WIMBLEDON, England(AP) Wimbledon players will be able to revive a lost tradition when the queen visits the tournament for the first time in 33 years.
The All England Club dropped the tradition of a bow or curtsy to the royal box in 2003. That came at the request of the Duke of Kent, the club president, to the relief of most players at the time.
Martina Navratilova once joked: ``Men have it easy ... the curtsy is the toughest part of the match.''
Queen Elizabeth II is arriving on Thursday, and the club is leaving it up to players whether to show a measure of deference to her before their match.
It seems it will be their honor.
I would love to (play) on Thursday to have the chance to do it,'' 2008 champion Rafael Nadal said Saturday.I respect everything.
``(But) I have to win my first match beforehand.''
Another former champion, Maria Sharapova, said she would curtsy given the chance.
It would be kind of fun. Yeah, I'd love to do it,'' said Sharapova, who won the tournament in 2004.I think it would be an honor for all of us.''
Five-time champion Venus Williams suggested she might need some practice.
``Hopefully I won't get nervous. That would be my focus,'' Williams said.
``I'm an American. I'm not well versed on English tradition.''
The bow and curtsy to the royal box was a mere custom and never a rule at Wimbledon, and it occasionally tripped up a few players. Coming off Centre Court in 1998, seven-time champion Pete Sampras had to tap Thomas Enqvist's equipment bag to remind the Swede to bow.
In the late 90's, Buckingham Palace made it clear that anybody presented to the queen or her husband, Prince Philip, should bow or curtsy only if they wanted to. Eventually, Wimbledon caught up, though the club suggested seven years ago that a gesture to the royal box would be appropriate if the queen or her son, Prince Charles, were present.
On Thursday, for the first time since 1977, the club's royal patron will be there.
``It'll be a great honor to play in front of the queen, I've never done that before,'' said Andy Murray, Britain's top-ranked player at No. 4.
``Obviously, there'll be a little added pressure to play well, but it'll be nice.''