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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| The Calm Before the First Serve | The Calm Before the First Serve |
| (42 minutes later) | |
| WIMBLEDON, England — The reporter sitting next to me said he loved the All England Lawn Tennis Club on days like Friday. | WIMBLEDON, England — The reporter sitting next to me said he loved the All England Lawn Tennis Club on days like Friday. |
| In three days, the narrow walkways will be crammed with people. In three days, all the courts will be buzzing with the best players in the world. In three days, there won’t be an empty spot to be had on the benches that were marked with signs reading, “Wet Varnish.” | In three days, the narrow walkways will be crammed with people. In three days, all the courts will be buzzing with the best players in the world. In three days, there won’t be an empty spot to be had on the benches that were marked with signs reading, “Wet Varnish.” |
| Yes, Friday was about putting the finishing touches on the place. | Yes, Friday was about putting the finishing touches on the place. |
| It was also the first time I had set foot inside the All England Club, so to get my bearings I took an afternoon stroll around the grounds. This was the All England Club the public does not usually see. The only people on the grounds were members, staffers, contract workers, news media members, players and their entourages. The largest group of people was made up of schoolchildren on a tour. | |
| It was quiet, almost eerily so, except for the thwack and pop of racket hitting tennis ball, the babbling of the waterfall on St. Mary’s Walk, and the occasional test of the public address system. While many players hit on the outer practice courts, Sloane Stephens and Ana Ivanovic were among those who could be found on the main courts. | It was quiet, almost eerily so, except for the thwack and pop of racket hitting tennis ball, the babbling of the waterfall on St. Mary’s Walk, and the occasional test of the public address system. While many players hit on the outer practice courts, Sloane Stephens and Ana Ivanovic were among those who could be found on the main courts. |
| Henman Hill, usually the scene of a continuous party during the tournament, was a peaceful green. A handful of people sat at picnic tables as technicians tested the big-screen television. | Henman Hill, usually the scene of a continuous party during the tournament, was a peaceful green. A handful of people sat at picnic tables as technicians tested the big-screen television. |
| Similar tests were taking place elsewhere. Staff members sat in the umpire’s chairs to check that the electronic scoreboards were working properly. TV crews and cameramen made technical adjustments at the broadcast center. Teams of Hawk-Eye employees were on Courts 2 and 3, setting up their cameras for the tournament’s replay system. | Similar tests were taking place elsewhere. Staff members sat in the umpire’s chairs to check that the electronic scoreboards were working properly. TV crews and cameramen made technical adjustments at the broadcast center. Teams of Hawk-Eye employees were on Courts 2 and 3, setting up their cameras for the tournament’s replay system. |
| There were no strawberries and cream for sale yet, just an empty booth with empty shelves. Tables and chairs were in stacks at restaurants all around the grounds. At one food court, boxes marked Pimm’s and Champagne were sadly unopened. At another food stand, a large shipment of “Pizza Cheese” was being unloaded. | There were no strawberries and cream for sale yet, just an empty booth with empty shelves. Tables and chairs were in stacks at restaurants all around the grounds. At one food court, boxes marked Pimm’s and Champagne were sadly unopened. At another food stand, a large shipment of “Pizza Cheese” was being unloaded. |
| There were stranger sights. The head of a man popped out of the walkway outside Court 3 as he adjusted cables beneath. Instead of chairs and tables, sawhorses were set up at Café Pergola, and sawdust and piles of two-by-fours covered the floor where they might be serving afternoon tea by Monday. On Court 4 a man spent at least 15 minutes photographing tennis balls, carefully rearranging them on the grass for just the right look, sometimes taking the picture while lying on the grass himself. | There were stranger sights. The head of a man popped out of the walkway outside Court 3 as he adjusted cables beneath. Instead of chairs and tables, sawhorses were set up at Café Pergola, and sawdust and piles of two-by-fours covered the floor where they might be serving afternoon tea by Monday. On Court 4 a man spent at least 15 minutes photographing tennis balls, carefully rearranging them on the grass for just the right look, sometimes taking the picture while lying on the grass himself. |
| The lazy Friday feel on the grounds was interrupted around 4 p.m., when Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt were discovered practicing together on Court 19. They drew a crowd, such as there could be on a day like this. About 60 people gathered. Several wore the matching green outfits of staff or had ear pieces and walkie-talkies, telltale signs that they were supposed to be doing something else. Two men driving a trolley stopped for a few moments and peered through a walkway to catch a glimpse of Federer. | The lazy Friday feel on the grounds was interrupted around 4 p.m., when Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt were discovered practicing together on Court 19. They drew a crowd, such as there could be on a day like this. About 60 people gathered. Several wore the matching green outfits of staff or had ear pieces and walkie-talkies, telltale signs that they were supposed to be doing something else. Two men driving a trolley stopped for a few moments and peered through a walkway to catch a glimpse of Federer. |
| The most entertaining spectator was Hewitt’s 4-year-old son Cruz, who seemed engrossed by his own tiny racket and tennis balls, hardly able to stay still on the sidelines. | The most entertaining spectator was Hewitt’s 4-year-old son Cruz, who seemed engrossed by his own tiny racket and tennis balls, hardly able to stay still on the sidelines. |
| After their scrimmage, Federer and Hewitt shook hands as if they had played a match. Hewitt sent Cruz over to Federer to have his child-size racket bag signed. Federer could be overheard telling Hewitt that he had written that he was looking forward to playing Cruz in the future. | After their scrimmage, Federer and Hewitt shook hands as if they had played a match. Hewitt sent Cruz over to Federer to have his child-size racket bag signed. Federer could be overheard telling Hewitt that he had written that he was looking forward to playing Cruz in the future. |
| Federer caused what passed for a commotion Friday, drawing camera crews and autograph seekers. And then he walked back inside, and it was quiet again. | Federer caused what passed for a commotion Friday, drawing camera crews and autograph seekers. And then he walked back inside, and it was quiet again. |
| One woman, walking away from the court, said, “I think I’ll just retire now.” | One woman, walking away from the court, said, “I think I’ll just retire now.” |
| Maybe I should, too. | Maybe I should, too. |