I have been incredibly lucky this year. There are many reasons why this statement is true, but I have been particularly lucky in respect to winning tickets. Wimbledon tickets to be precise. Every year around January time, my family and I crowd around the breakfast table to fill in these ridiculously anal forms. We have to ensure that our pen is a black ball point and nothing else, and most importantly we have to make sure that the pen doesn't touch the edge of the form boxes, god forbid!
Anyway back to the tickets. They arrived safe and sound on the doorstep late in May. Opening the envelope slowly my excitement was building. THEY WERE ROW B SEATS! For anyone who has ever been to Wimbledon, you will understand that nosebleed seats are hard enough to win in the ballot. And when you do win them, you end up craning your neck holding the binoculars, envying the rows of people who are sat so close to the court that they are practically playing the tennis themselves!
This year was my year. I was very excited. Very. Very. Very. Excited.
My friend Lara and I decided to meet at Wimbledon Overground Station at 11am. They have the most amazing system where you share taxis with other Wimbledon goers paying £2.50 each, which to be honest isn't too shabby.
So we arrived at 11.15am sharp and walked straight in...
We decided to wander to the outside courts, to watch the early starting matches that begin at 11am. Its so relaxed, you can walk up to any court and seat yourself comfortably on the benches and crack open your own brew.
My friend Lara was an absolute darl and brought along a wonderfully delicious picnic with all trimmings. We sat there for an hour soaking up the sun and drinking one too many glasses of Pimms.
When the clock chimed 2pm we headed slowly to the stadium for the main event. The serious action.
First on - a left-over match from the previous day - Kvitova won easily.
Next on - Berdych (who I absolutely adore) and Anderson, a tall, fast-hitting South-African.
After a long, tough, (for the players obviously - Lara and I were having a GREAT time) 5 set match, Berdych took the last swing of his racquet and it all ended with a huge roar from the crowd.
The excitement didn't end there. Next on court - Ferrer vs. Dolgopolov.
Ferrer has always been a favourite of mine. He's rather like an energetic Jack Russell, that never gives up or gives in. This is clearly perfect attributes for a tennis player. I knew the match was going to be spectacular, and we were certainly not disappointed.
Another glorious 5 set match, left the crowd completely indifferent to who they wanted to win, we were in love with both of the players by the end.
Ferrer managed to pull through in the final set and the crowd cheered him off the court to a standing ovation.
We suddenly realised that it was 9pm and all the tennis had been played. Lara and I left the All England Club with the most giant grins on our faces. We were the cats who got the (strawberries and) cream.
The London Gossip x
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