Sue Barker: Our Wimbledon

0:00:04 > 0:00:07It has a history as tightly packed with stories

0:00:07 > 0:00:10as these courts are with blades of grass.

0:00:13 > 0:00:17This richness of colour - you know immediately where you are.

0:00:18 > 0:00:20It has sounds all of its own.

0:00:20 > 0:00:22- CHEERING - Game, set and match...

0:00:22 > 0:00:24- JOHN MCENROE:- You cannot be serious!

0:00:24 > 0:00:26This place and I...

0:00:26 > 0:00:28Let's say we go back.

0:00:28 > 0:00:30Good evening. Well, the Men's Singles final,

0:00:30 > 0:00:33as it should be, was between the two best players in the world.

0:00:35 > 0:00:39Wimbledon - a word, a place,

0:00:39 > 0:00:40a love affair.

0:00:44 > 0:00:47I'm going to meet some of the greats of tennis

0:00:47 > 0:00:51to see if they feel the same way about this place as I do.

0:00:51 > 0:00:53I was in awe of the whole place.

0:00:53 > 0:00:55It was just amazing.

0:00:55 > 0:00:58I grew up dreaming and reading about Wimbledon my whole life.

0:00:58 > 0:01:00Get fresh with ice cream!

0:01:00 > 0:01:02You could feel the tradition,

0:01:02 > 0:01:05the magic thing was inside the gates.

0:01:05 > 0:01:07The shot flew up!

0:01:07 > 0:01:10It was the first real time that I remembered being booed.

0:01:10 > 0:01:14It changed my life so much that I called Wimbledon my home.

0:01:14 > 0:01:17When you walk out on Centre Court, there's such a hush

0:01:17 > 0:01:19before everybody explodes.

0:01:19 > 0:01:22CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:01:24 > 0:01:26Walking through the gates, everything was so new

0:01:26 > 0:01:29and it's like living in a dream world.

0:01:29 > 0:01:32Love the court, love the atmosphere, the place,

0:01:32 > 0:01:34the echo of the ball, the royalty in the box.

0:01:34 > 0:01:35Like, it was...it was different.

0:01:44 > 0:01:47Ladies and gentlemen, quiet, please.

0:01:47 > 0:01:51I've been coming here since I was ten,

0:01:51 > 0:01:54and every time I pass through these gates,

0:01:54 > 0:01:56it still gets to me.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59It's a very British place

0:01:59 > 0:02:02and it puts on a show at the height of our summer,

0:02:02 > 0:02:04which means you have to come prepared...

0:02:04 > 0:02:07THUNDER ..for anything.

0:02:07 > 0:02:09Court violation, double abuse, point penalty.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11No way! That's it!

0:02:11 > 0:02:13Ah...the pain of it.

0:02:13 > 0:02:17This is a personal journey into what sets Wimbledon apart,

0:02:17 > 0:02:21of coming close, but not quite being one of these -

0:02:21 > 0:02:23a Wimbledon champion -

0:02:23 > 0:02:25and what it allows you to do.

0:02:25 > 0:02:29No! You...! I can't believe you just touched that!

0:02:29 > 0:02:30This is off the record.

0:02:30 > 0:02:33Am I ready? Born ready!

0:02:36 > 0:02:38Spencer Gore was the winner of the first men's title

0:02:38 > 0:02:43back in 1877, watched by just 200 people.

0:02:43 > 0:02:47After the match, he said, "Lawn tennis? It's a bit boring.

0:02:47 > 0:02:48"It'll never catch on."

0:02:48 > 0:02:52Ha-ha! Now look where we are, with all of this being broadcast

0:02:52 > 0:02:54to millions around the globe.

0:02:55 > 0:02:59As soon as it could, the BBC came to Wimbledon -

0:02:59 > 0:03:06and, before the age of television, radio was here, as far back as 1927,

0:03:06 > 0:03:10and putting on record the golden age in the '30s.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12- RADIO:- Now we're going to take you over to Wimbledon

0:03:12 > 0:03:15for a running commentary on the All-English championship.

0:03:15 > 0:03:19Here's the great man himself, Fred Perry -

0:03:19 > 0:03:21won it three times.

0:03:23 > 0:03:27Fred's last win came in 1936,

0:03:27 > 0:03:30a year before the BBC began its experiment

0:03:30 > 0:03:34of televising play on the Centre Court.

0:03:34 > 0:03:35They'd be highly experienced

0:03:35 > 0:03:38by the time the next player from our islands

0:03:38 > 0:03:40became Men's Singles champion.

0:03:40 > 0:03:4577 years - the long, tough wait.

0:03:45 > 0:03:47Hello!

0:03:47 > 0:03:50All right, how are you?

0:03:50 > 0:03:52- How's things?- All right, yeah.

0:03:52 > 0:03:54- Nice, being around here. - It's so quiet.

0:03:54 > 0:03:56- I know.- I mean, this bit here,

0:03:56 > 0:03:58during the tournament, is packed, obviously.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00- I know. - With all the royal box and...

0:04:00 > 0:04:01I know - we don't get in here.

0:04:01 > 0:04:03- You're not allowed in here?- No. - You should be.

0:04:03 > 0:04:05SHE LAUGHS

0:04:05 > 0:04:07Can we mic him up now and just get that on tape?

0:04:08 > 0:04:12This is how tough it can be.

0:04:12 > 0:04:16All right, I'm going to try this, and it's not going to be easy.

0:04:16 > 0:04:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:04:26 > 0:04:28Everybody always talks about

0:04:28 > 0:04:31the pressure of playing at Wimbledon,

0:04:31 > 0:04:32how tough it is,

0:04:32 > 0:04:36but, um...it's not the people watching.

0:04:36 > 0:04:39They make it so much easier to play.

0:04:39 > 0:04:42The support has been incredible, so, thank you.

0:04:42 > 0:04:45APPLAUSE

0:04:45 > 0:04:48You can be very proud - Andy Murray.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53The 2012 loss, it was a really tough one for me.

