Record Racket Repairs at Wimbledon
Behind the scenes at Wimbledon, the restringing facility processed a record 6,565 rackets at last year's tournament, averaging nearly 500 per day. Josh Sillick, from the official restringing partner Babolat, explained the challenges: "The balls change slightly every year. If they get fluffier more quickly, then the players have to hit them harder, and heat can make a difference too." Players can have their rackets restrung in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, with ball boys and girls swiftly transporting broken rackets to the facility.
New Mental Metrics for Players
Wimbledon has introduced a new stream of data this year: mental analysis. Alongside traditional statistics like first-serve percentages and return points, the tournament now tracks metrics such as first and second serve points won on break point, hold percentage from 0-15, service points won at 30-30 and deuce, and decisive points won on serve and return. Jannik Sinner, despite a five-set struggle in the second round, outperformed the tournament average in all these mental measurements.
Queueing: A Wimbledon Tradition
Queueing is an integral part of the Wimbledon experience. Fans endure The Queue in Wimbledon Park, then face additional queues for outside courts, practice sessions, strawberries, and Pimm's. For those waiting, Ben Chatfield's book Standing In Line: 30 years of obsessive queuing at Wimbledon offers a mix of fan literature and social history. Priced at £14.99, it is available at the Wimbledon Shop, where the checkout queue itself is a sight to behold.
Scented Candles Capture Wimbledon Essence
The Wimbledon Shop has introduced a trio of scented candles, made from 100% soya, designed to evoke the tournament's atmosphere. The scents are gin & tonic, strawberries & cream, and fresh cut grass. According to the shop, lighting all three at once transports users back to SW19.
