'The nets have been unfurled, the yellow balls have been unleashed from their winter hideaway and the strawberries, cream and Pimm's are overflowing. Yes, it must be time for Wimbledon,' says Marie Clarie's Natalia Lubomirski.
'The nets have been unfurled, the yellow balls have been unleashed from their winter hideaway and the strawberries, cream and Pimm's are overflowing. Yes, it must be time for Wimbledon,' says Marie Clarie's Natalia Lubomirski.
'Now into the second week, with the all-important top seeds through, we are on for some cracking fourth-round matches, and I have managed to bag a couple of Centre Court tickets through the Wimbledon ballot.
'Forgetting last year's Wimbledon nightmare of 3am starts, endless queuing, followed by a mad clamber to grab a seat on an outside court, today is all about a leisurely stroll through the famous grounds to take up residence in Centre Court for the afternoon and feast on tennis royalty. And with a line up of Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and our sole British sporting hope in the form of Andy Murray (after our embarrassing demise in the World Cup), it looks set to be a tennis master-class.
'Rapturous applause greets Roger Federer as he walks coolly onto a sweltering Centre Court. However, with the match underway and the six-time Wimbledon champion romping away with the first and then the second set in under an hour, the fickle crowd soon turns its support to Jurgen Melzer, the German underdog, in a desperate bid to recreate the five-set thriller of Roger's first-round match.
'No such luck. After 84 minutes and another below-par backhand from Melzer it is Game, Set and Match to the Swiss, and a chance for me to peruse the Wimbledon must-have merchandise before the two grunters (Serena and Maria) make their way out on court.
'Both women flaunt their tennis prowess in the first set, leading to a nail-biting tiebreak where Serena's ferocious forehands prevail. And after some sizzling serves, beautiful backhands, and some rather alarming groans, that have me choking on my pricey punnet of strawberries and cream, Serena comes out on top with a straight-sets victory.
'And then it's on to the match we've all been waiting for as the surly Scot, and Britain's sporting man of the moment, Andy Murray makes his way onto Centre Court. Tensions in the crowd rise as Murray looks unsettled in his opening game. Haven't we been here before? 'Come on Tim,' shouts one joker.
'Thankfully, Murray regains his composure and all he needs is some fiery forehands, a few valiant volleys, and one remarkable net call to triumph through to the quarter finals!
'Finally able to breathe normally again, I'm in need of some light refreshment, and nothing sounds quite so appealing as savouring a glass of Pimm's on Henman Hill, while devouring a Dutchees sausage baguette - one of Wimbledon's specialities.
'As the light begins to fade over SW19 we grab a last photo op in front of Centre Court and the statue of Fred Perry, aka the last British male to win Wimbledon. We've said it all before but could this finally be THE year? Come on Murray!!'
