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 'Be prepared to pay for it' Wimbledon tradition has its price
Posted: Thursday June 25, 1998 11:01 AM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Wimbledon tradition comes at a price. "An expensive one," said Miguel Farina of Spain, digging into his slice of pizza -- and billfold -- at the food court Wednesday outside Court No. 1. "If you want the experience, be prepared to pay for it." A traditional day at Wimbledon can stack up like this: A tankard of pimms -- the gin-based English summer drink -- costs $9.80. Champagne, Wimbledon's favorite elixir, ranges between $51 and $78. Dessert? A dish of seven or eight strawberries and cream is $3.05. A ticket to Centre Court ranges between $38 and $92. The cheapest way in is a ground pass for $16.60, but that won't get you into the courts where the best matches are played. Need a seat cushion? It's $8.30. No trip to England is complete without fish and chips. Wimbledon's battered haddock is $6.50. The final bill? Between $125 and $210, depending on your taste in tickets and champagne. Pete who?Richard Krajicek, the 1996 champion, won his first-round match over Brett Steven and then showed defending champion Pete Sampras little respect. "I think he's about the 10th-ranked player at the moment," Krajicek said, "if you look a the results from the first of January and after he lost at Queens. "He hasn't done so well in the slams either. He is really struggling. But you never know. He feels very confident and happy here, and that could give him a boost for the second half of the year." Krajicek, once a harsh critic of the women's game, admitted it's in better shape now, but says he still doesn't watch it. "I do not really watch women's tennis. I don't watch tennis at all." he said. Three days laterIt took American Jan-Michael Gambill three days -- and 11 match points -- to get a result at Wimbledon. At least he got a good one. Billed as one of next hopes in the American men's game, Gambill won his first-round match Wednesday over Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands. Playing his first Wimbledon, Gambill was up 2-1 when darkness ended play Monday. Rain ended it Tuesday at two sets each, with Schalken up 1-0 in the fifth. On Wednesday - under sunny skies - Gambill prevailed 7-6 (7-6), 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 4-6, 8-6. "This is my first five-set match," the Spokane, Wash., native said. "And I've never had a match that's lasted three days." WoodiesThe Australian doubles duo of Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge can break a Wimbledon record that's been around for 97 years. If they win their sixth straight title this year, they will surpass the five straight won by Britain's Laurie and Reggie Doherty between 1897 and 1901. Curiously, the Woodies are only seeded No. 2 behind Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands. Steffi comebackSeven-time Wimbledon champion Steffi Graf has made comebacks before, but this one - trying to come back from a year off with knee surgery and injuries -- is much different. "I had breaks [before], but they were usually for a couple of weeks," Graf said. "That is a big difference. I haven't played many tournaments and really haven't been getting in the rhythm of playing matches. "That is definitely the hardest task." No colorGoran Ivanisevic, seeded No. 14, lamented the lack of color in the men's game. "Bad boy, good boy, you know I enjoy who I am. I don't think you have any more personalities in tennis. It's finished, and I enjoy who I am and where I am." Ivanisevic, breaking a recent slump, defeated Grant Stafford on Wednesday, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. "I have to prove to somebody that I can be good again," Ivanisevic said. "In the top five, where I belong." Serves and volleysSix-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King says the women's game has never been better, but Steffi Graf disagrees. "I think that there is more depth in it," Graf admitted. "But I do not think it really is that much stronger. I do not really feel that, no." Former world No. 1 Jim Courier fell in the first round for the third straight year. Thomas Johansson of Sweden beat the American 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. Attendance for the first three days was 104,949 -- up 4,159 from last year's rain-plagued two weeks.
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A day at Centre Court may cost you more than you think 