0:04:53 > 0:04:55A few days after, I was still... You know, I was upset,

0:04:55 > 0:04:59not just on the court, but off the court,

0:04:59 > 0:05:02when I got home, it was hard -

0:05:02 > 0:05:05but I also, around that time, that was when I also accepted

0:05:05 > 0:05:09that, you know, I may never win one of these tournaments, you know?

0:05:09 > 0:05:11And that was a big moment for me.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13And I think it turned a corner

0:05:13 > 0:05:16because I think you felt the affection from the public, as well.

0:05:16 > 0:05:20I felt like, when I was growing up in the spotlight and stuff,

0:05:20 > 0:05:23that...I found it difficult, I found it really hard,

0:05:23 > 0:05:26and it came at a very early age for me.

0:05:26 > 0:05:29I played on Centre Court for the first time when I was 18

0:05:29 > 0:05:32and, literally, two, three weeks beforehand, you know,

0:05:32 > 0:05:35I was playing in front of, like, five or ten people, maximum -

0:05:35 > 0:05:38and all of a sudden, I was on Centre Court and my life changed,

0:05:38 > 0:05:41like, very quickly, and I found that hard,

0:05:41 > 0:05:43really hard to deal with

0:05:43 > 0:05:47and I, sort of, shut myself off from, you know, a lot of the media.

0:05:47 > 0:05:50So a lot of people saw me as just being, like -

0:05:50 > 0:05:52maybe they still do - as just being boring,

0:05:52 > 0:05:54doesn't show any emotion -

0:05:54 > 0:05:58and, obviously, in that moment, you know, I was clearly very upset.

0:06:01 > 0:06:03For me, I dreamed of playing on Centre Court,

0:06:03 > 0:06:05and I was lucky enough to do it.

0:06:05 > 0:06:09For me, it's a magical place. I cannot imagine what you must feel

0:06:09 > 0:06:13when you come out here with what you've achieved.

0:06:13 > 0:06:15Yeah, I mean, this court is obviously...

0:06:15 > 0:06:18It'll be the most famous tennis court in the world,

0:06:18 > 0:06:20so, yeah, any time you come out here,

0:06:20 > 0:06:22it does have a slightly different feeling,

0:06:22 > 0:06:25and I feel like it helps...me -

0:06:25 > 0:06:28like, I feel the pressure, for sure, and I find it stressful -

0:06:28 > 0:06:32but also, I never feel like I'm struggling to concentrate

0:06:32 > 0:06:36or struggling for motivation, like, when I'm out on this court.

0:06:36 > 0:06:38It sort of just happens.

0:06:40 > 0:06:4312 months later, he was doing it all again.

0:06:46 > 0:06:47CHEERING

0:06:47 > 0:06:52Andy Murray looks to put 77 years of hurt behind British tennis.

0:06:52 > 0:06:55I couldn't remember much of the game itself.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00CHEERING

0:07:00 > 0:07:03When I came off the court, I was asked immediately after the match,

0:07:03 > 0:07:04like, "What happened in the last game?"

0:07:04 > 0:07:07and I was like...I literally couldn't remember

0:07:07 > 0:07:10hardly any of the points at all.

0:07:10 > 0:07:12Advantage, Murray.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22- CHEERING - Game, set and match, Murray.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25The waiting is over!

0:07:25 > 0:07:27You looked like you were sort of disorientated,

0:07:27 > 0:07:29cos at the end of it, I think you thought

0:07:29 > 0:07:31you were looking up at your box, weren't you?

0:07:31 > 0:07:32but you were down the other end,

0:07:32 > 0:07:34and you sort of screamed at the press box.

0:07:34 > 0:07:39I don't know exactly why I did it, in towards that corner.

0:07:39 > 0:07:44I don't know who I was looking at in particular,

0:07:44 > 0:07:46or if I was doing it towards the press.

0:07:46 > 0:07:50- I know that the commentary box is also right there, as well...- Yes!

0:07:50 > 0:07:52..but...yeah.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55We've waited 77 years for this.

0:07:55 > 0:07:59The Men's Singles champion at Wimbledon 2013, Andy Murray!

0:07:59 > 0:08:02CHEERING

0:08:08 > 0:08:12From the reigning champion who cast off the burden of history

0:08:12 > 0:08:14to a maker of history.

0:08:14 > 0:08:20West Coast America, California, home of one tough Australian -

0:08:20 > 0:08:24perhaps the greatest Men's Singles champion of them all,

0:08:24 > 0:08:27Rod Laver, who also helped change Wimbledon forever.

0:08:27 > 0:08:29When I was grew up,

0:08:29 > 0:08:30he was my idol, Laver.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32I mean, I wanted to be like him on the court.

0:08:32 > 0:08:36He, because of his record,

0:08:36 > 0:08:37he stands alone, in a way,

0:08:37 > 0:08:39and that's why I think it's really important

0:08:39 > 0:08:42to honour the greats of the game.

0:08:42 > 0:08:44Rod Laver straddled the two ages of tennis -

0:08:44 > 0:08:47the amateur and the professional -

0:08:47 > 0:08:50and was a colossus of them both.

0:08:50 > 0:08:54At 17, you know, I walked through the gates at Wimbledon.

0:08:54 > 0:08:56I was in awe of the whole place.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59He remains the only player to have twice held

0:08:59 > 0:09:02the four Grand Slam titles in a calendar year,

0:09:02 > 0:09:06in 1962 and 1969.

0:09:06 > 0:09:08His first Wimbledon title came in 1961.

0:09:08 > 0:09:11Centre Court at Wimbledon, there's only one.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14Everything is so close and their knowledge of the game

0:09:14 > 0:09:17is so much more accurate,

0:09:17 > 0:09:20because they know exactly who's playing,

0:09:20 > 0:09:22any of the history behind it.

0:09:22 > 0:09:24And off the wood...

0:09:24 > 0:09:271961 champion, after 56 minutes' play...

0:09:27 > 0:09:31Fred Perry was timing it at the side of the court.

0:09:31 > 0:09:33One of the quickest Wimbledon finals he had ever seen.

0:09:33 > 0:09:37Yeah - I guess I had been in the final two years prior and I think...

