WATCH: Wimbledon means strawberries and cream – and memories of the ‘Cash or Czech’ final

WITH Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious of the four Grand Slams set to start on Monday, July 2 no one can possibly predict whether 2018 sees the old guns like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic contesting the purse of £2,25-million on men’s singles final day or the year for a champion from the ranks of the new generation of tennis stars.

All eyes will definitely be on the young German, Alexander Zverev as well as the talented Austrian, Dominic Thiem in the lead-up to the only major still played on grass.

If they can’t actually get to SW19, for two weeks, across the world, tennis fans are glued to the box, celebrating victories and agonising with their favourites in defeat.

While I was not at centre court to see the women’s singles finals way back in 1972 (that’s very nearly 50 years ago!) I had the joy of being court side for the women’s semi-finals and watched crowd favourite

Yvonne Goolagong beat Chris Evert to progress to the finals and lose to three-time champion Billie Jean King after she defeated fellow compatriot Rosie Casals.

Might I mention, Wimbledon 1972 only feels like yesterday but it seems impossible to believe that 31 years ago, back in 1987, much closer to home (actually Greenhill Farm, on the Izotsha Road) Liz and Dave Page hosted a truly memorable lunch for close to 50 guests to watch the men’s singles finals.

In those years, Liz and Dave Page were leading Round Table ‘players’ and many Tablers were invited to the Wimbledon lunch along with a pretty impressive number of Southbroom Tennis Club members.

There were ‘kids’ running around everywhere but in no ways proved a distraction to the gin-and-tonic, Pimm’s drinking brigade of adults.

Everyone was encouraged to ‘dress’ Wimbledon style.

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Most opted for white-on-white tennis kit but a few including Pam Grouch who dressed as an umpire, added scarves and home-decorated hats in splashes of traditional dark green and purple.

The most treasured guest however was Norman Farquharson who came looking resplendent in top to toe white longs and wearing a Wimbledon tie.

Norman had enjoyed an impressive tennis career, spanning many years but the highlight was Wimbledon 1933 when he and his South African partner, Mary Heeley were runners-up in the mixed doubles finals; each receiving a 3cm wide silver medal and a cheque for £15.

Norman actually used the prize-money to buy a cup to remember the occasion!

Using what Liz describes as a ‘funny little four-burner gas stove’ plus a temperamental oven, they dished up a magnificent traditional meal of roast beef, Yorkshire pud served with seasonal veggies timed to perfection so that everyone was fed and ready to watch the final between world number one, Ivan Lendl of Czechoslovakia (as it was known then) and young 22-year old Aussie, Pat Cash at 3pm while balancing a dish of strawberries and cream on their lap.

For the occasion, Liz hired five television sets but the real problem was getting the ‘bunny ears’ in just the right position so the picture was not a fuzzy, snowy blur.

If guests were lucky, they found a chair, otherwise it meant settling in on the lounge floor, or finding a vacant spot on a bed in one of the guest rooms.

We are remembering Sunday, July 5, 1987 and the men’s finals, when Pat Cash, a serve and volley player and one of the greatest net players, wearing his trademark black/white checked headband, defeated the world number one in straight sets.

That in itself was memorable, but who can possibly not remember him starting a tradition followed by many other winners, when he climbed into the stands up to the player’s box at centre court to celebrate with his family.

Men’s singles final between world number one, Ivan Lendl and 22 year old Aussie, Pat Cash took place under sunny skies, on centre court on Sunday, July 5 1987. And £155,000 was up for grabs.

A vast amount of money 31 years ago but a bit shabby when you realise that this year winners of the men’s and women’s singles will each receive £2,25-million.

And 40 or more local South Coast tennis fans can clearly remember what they were doing thirty one years ago in 1987?

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