28th June, 2012
Defending champion Novak Djokovic admitted on Monday that he is a fan of the cathedral silence that greets him when he steps onto Centre Court.
Unlike the US Open, where rock anthems greet the players as New Yorkers chomp food and sink ice-cold beers, or the French Open, where Paris A-listers only forsake their mobiles to take lunch, Wimbledon prefers the silent treatment.
No fanfare, no fuss, no introductions as the players stroll out of the locker room, straight to their chairs and then down to business.
“It is quieter compared to the other centre courts of the other Grand Slams,” said Djokovic.
“But you feel the tradition and the history of tennis. It is quieter. It feels like a theatre in a way. But the crowd gets into it when they have reason for it.
“The crowd here understands. I think they have a great knowledge about tennis.”