this Monday at the All England Club. No ranking points, but with the charm of tradition.
Greatest Wimbledon Champions
Titles from 1968, in the era open
Roger Federer – 8 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
Pete Sampras – 7 (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Novak Djokovic – 6 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Bjorn Borg – 5 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
John McEnroe – 3 (1981, 1983, 1984)
Wimbledon’s Greatest Champions
Titles from 1968, in the open era
Martina Navratilova – 9 (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990)
Steffi Graf – 7 (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996)
Serena Williams – 7 (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)
Venus Williams – 5 (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Billie Jean King* – 4 (1968, 1972, 1973, 1975)
*Win also in 1966 and 1967
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