Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

Is Wimbledon the greatest tennis tournament on the planet? As the anticipation builds before the start of this year’s event on Monday, commentators are no doubt polishing their cliché repertoire to tell us just how great it is. But are they justified?

The thing is, you can’t help but sympathise with them: Wimbledon has so many wonderful qualities. First there are the grass courts – unique among the Grand Slam tournaments – whose lush, pastoral feel only adds to the sense that summer’s truly arrived.

Secondly there’s the tournament’s long tradition, giving the players the sense that they’re treading where the world’s greatest have gone before. And according to Answers user Earth, it’s the oldest event in the game.

The fact that all the world’s greatest players, often past as well as present, attend only adds to the atmosphere. And over the years we’ve seen those players perform wonders on the hallowed SW19 grass courts. Who could forget flamboyant dresser Agassi stepping out for the first time, in an all-white kit? What about Becker’s jaw-dropping forward rolls? What about Navrátilová, who won an amazing nine singles titles? Then there’s the successful exploits of ice-men Sampras and Federer, as they marched on relentlessly to win titles.

It’s been an exciting year for tennis in general. Federer might be the world number one, with ten Grand Slams under his belt, but clay-court specialist Nadal was in no mood to give up his preferred surface, defeating Federer at the French Open. Will there be revenge in the air at Wimbledon?

The London-based Artois tournament, traditionally used as a grass-court prequel to Wimbledon, came to a memorable climax last weekend. The final saw world number 3 Roddick meet the then world 106, Mahut – and things didn’t quite go to form. Mahut had match point in the second set before losing the match on a tiebreak but winning over the hearts of the crowd.

He was then forced to pre-qualify for Wimbledon this week, which thankfully, he managed to do. With the UK’s own Murray now a top ten player but sadly injured, no doubt many eyes will be on outsider Mahut as he attempts a fairytale challenge on what is – go on, admit it – the greatest tennis tournament on the planet.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team

Wimbledon quicklinks:

• What are some tennis tips for a beginner?
• How did the terms ‘deuce’ and ‘love’ originate in tennis?
• Who has the fastest and most consistent serves in tennis?
• Is Wimbledon the oldest tennis championship?
• Why is a score of zero called ‘love’ in tennis?
• (And why is it called a ‘duck’ in cricket?)