[Herewith, the second Installment of Viv's Spectator Slam story, along with a boots-on-the-ground report on how the majors stack up in some key, fan-related ways. Some of her choices will surprise you, but that just means you'll have to go find out for yourself. Thanks for writing this Viv, and say hi to mum and Jean! Pete]
Wimbledon was next up, and despite the fact that it’s not terribly far from where I live, the tournament posed problems [Ed. note: does anyone else think that sounds like a quote from Tim Henman's autobiography?] . I thought it was going to be impossible to get a ticket. I hadn’t entered the public ballot. I had queued on my last visit to SW19, eight years earlier, but that experience proved tough going. I didn’t relish the thought of queuing again. Due to staff changes at work, I couldn’t take time off anyway. However, I was able to make a day trip on the first Saturday of the tournament. After considering my options, I decided to book two debenture tickets with corporate hospitality.
I’d love to say that the day in question dawned bright and sunny. But it didn’t. It was pouring rain. I had a sinking feeling that there would be absolutely no play that day at Wimbledon. Nevertheless, I was glad and excited to be returning to my favourite tournament of all, especially when the taxi turned onto Church Road and I caught my first glimpse in years of the All England Club.
Once more, Mum accompanied me. Only one match was completed on Court No. 1 that day (Sharapova v. Sugiyama), and by the time it finished and we left the court, play had been suspended on the outside courts as well. So that turned out to be our lot for the day. I was soaked to the skin - drenched, right through my raincoat. We met up with D-wiz and her cousin on the grounds and we all decided it was best to adjourn to the marquee for a chat and some Pimms with “the bits” (cucumber pieces). That was fun. We narrowly missed our flight home due to the traffic chaos near Heathrow following the terrorist attack that caused an international sensation.
That was not fun. All in all, our excursion to Wimbledon in ’07 was unforgettable - and not for the best of reasons.
The next eight weeks passed by very quickly. All of a sudden it was time to head to New York. Jean was travelling with me again for the first week of the US Open. Although it was what I least expected, this ended up being the Slam that I most enjoyed.
Being in possession of a ticket for Arthur Ashe stadium entitles one to go off to any of the courts in the entire complex (unlike at the other majors). In my opinion, that is the best ticket deal available in tennis. On our first day in Queens, we were able to catch some of the Davydenko v. Levine match, before Baghdatis v. Mirnyi on Louis Armstrong stadium; we rounded out the day with the last match on Ashe stadium. I also thought the US Open had the best selection of food available among all the Slams. Many of the fans enjoy walking around on the walkways of the showcourts while play is in progress, and it can really get on one’s nerves. But it led to some funny moments, too, as irritated fans started throwing pretzels at the offenders’ backs. Sometimes they just shouted at them, hoping to shame or bully them into moving on, or sitting down to allow others in their actual seats to see properly.
I loved the party atmosphere that prevailed at the night matches. There was a tremendous buzz on the first Thursday night during the thrilling Blake-Santoro match (what a match!). Leaving the complex to the strains of that anthem, New York, New York, I really did think that New York was the place to be watching live tennis. This was the end of the second thirteen-hour day that I had put in at a Slam this year - a day in which we had also enjoyed watching a doubles match featuring the Bryans against Isner and Oudsema on Ashe in the late afternoon sunshine.
We had been just as lucky the previous night, when we witnessed the superb display of Federer’s skill in his second round match versus Capdeville. That match also provided us with an opportunity to discuss the relative merits of the world number one’s all-black outfit - Jean liked it, I didn’t. As the days went by we seemed to get to watch more and more matches that went the distance: the final set of Gonzalez v. Gabashvili, as well as all of Murray v. Bjorkman on a packed and chaotic Grandstand - and did I mention the remarkable Djokovic v Stepanek contest? The Henman v Tsonga match marked the end of our five terrific days.
Every morning we joined the hordes of people making their way from Grand Central to Flushing Meadows on the No. 7 subway. I thought it was quite a trek. Yet, I know that I’d do it all again. I was impressed by the excellent facilities that are in place at the USTABJKNTC. The largest arena in tennis is very well equipped with escalators, elevators and grab rails on the steps between the tiers of seating. That mattered very much to me. I wish the other Slam venues were as well designed and equipped.
You might laugh at this, but going to a Slam is pretty hard work. I know, I know – it’s not exactly manual labour! But it’s not for the fainthearted either. You must put in a decent amount of effort to get the most out of the experience – battling crowds, queuing patiently for almost any requirement you have, tolerating various weather conditions – so imagine what it must be like to actually be playing! One might get to sample some of the local cuisine on a visit to New York, but realistically (and despite one’s best intentions) there usually isn’t much time to include touristy stuff in one’s plans.
I never imagined myself capable of completing a spectator Slam. It just didn’t seem feasible. I eventually realised that if I wanted to do it badly enough, I had to stop thinking about it and get up off my behind and go and do it. I have to thank Mum and Jean for their company in this undertaking (It wouldn’t have been even half as much fun without you). Strangely enough, I think that I succeeded in revealing two closet tennis fans within the family! If I may borrow and adjust the former Virginia Slims slogan a little for my own purposes: You’ve come a long way with me this year.
I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope both of you did too.
To conclude here is my version of a mini-Rough Guide to a Spectator Slam:
*
Best transport: Australian Open trams
Best on-site food: Food Village: US Open
Worst on-site food: Australian Open
Best coffee: Roland Garros
Best looking spectators: Roland Garros
Best place to be during a deluge: marquee at Wimbledon
Best Slam for nostalgia: Wimbledon
Best Slam for a winter holiday: Australian Open (no contest there!)
Best atmosphere: night matches at the US Open
Best facilities for the disabled: US Open
Least amount of time spent queuing to get into the grounds: Australian Open
Most amount of time spent queuing to get into the grounds: US Open
Least amount of time spent queuing for the restroom: Australian Open / US Open (tie)
Most amount of time spent queuing for the restroom: Roland Garros
Best value ticket: US Open Arthur Ashe stadium (notable mention: Vodafone Arena, AO)
Most disciplined spectators: Wimbledon
Least disciplined spectators: US Open!
Best chance of bumping into a top player: Roland Garros
Most helpful staff: Australian Open / US Open (tie)
Most straightforward online ordering of tickets:* Australian Open (would have been even better if their website link to disabled seating brochure had worked for me).
[Ed. note - Few people realize it, but the USTABJKNTC is hardy by Jackson Heights, the Queens neighborhood that is said to be the most ethnically diverse in all of the United States. The ethnic-cuisine choices are superb, but as Viv said - who's got the time?]