0:09:37 > 0:09:40Third time lucky, I guess. I'm hoping.

0:09:41 > 0:09:44Do you remember what prize you received for winning Wimbledon?

0:09:44 > 0:09:48I got a £10 voucher and a firm handshake.

0:09:48 > 0:09:49SHE LAUGHS

0:09:49 > 0:09:52And what did you blow your £10 voucher on?

0:09:52 > 0:09:53And I wasn't allowed to cash it,

0:09:53 > 0:09:56otherwise they would have turned me pro.

0:09:56 > 0:10:01So...so I went to Lilywhites and got a shirt, I think.

0:10:01 > 0:10:03For winning Wimbledon!

0:10:03 > 0:10:06A simply tremendous display by Rod Laver,

0:10:06 > 0:10:09that goes certainly down into the history of this game.

0:10:09 > 0:10:121962, to be able to win all four titles...

0:10:12 > 0:10:16But you can't just gloss over "I won all four Grand Slams" like that.

0:10:16 > 0:10:20Because this is, as we've seen, one of the hardest things to do.

0:10:20 > 0:10:21How hard was it back then?

0:10:21 > 0:10:25Yeah, it certainly is tough, and I had the good fortune

0:10:25 > 0:10:28of having the Queen there to present me with the trophy.

0:10:28 > 0:10:32But there would be no more of this for six years.

0:10:32 > 0:10:35In late 1962, he turned professional.

0:10:35 > 0:10:38A lot of the tennis world back in those years

0:10:38 > 0:10:40didn't quite understand -

0:10:40 > 0:10:42they thought that we could just travel around

0:10:42 > 0:10:45and not ever have any need for money,

0:10:45 > 0:10:48and I was saying, "How do you...? It doesn't work that way."

0:10:48 > 0:10:51And so, finally, I decided that I had to turn professional

0:10:51 > 0:10:54and I signed for 110,000

0:10:54 > 0:10:58for three years of playing for 11 months a year.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01I became a tennis player when I turned professional -

0:11:01 > 0:11:02could I get back to Wimbledon again?

0:11:02 > 0:11:03That's over.

0:11:03 > 0:11:06Professionals were barred from Grand Slam events,

0:11:06 > 0:11:10including Wimbledon, but the club chairman, Herman David,

0:11:10 > 0:11:15was campaigning to let them play and staged a pro tournament in 1967.

0:11:15 > 0:11:20The BBC covered it as an experiment in colour television.

0:11:20 > 0:11:23The place was packed out for the last three days

0:11:23 > 0:11:25and then Herman David said,

0:11:25 > 0:11:28"You're invited to play in next year's Wimbledon."

0:11:28 > 0:11:33I know the Australian and the French and the US were not too amused,

0:11:33 > 0:11:36but they, you know, came to a part of saying,

0:11:36 > 0:11:38"Well, why don't we all have open tennis?"

0:11:38 > 0:11:42The first Open Championships, 1968.

0:11:42 > 0:11:45Rod was back, better than ever.

0:11:45 > 0:11:50The greatest prize of all - the first Open Wimbledon.

0:11:50 > 0:11:53It's probably my most favourite tournament, ever,

0:11:53 > 0:11:57and so being able to go out there again and compete,

0:11:57 > 0:11:59yeah, it's just amazing.

0:12:01 > 0:12:02The dance of the champions.

0:12:02 > 0:12:07In 1969, Rod completed his last set of Grand Slam titles -

0:12:07 > 0:12:10the full set, again, making him unique.

0:12:10 > 0:12:14Those treasures don't come back, but they just...

0:12:14 > 0:12:17Amazing to think that we lived through that era.

0:12:17 > 0:12:18For me, it was just...

0:12:20 > 0:12:25It meant so much to be able to be at Wimbledon, being able to play

0:12:25 > 0:12:29and feel like, you know, it was almost a second home.

0:12:30 > 0:12:32Can I just say, on behalf of everyone in tennis,

0:12:32 > 0:12:35thank you for everything that you did during that time,

0:12:35 > 0:12:37and where you have helped take tennis.

0:12:37 > 0:12:38It wouldn't be the same without...

0:12:38 > 0:12:42I have a little picture that I treasure, Rod.

0:12:42 > 0:12:43HE LAUGHS

0:12:45 > 0:12:46This was when I was...

0:12:46 > 0:12:48That's not a little boy in the middle!

0:12:48 > 0:12:53That is actually me, when I was 12 years old,

0:12:53 > 0:12:55and you came over to London

0:12:55 > 0:12:57and I actually won one of your rackets

0:12:57 > 0:13:01and it was...I used the same grip, that racket,

0:13:01 > 0:13:04for the whole of my career, and I absolutely treasure that.

0:13:04 > 0:13:08It's on my wall. It made such a huge impact on me as well.

0:13:08 > 0:13:12Sue, it's my pleasure to be part of this great game, and to be with you.

0:13:16 > 0:13:19We are now into the members' lounge,

0:13:19 > 0:13:21so we get to use this throughout the year,

0:13:21 > 0:13:24but during the tournament, this is purely for the royal box,

0:13:24 > 0:13:26the royal guests and all of the people

0:13:26 > 0:13:28they invite to the royal box,

0:13:28 > 0:13:30and this is the way they go,

0:13:30 > 0:13:33from having their lovely refreshments,

0:13:33 > 0:13:35through this door -

0:13:35 > 0:13:38there's one the other side, exactly the same.

0:13:42 > 0:13:44And then out onto Centre Court -

0:13:44 > 0:13:47all the seats, obviously, are taken away during the year.

0:13:51 > 0:13:55Never been in here myself. Other than days like today.

0:13:55 > 0:13:56The royal connection -

0:13:56 > 0:13:59King George VI played in the Men's Doubles here.

0:13:59 > 0:14:03Mostly, they watch, and make players nervous.

0:14:03 > 0:14:06The worst part was when you had to turn around at the service line

0:14:06 > 0:14:07and do the curtsy.

