Before you enter the area with the highest number of well-known tennis professionals, you hear a “beep!” Even though everyone who is already on the premises of the All England Club has already been subjected to a check at the gate, there must still be a security check. A separate security wing houses the renowned tennis tournament’s practice facility.
Rafael Nadal must provide proof of his credentials. Williams, Serena physiotherapists, agents, photographers, and journalists. A new realm is revealed if you are permitted to enter following the “beep” and green scanning light. The Park at Aorangi. Before leaving in 1981, the London New Zealand Rugby Football Club was based here. The highest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook, is known by its Maori name, Aorangi. At this unique location, racquet swingers are currently getting in shape.
The entire practicing space is both little and seemingly enormous. because of how complex it is. And it provides something that won’t be visible to the spectators, who are permitted access to the venue starting on Monday, even during the competition: professionals doing informal work. A steward in a blue uniform declares, “Stars are marching in and out here regularly.” The kind woman makes sure that everyone only enters areas where they are authorized by their credentials. They all come to see me, therefore I must have the nicest place to work, she claims. On this bright Sunday, former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova is competing against Polish player Iga Swiatek on the terraced grounds below. The steward doesn’t think much of it.
With an angelic face, Kyrgios shuffles through, Djokovic’s agent is on the right, and Camila Giorgi’s eccentric father is on the left.
You’ll still strain your neck. Nick Kyrgios simply strolls through, this time sporting an angelic visage. Agent for Novak Djokovic Elena Cappellaro is conversing to the right. The eccentric father of the Italian Camila Giorgi walks around bewildered as usual, his gray hair standing on end as if he had used three cans of hairspray. At least during the midday rush hour, there is a flurry of activity. No chaos, though. Everything in this place follows set procedures. Everyone knows what to do, just like in an anthill.
The pros submit their requests for when and where they wish to train the previous evening; coaches typically accept these requests. It is acknowledged that celebrities enjoy privileges. Nadal, a Spaniard who recently won his 22nd Grand Slam title at the French Open, typically choose positions 1 or 2. It is partially obscured and skewed to the left. That pleases him. However, Christopher Kas, who also examines Nadal’s training, guarantees that “he has zero airs and graces.” He extols Nadal: “You can immediately sense his aura around him. He exudes authority, power, and total intimacy “Kas, the Wimbledon coach of the talented German player Jule Niemeier, says.
The articulate and upbeat person Kas, a frequent tennis commentary for television, is familiar with practically everyone in this room. He just gave John Isner, a US professional, a high-five. He is 2.08 meters tall, you write from time to time. He’s pretty large, though, when you’re standing right in front of him. Kas identifies a different Eichenschrank person: “One of the top hockey players in the NHL is Aleksander Barkov. Isner and he are present.
The end of the short stroll to the tennis courts is the ideal location to take pictures of everyone. The photographer from Stuttgart, Paul Zimmer, has also established himself as the Roger Federer of photography. an icon. He describes what makes Wimbledon special when visiting for the astounding 44th time. Left-facing room. There are three big tents here that you can look into. In the first, Marcelo Melo, a doubles player from Brazil and close friend of Alexander Zverev, is extending his alibi. Frances Tiafoe performs weightlifting in the second tent. Massage and kneading are done in the third tent. No one prepares more thoroughly than professionals.
According to Paul Zimmer, “Wimbledon had a reputation for being out-of-date for a very long time.” “However, the club now sets standards. They are aware of the most recent events and have ears everywhere.” “Unfortunately, Wimbledon has lost its narrow-mindedness,” Zimmer says of his one regret. He grinned before telling a beautiful tale: “When Boris Becker returned to Wimbledon in 1986 as the defending champion, he asked his coach, Günther Bosch, nicely whether he might use the changing room next to him. “Mister Becker, the tournament makes the player, not the player makes the event,” a high official remarked. It used to be like that.
Angelique Kerber’s training is assisted by her life partner Franco Bianco as a personal favor.
Although many things are obviously significant here, there isn’t much of this old affectation to be felt at Aorangi Park. With 58 microphones and cameras above Swiatek, who is stretching, Netflix is recording over there in the stretch tent. You may anticipate it in the docs when it eventually appears. The major competitions are covered by Netflix for an entire year. Garbie Muguruza is standing behind you as you briefly turn your attention away from this strange scene. Since Zverev is injured, Oscar Otte, the newly promoted German and greatest DTB player, is so courteous as to allow the Spaniard descend the stairs to the seats before him.
The teenage US Open champion Emma Raducanu is seen working out in the background. So many members of their team are on the field that you have to count them numerous times. One, two, three, four, it is! In addition to her friends Franco Bianco (who tosses balls) and her mother Beata, Angelique Kerber, who plays Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic this Monday and smashes 14 balls on the court, is accompanied by other people (who only watches).
Undoubtedly a hideaway, Aorangi Park. The 128 men and 128 women who are vying for tennis’ most coveted championship can polish themselves here. Typically, each person trains for an hour. Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and the reporter all had to hold up their credentials to check out once more as they return to the All England Club’s public section. The standard Wimbledon has a “beep” once more.