It’s that time of year again. The last Monday in June means only one thing: Come rain or shine, it is the start of Wimbledon - without doubt one of the world's premier annual sporting events.

During one year out of a quadrennial cycle, the world's top tennis tournament must share the limelight with the World Cup, and two years hence there are football’s European Championships and the Olympics, two other events which definitely attract more attention.

But the powers who control Wimbledon have never taken any notice and are never distracted. They are singularly focused on one thing only - putting on yet another memorable event and many more golden moments.

'The excitement and anticipation of being there again this year is just as great as it was the first time'


I am fortunate in that I have covered Wimbledon as a journalist on 14 separate occasions and the excitement and anticipation of being there again this year is just as great as it was the first time. But it is not all easy and fun. Sometimes it is very frustrating as rain curtails play, though the lights stay on until late at night in the press and broadcast centres, long after the spectators have left the grounds of the All England Club on their slow trek home from SW19.

For many ordinary spectators the day begins early as they queue for tickets to watch matches on the outside courts. The long wait is always well worthwhile as there is good tennis to be seen all around, and although the big stars are rarely seen outside the show courts, it is a great experience nonetheless.

The queue is a part of tennis fans' devotion to a great British institution which is admired the world over.

I remember most clearly the first time I went to Wimbledon, in 1986. I had the luxury of being shown around the place to help me get my bearings but I’ll never forget the moment I caught my first view of Centre Court through the window of one of the TV commentary boxes.

I was looking out at a sight which for so many years I had seen on television - even when it was in black and white - and now, suddenly, here I was, standing right inside the holy of holies.

At the end of that fortnight, Boris Becker claimed his second Wimbledon title, beating Ivan Lendl in the final. It was the year ‘Boom Boom’ dived acrobatically across the net to hit a perfect cross-court fading stop-volley to completely demoralise an already faltering Lendl. That was a golden moment - and I was there.

I have seen many other great moments since then and the familiarity of the marvellous grounds has not reduced the enjoyment. For journalists, organising staff and the international tennis family it is just another year, but few, if any, would swap this place for anywhere else.

This year we can look forward to another Roger Federer assault on the title and if he wins, he will have equalled Bjorn Borg's five titles in a row. Who would bet against the Swiss master?

But nothing is certain and even on the fast grass surface I can well see one of the outsiders threatening to cause an upset. It would be one of the sporting earthquakes of the decade if it were to happen, but it could.

The women's title should go to Justine Henin, though in this event there are a number of challengers.