0:14:07 > 0:14:08- Oh, my God. - SUE LAUGHS

0:14:08 > 0:14:11I don't think anybody is particularly practised

0:14:11 > 0:14:12at their curtsies.

0:14:12 > 0:14:15I think I asked Billie Jean, "How do you curtsy?"

0:14:15 > 0:14:17Except she really went down on her knees, and I go,

0:14:17 > 0:14:19"That's because you volley like that!"

0:14:19 > 0:14:21I think that was the most difficult thing to do.

0:14:23 > 0:14:26The most regular of the royals in the best seats in the house

0:14:26 > 0:14:28is the Duke of Kent.

0:14:28 > 0:14:30The Queen's cousin has been president

0:14:30 > 0:14:34of the All-England Lawn Tennis Club for nearly 50 years.

0:14:35 > 0:14:39My first Wimbledon as president was '69.

0:14:39 > 0:14:42I actually stood in for my mother in '68,

0:14:42 > 0:14:44when she was ill.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47That was the first time that I handed over a trophy,

0:14:47 > 0:14:48to Rod Laver...

0:14:48 > 0:14:52- Yes.- ..and so that was, for me, a rather memorable year.

0:14:52 > 0:14:53The tournament has evolved,

0:14:53 > 0:14:56but the feel of the tournament hasn't changed.

0:14:56 > 0:15:00I think they've been remarkably successful in evolving the thing,

0:15:00 > 0:15:04so that we still have a place which looks discreet,

0:15:04 > 0:15:06which has beautiful green grass,

0:15:06 > 0:15:09which isn't plastered with advertisements everywhere

0:15:09 > 0:15:11or painted bright blue or something.

0:15:11 > 0:15:15I think people do admire that aspect of it.

0:15:15 > 0:15:18I mean, it may be rather silly to pay so much attention to traditions

0:15:18 > 0:15:20but it does seem to matter to people.

0:15:20 > 0:15:24Do you get a sense of the national pride within Centre Court?

0:15:24 > 0:15:25Oh, yes, certainly.

0:15:25 > 0:15:28The crowd are not always exactly impartial.

0:15:28 > 0:15:31They make it pretty clear whom they favour!

0:15:31 > 0:15:35I remember it was a terrific atmosphere that day

0:15:35 > 0:15:38for Andy Murray's victory.

0:15:38 > 0:15:41We all prayed it was going to happen

0:15:41 > 0:15:43but you can never count on it, can you?

0:15:45 > 0:15:48The brief is to watch and present the prizes,

0:15:48 > 0:15:50but also to comfort the runners-up.

0:15:52 > 0:15:55You have to go onto the court to talk to them.

0:15:55 > 0:15:56Yes, and they can't speak!

0:15:56 > 0:15:59You interview them and they can't speak, can they, really?

0:15:59 > 0:16:02It's not easy to know what to say to them,

0:16:02 > 0:16:04particularly the runner-up who comes up first.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07Occasionally, they are quite emotional, too.

0:16:07 > 0:16:08They are very emotional.

0:16:08 > 0:16:09One of the most emotional

0:16:09 > 0:16:12involved the Duchess of Kent, Her Royal Highness,

0:16:12 > 0:16:16when Jana Novotna lost to Steffi Graf,

0:16:16 > 0:16:18and I think that for many people,

0:16:18 > 0:16:21that's one of the most famous images of Wimbledon.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23Yes, because it was quite unexpected, you know,

0:16:23 > 0:16:26that she would break down in tears

0:16:26 > 0:16:31as she was being presented with the runner-up trophy.

0:16:31 > 0:16:36She just couldn't contain herself, poor thing. My wife comforted her.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39It was a very nice spontaneous moment.

0:16:39 > 0:16:41You must be so proud of the tournament,

0:16:41 > 0:16:44because I have travelled the world talking to so many

0:16:44 > 0:16:47of the great champions, and every single one of them

0:16:47 > 0:16:50talks about their love for the Championships and the tradition.

0:16:50 > 0:16:55- That must make you very proud. - That's very palpable, isn't it?

0:16:55 > 0:17:00Almost every one of the, should I say, senior players that I've met

0:17:00 > 0:17:05all say they want to win Wimbledon more than any other championship,

0:17:05 > 0:17:06which is rather wonderful.

0:17:19 > 0:17:23Not exactly leafy SW19 any more -

0:17:23 > 0:17:25this is New York City.

0:17:25 > 0:17:29Remember Wimbledon's part in the tennis revolution of the 1960s?

0:17:29 > 0:17:33Well, I'm here to meet the mother of the revolution.

0:17:33 > 0:17:35On Court, off court,

0:17:35 > 0:17:38the player who changed everything in women's tennis.

0:17:38 > 0:17:42Time now to meet Wimbledon's most prolific champion.

0:17:42 > 0:17:45A remarkable lady who has done more to advance

0:17:45 > 0:17:49the cause of women's sport than anyone before or since.

0:17:49 > 0:17:51Her record tally of 20 titles here,

0:17:51 > 0:17:54six in singles, ten in doubles, four in mixed,

0:17:54 > 0:17:57sets her apart, Billie Jean King.

0:17:57 > 0:18:00APPLAUSE

0:18:00 > 0:18:03Hi. How are you? Good to see you.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06- I'm Billie.- He's into tennis. - Oh, good.

0:18:06 > 0:18:08Hi, I'm Billie Jean. Good to see you.

0:18:08 > 0:18:10- This is Sue Barker who also played. - Hi!

0:18:10 > 0:18:13- Sue Barker is the superstar on BBC, literally.- Wow.

0:18:13 > 0:18:1820 Wimbledon titles, a record equalled but never bettered.

0:18:18 > 0:18:21- I'm assuming this is Sue.- Yeah.

0:18:21 > 0:18:251979, her last Wimbledon title.

0:18:25 > 0:18:271961, her first.

0:18:27 > 0:18:30Between the ages of 17 and 35,

0:18:30 > 0:18:33nobody has ever felt more at home here.

0:18:33 > 0:18:36What was your impression of walking on to Centre Court,

0:18:36 > 0:18:40- because everyone talks about it? - I loved it. I loved it.

