Some change will do you good: Wimbledon embraces the latest trends

Roger Federer’s status as
overwhelming favorite is
one thing that hasn’t changed.

By HOWARD FENDRICH

ASSOCIATED PRESS

So much for resisting change at Wimbledon. They’re embracing it.

Women will earn the same prize money as men for the first time this year, video screens will help players challenge calls, and a retractable roof is on the way.

Does tradition mean nothing anymore?

Well, there is one thing — besides the white clothes every competitor must wear and the grass underfoot — that remains the same: As the defending men’s singles champion, Roger Federer will once again have the honor of being first to stride out on Centre Court when action begins Monday.

If it seems as though Federer enters each major tournament with a chance to do something historic, it’s because he does.

Two weeks after coming up just short of completing a career Grand Slam on the red clay of Roland Garros, Federer heads to the All England Club, where he’ll try to do something only one man has done in the last 100 years: win a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title.

“That,” Federer said, “would be absolutely incredible.”

Rare feat

Bjorn Borg won Wimbledon every year from 1976 to 1980, and the only other men who claimed at least five straight titles did it back in the days when the reigning champion automatically advanced to the final — in other words, they needed to win only one match to retain the trophy.

For a little perspective, consider players such as Rod Laver, John McEnroe and Boris Becker maxed out at two Wimbledon championships back-to-back. And Pete Sampras, who won half of his record 14 major titles at Wimbledon, was stopped at four in a row.

Pistol Pete’s streak was snapped by a fourth-round loss in 2001 to Federer.

Federer will be entering his record 178th consecutive week at No. 1 in the rankings. He’s won six of the previous eight Grand Slams, 10 of the past 16. He also takes a record 48-match winning streak on grass into the first round.

In last year’s Wimbledon final, Federer beat Nadal, and they could reprise their No. 1 vs. No. 2 rivalry with a July 9 rematch. Nadal and No. 3 Andy Roddick — who lost to Federer in the 2003 semifinals and the 2004 and 2005 finals at the All England Club — might be the only players who could present trouble.

“Other than those two,” U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said, “it’s hard to think of anyone that can legitimately threaten Federer on grass.”

Women’s draw

No one holds that kind of sway over the women’s draw, although when it comes to this major, Serena and Venus Williams often bring their best.

Venus Williams was one of the loudest voices calling on the tournament to pay the women what the men get, and no one should be shocked if she or her sister winds up pocketing the Grand Slam-record $1.4 million check the women’s singles champion will receive.

One Williams or the other has won five of the past seven Wimbledon championships, despite never participating in any grass-court warmup events beforehand. Instead, they opt to go home to the United States after the French Open and prepare to play on grass by practicing on hard courts.

“They’re very similar,” Serena Williams said. “You just get on a really slick, old ... court that’s real fast, and you’ll be fine. It’s actually faster than Wimbledon. That’s why we’re so good.”

Regardless of the reason, they are indeed good. So, too, is top-ranked Justine Henin, who won the French Open for her sixth Grand Slam title, a total that trails only Serena Williams’ eight among active players.