Painting by Matthew Cook

There is a peculiar ritual and drama attendant at the All England Tennis Championships, as victim by victim is led to the slaughter, to pit their wits, strength, skill and courage against another under pressure, knowing that the rewards for winning are immense. To the British, the sounds of the court - the thwack of ball on racket, the loud exhalations and grunts of the players as they serve - are the unmistakable sounds of summer. Amongst neatly shorn hedges and trim wooden fences, enthusiasts devour 23 tons of strawberries and cream and 12,500 bottles of champagne. It’s so English, even the players admit it attracts them.Female tennis stars, whatever their origin, still curtsey in acknowledgement of the tournament’s royal patron, the Duchess of Kent. This is just one of the traditions that gives Wimbledon its appeal. Wimbledon simply is tennis.

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