0:18:40 > 0:18:42I loved the tradition, I loved the process,

0:18:42 > 0:18:44I love that we walk into this...

0:18:44 > 0:18:46In the old days, they had a little waiting room

0:18:46 > 0:18:50and you sit in there and they had the different photos of players

0:18:50 > 0:18:52that came before, and of course, I knew all of them

0:18:52 > 0:18:54and knew their history - but it's tough,

0:18:54 > 0:18:56because you have to sit in there with your opponent sometimes.

0:18:56 > 0:18:58I remember looking out that window.

0:18:58 > 0:19:00Do you remember the two little windows?

0:19:00 > 0:19:03Chris and I had to wait a day to play our finals

0:19:03 > 0:19:06and we were in there together, there's a photo of Chris and I

0:19:06 > 0:19:08looking out of that window.

0:19:08 > 0:19:09We were there the whole day.

0:19:16 > 0:19:18When I walk on Centre Court,

0:19:18 > 0:19:22I always am thinking of all the past champions that came before me.

0:19:22 > 0:19:25I think about people who never got to play there

0:19:25 > 0:19:28and then I think about the future, like, which future champions

0:19:28 > 0:19:29are going to be here, while I was playing?

0:19:29 > 0:19:32Others had thought of her -

0:19:32 > 0:19:37neighbours who raised 2,000 to finance her first trip to Wimbledon.

0:19:37 > 0:19:41She won the doubles, which earned her no money but an invitation.

0:19:42 > 0:19:46- The Wimbledon Ball that year. - We couldn't go.

0:19:46 > 0:19:49- So what did you do? - We couldn't afford it.

0:19:49 > 0:19:50We had three dollars left,

0:19:50 > 0:19:53so Karen and I went out in Knightsbridge someplace,

0:19:53 > 0:19:58I went downstairs to this Italian restaurant, and we had dinner.

0:19:58 > 0:20:01I'm sure we had pasta, or spaghetti or something.

0:20:01 > 0:20:03Putting food on the table.

0:20:03 > 0:20:06Billie Jean became a driving force on all fronts,

0:20:06 > 0:20:10a champion on court and off it.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13A pioneer of the women's professional tour -

0:20:13 > 0:20:16creating it, fighting for its survival,

0:20:16 > 0:20:18and then fighting for equality.

0:20:20 > 0:20:21Thanks to her,

0:20:21 > 0:20:24the women players of today have the same prize money as the men.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29I am so happy I came up in the '70s.

0:20:29 > 0:20:32Women's tennis just exploded

0:20:32 > 0:20:34because of Billie Jean King.

0:20:34 > 0:20:38At Wimbledon, you were fighting so hard, as well, off the court.

0:20:38 > 0:20:39Yes, off the court.

0:20:39 > 0:20:44- Do you think that affected in some ways...?- My performance? Oh, sure!

0:20:44 > 0:20:46I didn't win as much. I didn't care.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49I had this vision when I was younger how I wanted the game to look

0:20:49 > 0:20:52and I wanted men and women to be together, working hard together,

0:20:52 > 0:20:56and because the men rejected us we didn't have one association.

0:20:56 > 0:20:58Our dream, the nine of us, we decided

0:20:58 > 0:21:01was that if any girl in the world was born,

0:21:01 > 0:21:03she'd have a place to play and compete.

0:21:03 > 0:21:07The other reason was we wanted them to be appreciated

0:21:07 > 0:21:09for their accomplishments, not just their looks.

0:21:16 > 0:21:19If I said to you a sentence that would sum up Wimbledon?

0:21:21 > 0:21:23Pure splendour. Just pure heaven.

0:21:23 > 0:21:28I don't know, the gardens and the ivy and the surroundings,

0:21:28 > 0:21:30the people, the fans.

0:21:30 > 0:21:33I remember talking to Roy Emerson, who I absolutely adore,

0:21:33 > 0:21:36he won so many titles at Wimbledon.

0:21:36 > 0:21:38I'll never forget him telling me, he says,

0:21:38 > 0:21:41"Billie, what keeps me going is when I'm at Wimbledon

0:21:41 > 0:21:44"and I walk in and I see all those people that have been up

0:21:44 > 0:21:48"all night to see us," he says, "We are so lucky" -

0:21:48 > 0:21:49and he's right.

0:22:00 > 0:22:03Still in New York, still turbulent.

0:22:03 > 0:22:06For me, this is a tricky one.

0:22:06 > 0:22:10The mid-1970s, there was a rivalry between me and...

0:22:10 > 0:22:12THEY LAUGH

0:22:12 > 0:22:17Oh, my God! Look at you! You look a million dollars!

0:22:17 > 0:22:20- Fantastic, this is great! - And so do you.

0:22:21 > 0:22:24We were both Grand Slam champions.

0:22:24 > 0:22:28I'd won the French Open, Virginia the US and the Australian,

0:22:28 > 0:22:31but hopes of an all-British final were scuppered

0:22:31 > 0:22:34when I lost to Betty Stove in the semis,

0:22:34 > 0:22:38so only Virginia made it to the 1977 final.

0:22:38 > 0:22:41I was just quite relieved, I have to say,

0:22:41 > 0:22:44that it was not a certain Sue Barker who won that match.

0:22:44 > 0:22:48Betty cost me a fortune, because I couldn't bear to watch the final.

0:22:48 > 0:22:49I'm sure you couldn't.

0:22:49 > 0:22:53No - so, I went out and spent an absolute fortune on jewellery.

0:22:53 > 0:22:57- That's very funny!- So, you made £13,000 and I spent a whole load!

0:22:57 > 0:23:01That's very funny, Sue, I don't think I've ever heard that one.

0:23:02 > 0:23:05This is what I missed that July Friday.

0:23:06 > 0:23:08The Queen, 25 years on the throne,

0:23:08 > 0:23:12here to see Virginia in her first Wimbledon final.

0:23:13 > 0:23:16It was incredible motivation that she was going to be there.

