ANATOMY OF CENTRE COURT
What makes the most famous stage in tennis tick? We asked those who work there to reveal its secrets
1 Andrew Jarrett
Championships referee My Wimbledon is based from the office, pulling together the order of play and scheduling matches. When I’m on Centre, I’m constantly on weatherwatch. If there are any roof decisions to be made, I work closely with the weather team and liaise with the on-court team about whether and when to close the roof. The other main thing for me as far as Centre Court is concerned is a more ceremonial role around the finals but that only affects two days. Then, I’m on court with the chair umpire and someone representing a charity chosen by the Wimbledon Foundation, which is a special moment. I am nervous every time, though.
Favourite memory We had a marriage proposal on the middle of Centre Court. He asked, she said yes, and the grounds staff wonderfully broke up their kiss by turning on the sprinklers.
2 Nick Pearce
Chief steward of the Honorary Stewards’ Association since 2013 We have 210 stewards and we need to make sure we have the right ones with plenty of experience on Centre Court; many of them have been coming back for 15-20 years. First days are always challenging, and I try and get on to court at the end of the match to make sure the players’ gangway is clear. When I’m on the court, I spend a lot of time scanning the area. I have a radio in my ear so I can listen to what’s going on outside the court, but if I’m on Centre, I’m always looking at my stewards to make sure they’re standing up at change of ends and engaging with people.
Favourite memory The 2008 match with Rafa and Roger. Watching Rafa climb across the roof of the interview box was an unbelievable pinch-me moment. It was spectacular.
3 Petra Kvitova
2011 and 2014 ladies’ singles champion I always plan my day working backwards from the time the match starts. Say I start at 1pm, I’ll need to have a light lunch and give myself time to digest it so would eat plain rice or pasta at 11.30am. Which means practice finishing by 11 so that I have time to get into my match gear and get my racket bag ready. I would leave the house we rent in Wimbledon Village at 9.30 in order to be there in plenty of time – I really don’t like being late. My second title means a bit more to me. When I won in 2011 I was a young girl and didn’t understand the enormity of what I was achieving. Second time round, I knew how hard it was.
Favourite memory One year Martina Navratilova didn’t have grass-court shoes and she asked if she could borrow some. Luckily, she has similar size feet to me!
4 Grant Cantin
Head groundsman I’m usually on site by 6.45am when I will brief the team on the weather forecast. By 7.30am, the whole staff will be here and we go about our jobs: one person will cut two courts, then there will be the team of line markers behind them to repaint the lines. We have a room behind Centre Court with a TV, but if it is a sunny day, the guys can walk the grounds and then they are pretty free. As matches start finishing, we send the irrigation guys out to see what the ratings are like, which will determine how much water we give the courts. Hopefully we are wrapped up by 10pm.
Favourite memory In 2002, we had to bring out the cover as it started raining. We were halfway across the court and the guy next to me went down. The crowd started laughing. All we could see was this lump under the cover trying to find his way out.
5 Rufus Clark
Ball boy Competition to be a ball boy is fierce. We have many months of training before the event starts and then when you finally get to walk out on court, it’s everything you imagined it would be and more. At the start of the day, I’ll be in the complex with the other BBG’S (ball boys and ball girls) under the courts waiting to go on court. I usually do about an hour on and two hours off, and end up working for about four to six hours on court in total. When I’m on court, my role is to be a “centre”, which is the position next to the net. I collect the balls and distribute them around the court. I’m already feeling the nerves this year.
Favourite memory I was there for the final last year when Andy Murray won. It was an absolutely amazing experience. When he won that match point, all you could hear was cheering.
6 Eddie Mulholland
Photographer Wimbledon is the tennis tournament, and Centre Court is the greatest stage, so getting a position in the “East-side pit” to photograph the Championships is a fantastic privilege. It’s not just the players we have to watch, though, because there are always famous faces from the world of celebrity dotted around watching their racket idols, so in between games we scan the rows of seats to see who might have dropped in. It’s a bit easier when they’ve been invited to the Royal Box: at least then we know where they are and if we’re lucky they might be sitting next to the Duchess of Cambridge which almost guarantees a publication. Favourite memory Seeing Andy Murray win in 2013 was the standout moment. Having seen the devastation in his face when he’d failed, the transformation to sheer ecstasy was astonishing.