During my youth, my old mum shared stories about the illustrious champions of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Rod Laver held a special place in her heart. The seasons revolved around England’s outdoor events.
In this sports paradise, we enthusiastically followed our Australian heroes as they triumphed in the motherland.
Typically, it would begin with the FA Cup, followed by the Derby, swan upping, boating, and then Ascot.
Next came the world’s top tennis players as they gathered for Wimbledon, and lastly, Goodwood.
To me, these were merely names, and I had yet to see any of them up close or in person, so to speak.
However, my mum insisted that Australia produced the finest tennis players globally. She could name them all and recall the years they had won the cup or vase.
The Grand National was never mentioned… she believed it couldn’t hold a candle to our Melbourne Cup. Yet, around the world, remarkable sporting events occurred, none of which rivaled Wimbledon.
For a fortnight, we were glued to the radio, pondering who might emerge victorious.
Margaret Court was another beloved figure of hers; even now, if anyone suggested King or Navratilova as the greatest, she would fiercely defend her champion as the only woman to conquer both of them on the same court with one hand tied behind her back… referring to Miss Court… not mother.
Recently, we have felt the absence of the tennis greats, although this year there’s a potential ladies champion and a few younger athletes showing promising futures.
She would have been thrilled about our prospects at the Olympics, especially since it was set to take place in London.
If you lived in Wapping and Ongar or Perth and Darwin, you would have undoubtedly heard her cheering for the athletes.
We’ve celebrated victories at Ascot; now it’s time for Wimbledon and the Olympics… with caviar for everyone at home.
by TOG