0:23:16 > 0:23:18Everybody was very excited

0:23:18 > 0:23:22so they all have Union Jacks and the flags everywhere.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25It was sort of cool, because she was dressed in the same

0:23:25 > 0:23:28colour as my cardigan. It matched my lucky dress.

0:23:28 > 0:23:30Why was it the lucky dress?

0:23:30 > 0:23:32Well, because I was winning in it!

0:23:33 > 0:23:35And it washed very easily -

0:23:35 > 0:23:38and so that was such a good omen when you go in

0:23:38 > 0:23:41and then you see the Queen's wearing the same colour.

0:23:41 > 0:23:43That was really very fortuitous.

0:23:43 > 0:23:46I'd said before the tournament,

0:23:46 > 0:23:48I don't know if I'd said it in public,

0:23:48 > 0:23:51but I kept saying it to whoever I was speaking to, I said,

0:23:51 > 0:23:54"If I get to the final of Wimbledon this year, I'll win it."

0:23:58 > 0:23:59That's a bad error.

0:23:59 > 0:24:01The feeling of match point -

0:24:01 > 0:24:05"Here I am, one point away from the dream becoming reality."

0:24:05 > 0:24:09Well, it was one of the things that I'd really been working on,

0:24:09 > 0:24:14this particular forehand return after second serve,

0:24:14 > 0:24:16and lo and behold that was the shot I got

0:24:16 > 0:24:20and lo and behold that was the execution that won the day.

0:24:20 > 0:24:22She's done it. She's done it.

0:24:22 > 0:24:24A fairy story come true.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30Were you aware of just what it meant to the British public

0:24:30 > 0:24:32to have a Wimbledon champion?

0:24:32 > 0:24:34It was like they were desperate for a celebration

0:24:34 > 0:24:36and it gave them a reason to celebrate.

0:24:36 > 0:24:39I think it was very...

0:24:41 > 0:24:43It elevated a lot of people's moods.

0:24:43 > 0:24:47Ladies and gentlemen, the score was 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

0:24:47 > 0:24:50APPLAUSE

0:24:52 > 0:24:56And finally, having my record being very debatable

0:24:56 > 0:25:00in the eyes of the British public, I suddenly could do no wrong, so...

0:25:05 > 0:25:08- Do you remember what she said to you?- I couldn't hear her.

0:25:08 > 0:25:10There was so much noise going on.

0:25:10 > 0:25:13So I said, "Pardon?" I still didn't hear.

0:25:13 > 0:25:17"Excuse me?" Still didn't hear. I thought I'd better not say.

0:25:20 > 0:25:22What a proud and happy girl.

0:25:23 > 0:25:28Wimbledon is the golden globe you're aiming for,

0:25:28 > 0:25:30and in retrospect, it changed my life a lot.

0:25:32 > 0:25:34Virginia, it must seem like the fulfilment of a dream.

0:25:34 > 0:25:38No, it was just like fairyland out there.

0:25:38 > 0:25:41I saw the fairy tale and it made me very insignificant

0:25:41 > 0:25:47to be part of it, but it was nice to know that you were.

0:25:54 > 0:25:56We should go and have some lunch,

0:25:56 > 0:25:57there's a hot dog stall there

0:25:57 > 0:25:59or we could go to that very expensive restaurant.

0:25:59 > 0:26:03Are you paying? Which way are we going?

0:26:03 > 0:26:06We're going this way.

0:26:06 > 0:26:08She didn't say she'd pay!

0:26:12 > 0:26:14And by the entrance to Centre Court,

0:26:14 > 0:26:17the busts of the five lady champions from Great Britain,

0:26:17 > 0:26:21including Angela Mortimer from '61, Ann Jones in '69

0:26:21 > 0:26:24and Virginia in '77.

0:26:24 > 0:26:27Conditions were fine for Virginia's win

0:26:27 > 0:26:30but the year before it was hot - really hot.

0:26:30 > 0:26:32And I'm not talking about the weather.

0:26:32 > 0:26:34MUSIC: Bang a Gong (Get it On) by T Rex

0:26:34 > 0:26:36- He's nice.- Sexy.

0:26:36 > 0:26:37He's smashing.

0:26:37 > 0:26:39He's quite something. He really is.

0:26:42 > 0:26:46Bjorn Borg was the biggest rock star tennis has ever seen.

0:26:47 > 0:26:50And even on the Centre Court we've got the teenagers rushing on,

0:26:50 > 0:26:52I've never seen this before in my life.

0:26:52 > 0:26:54There were literally a couple of hundred girls

0:26:54 > 0:26:58screaming outside like it was the Beatles arriving in America.

0:26:58 > 0:27:00I thought to myself, "Now, this...

0:27:00 > 0:27:03"this would be nice, to be able to get a little bit of that."

0:27:08 > 0:27:10You, in some ways, changed tennis.

0:27:10 > 0:27:13Now they have tunnels underneath Wimbledon,

0:27:13 > 0:27:15but you guys, you'd have to leave the locker room

0:27:15 > 0:27:18and fight your way to get to practice courts,

0:27:18 > 0:27:20which can't have been easy.

0:27:20 > 0:27:23No, it was different during our time. You remember too, Sue.

0:27:23 > 0:27:24I do - but you used to get mobbed!

0:27:24 > 0:27:26I used to see you outside the window,

0:27:26 > 0:27:28you could tell when you were walking out,

0:27:28 > 0:27:30because there was this whole scene,

0:27:30 > 0:27:32- all the policeman surrounding you. - Yeah...

0:27:32 > 0:27:34Well, something happened in tennis during that time.

0:27:34 > 0:27:37You know, staying at a hotel, you stay in your room and in

0:27:37 > 0:27:41the reception was hundreds of girls standing downstairs.

0:27:41 > 0:27:43It was crazy.

0:27:43 > 0:27:44We were used to doing that.

0:27:44 > 0:27:46That's the way we're supposed to do.

0:27:46 > 0:27:49It was crazy.

0:27:49 > 0:27:51Today is different - tennis is different.

0:27:51 > 0:27:55Everything is different today than when we played.

0:27:55 > 0:27:56Every one a fluffy one.

0:27:56 > 0:27:59Come on, girls, it's agony on the boards.

0:27:59 > 0:28:03One, Bjorn, enjoying the glow and all that came with it,

0:28:03 > 0:28:07and the other, the 20-year-old ice cold Swede

0:28:07 > 0:28:11in his first final against Ilie Nastase, ten years his senior.

0:28:13 > 0:28:15When you walk out to the Wimbledon final

0:28:15 > 0:28:18on Centre Court, it's a special thing.

0:28:21 > 0:28:24The first three, four games, I was very nervous.

0:28:24 > 0:28:26- You never looked nervous. - I was very nervous!

0:28:26 > 0:28:29Three championship points for Borg.

0:28:32 > 0:28:33That's it!

0:28:35 > 0:28:37And after winning the last point,

0:28:37 > 0:28:41in the Wimbledon final, that's the most beautiful thing

0:28:41 > 0:28:44that can happen to you as a tennis player.

0:28:44 > 0:28:48Finally, you're a Wimbledon champion, it's something special,

0:28:48 > 0:28:49something extra.

0:28:51 > 0:28:53It went beyond extra special.

0:28:53 > 0:28:55He could not lose at Wimbledon...

0:28:56 > 0:28:58..and he did it his way.

0:29:02 > 0:29:08The unbeatable Borg won two, three, four titles in succession.

0:29:09 > 0:29:12Now, we're all wondering here, Bjorn, whether you can make it five?

0:29:12 > 0:29:16- Do you think you can? - I hope so, why not?

0:29:16 > 0:29:19- Or even six or seven? - Yeah, I wouldn't mind.

0:29:21 > 0:29:27The fifth final, 1980, against John McEnroe.

0:29:27 > 0:29:29What was he like in the locker room before a final?

0:29:29 > 0:29:32Did he try and talk to you?

0:29:32 > 0:29:34I am kind of a private person.

0:29:34 > 0:29:37I sit and do my things, but he was the same.

0:29:37 > 0:29:40He didn't say a word. Nothing.

0:29:40 > 0:29:42Saved it for on-court.

0:29:42 > 0:29:45Used to save it... Exactly!

0:29:45 > 0:29:48Saved it to the court. To have something to say!

0:29:48 > 0:29:54Everybody talks about the 1980 final and that fourth set tie-break.

0:29:54 > 0:29:57To date, since we first saw the tie-break in 1971,

0:29:57 > 0:30:01no final has ever ended on the tie-break, but it might now.

0:30:01 > 0:30:04I felt like my game matched up really well to him

0:30:04 > 0:30:05and he had won four in a row,

0:30:05 > 0:30:08and what are the odds of a guy winning five in a row?

0:30:12 > 0:30:15So many unbelievable shots we did, both me and John.

0:30:18 > 0:30:23On and on went the fourth set tie-break, 20 minutes,

0:30:23 > 0:30:26Bjorn to win again and John to stay in the final.

0:30:26 > 0:30:28Yes, two sets all!

0:30:28 > 0:30:31Borg was one of those guys, never got tired,

0:30:31 > 0:30:34and I started to physically feel, like, "Oh, my God."

0:30:34 > 0:30:36It just caught up to me,

0:30:36 > 0:30:40and then next thing I know he's on his knees.

0:30:40 > 0:30:41That's it!

0:30:46 > 0:30:51He wouldn't win again, and soon he was gone from Wimbledon.

0:30:51 > 0:30:55His last Centre Court match was the 1981 final,

0:30:55 > 0:30:58this time losing to John McEnroe.

0:30:58 > 0:31:02That never happened to me before in my life that...

0:31:02 > 0:31:06OK, I lost. I'm not that disappointed.

0:31:06 > 0:31:09Then I felt there was something wrong with me.

0:31:09 > 0:31:14I could not go anywhere, I could not do anything and it was crazy.

0:31:14 > 0:31:19In the end I said, "I cannot live this kind of life. I am fed up."

0:31:21 > 0:31:25Maybe it would have been nice to play another 3-5 years in tennis,

0:31:25 > 0:31:26I was 25 years old.

0:31:26 > 0:31:31I think that's had a big part, why I stepped away from tennis.

0:31:32 > 0:31:36He did come back, 20 years later - not to play,

0:31:36 > 0:31:37just to be adored again.

0:31:37 > 0:31:39It's Bjorn Borg.

0:31:39 > 0:31:41APPLAUSE

0:31:44 > 0:31:47I mean, what a welcome back it was to Centre Court, by the crowd.

0:31:47 > 0:31:49Yes, that was very nice.

0:31:49 > 0:31:50It felt really good in my heart.

0:31:50 > 0:31:53Because Wimbledon, it's a special thing for me.

0:31:55 > 0:31:57It's the most special tournament for me,

0:31:57 > 0:32:00of all the tournaments I played all over the world.

0:32:00 > 0:32:02It's...

0:32:02 > 0:32:07Those wins, and being there, playing there, it's deep.

0:32:07 > 0:32:09Deep inside my heart.

0:32:13 > 0:32:16The player that ended the reign of Bjorn Borg

0:32:16 > 0:32:21was just about everything the inscrutable Swede was not.

0:32:22 > 0:32:25Well, John, do you enjoy coming to London?

0:32:25 > 0:32:26I enjoy it quite a bit now.

0:32:26 > 0:32:30When I was playing, it was a lot more difficult to enjoy.

0:32:30 > 0:32:34There was some self-inflicted wounds and some pressure,

0:32:34 > 0:32:38obviously, a lot of pressure - most of which I put on myself.

0:32:38 > 0:32:43I came here for one reason only, which is to try to win Wimbledon.

0:32:43 > 0:32:491977, an 18-year-old rookie from New York making an impression.

0:32:50 > 0:32:55I had played Phil Dent in the French Open.

0:32:55 > 0:32:58There were a lot of bad calls in this match at the French,

0:32:58 > 0:33:01so he sort of put his arm around my shoulder,

0:33:01 > 0:33:03and he goes, "Son, this is the pros now,

0:33:03 > 0:33:08"so if you want to question a call, you've got to ask the umpire."

0:33:08 > 0:33:12You know, "Don't go look at me," so this light bulb went off in my head.

0:33:12 > 0:33:16I didn't know when or if this opportunity would present itself.

0:33:16 > 0:33:19Ironically, we played in the quarters at Wimbledon.

0:33:21 > 0:33:22Oh, come on!

0:33:22 > 0:33:24Well, he's not going to like it.

0:33:24 > 0:33:28For the first time that I recall, I started to question calls.

0:33:28 > 0:33:30You're quite sure?!

0:33:30 > 0:33:317-7.

0:33:31 > 0:33:34The ball was so far in. Did you see it in?

0:33:34 > 0:33:38I got frustrated. I ended up losing the first set in a tie-breaker,

0:33:38 > 0:33:41and I remember I tried to take my racket,

0:33:41 > 0:33:44and I grabbed my racket, it was wood rackets...

0:33:44 > 0:33:47Just couldn't believe I lost the set.

0:33:47 > 0:33:49Well...

0:33:49 > 0:33:51he has a right to be disappointed.

0:33:51 > 0:33:55Whether he has a right to make such a fuss is debatable.

0:33:55 > 0:33:58It was the first real time that I remember being booed.

0:34:02 > 0:34:04So I thought, "Why are they booing?"

0:34:04 > 0:34:07So I decided just to see what they'd react.

0:34:07 > 0:34:09I'd put the racket on the court and kick it

0:34:09 > 0:34:10towards where I was going to sit,

0:34:10 > 0:34:14just to see if they reacted to that, which they did.

0:34:14 > 0:34:16That suddenly completely changed my life.

0:34:16 > 0:34:18He's done it.

0:34:18 > 0:34:20A wonderful win.

0:34:20 > 0:34:23Marvellous win for this young fellow of 18.

0:34:23 > 0:34:25He was a bit lost in the beginning.

0:34:25 > 0:34:28He has a temper and he was behaving bad,

0:34:28 > 0:34:34and all the other tennis players, they said, "We don't like this guy."

0:34:34 > 0:34:37They didn't accept him as a person and as a player.

0:34:37 > 0:34:39It was long this side.

0:34:41 > 0:34:44You can't be serious, man. You cannot be serious!

0:34:44 > 0:34:47That ball was on the line!

0:34:47 > 0:34:50Chalk flew up! It was clearly in!

0:34:50 > 0:34:53Some of it obviously was my fault,

0:34:53 > 0:34:57but I didn't feel like I deserved quite the shellacking I was getting.

0:34:57 > 0:34:59You guys are the absolute pits of the world.

0:34:59 > 0:35:02I am going to award a point against you, Mr McEnroe.

0:35:02 > 0:35:04APPLAUSE

0:35:06 > 0:35:09By the time I played Borg in '81,

0:35:09 > 0:35:13the notoriety that I was receiving was getting to be very distracting.

0:35:13 > 0:35:15Everything was magnified

0:35:15 > 0:35:18so I had to be really careful about not really doing anything

0:35:18 > 0:35:21otherwise it would just look like I was going absolutely crazy.

0:35:21 > 0:35:25I had a tendency to sort of get distracted

0:35:25 > 0:35:29and lash out at times, but this one I was under control.

0:35:29 > 0:35:31- Game, set and match... - That's it! He's won it!

0:35:31 > 0:35:32He's won it.

0:35:34 > 0:35:37When you look back at it now, do you think it did distract you?

0:35:37 > 0:35:40I think it did. I think I would have been a better player had I not.

0:35:40 > 0:35:41Others disagree.

0:35:41 > 0:35:43They think I harnessed this energy

0:35:43 > 0:35:45to, whatever, throw off the opponent -

0:35:45 > 0:35:50but, ultimately, I think the way I played prepared me well,

0:35:50 > 0:35:55but there were times where I felt like it got in the way of things,

0:35:55 > 0:35:59but then again, maybe I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you.

0:36:03 > 0:36:07A New Yorker who would be both booed and loved by Wimbledon.

0:36:07 > 0:36:11Three singles titles, five doubles.

0:36:11 > 0:36:15A brat and a magician, singled out as a bad example,

0:36:15 > 0:36:17universally adored.

0:36:17 > 0:36:20A complex personality in a theatre of many moods

0:36:20 > 0:36:22and still very much here.

0:36:22 > 0:36:27Today, his verbal outbursts are admired around the world.

0:36:32 > 0:36:35Dressed to thrill from the 1920s. Look at that.

0:36:35 > 0:36:38There is one the dress in here that actually belongs to me.

0:36:41 > 0:36:43And it's that one!

0:36:45 > 0:36:48That was made for me by the great tennis designer, Teddy Tinling,

0:36:48 > 0:36:51and he asked me what I wanted in a dress and I said,

0:36:51 > 0:36:55"Make me a dress of what you think I am," and he made me that.

0:36:55 > 0:36:57I'm very gold lame, apparently.

0:37:00 > 0:37:02How times have changed.

0:37:02 > 0:37:04# Fashion! Turn to the left

0:37:04 > 0:37:05# Fashion! Turn to the right

0:37:05 > 0:37:08# Ooh, fashion... #

0:37:10 > 0:37:13Wimbledon has always had a white only dress code -

0:37:13 > 0:37:16a code never broken, but stretched.

0:37:18 > 0:37:19The backless dresses, the halter.

0:37:19 > 0:37:21We talked about collars versus no collars.

0:37:21 > 0:37:24Cashmere sweaters with my initials.

0:37:24 > 0:37:26Cardigans. some jackets.

0:37:26 > 0:37:28Even long pants, even the vests.

0:37:28 > 0:37:30The sundresses, the dresses with cut-outs.

0:37:30 > 0:37:32And the whole crowd went, "Whoa!"

0:37:32 > 0:37:35It was very fashionable back then, don't you think?

0:37:35 > 0:37:38# Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do

0:37:38 > 0:37:41# Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion

0:37:42 > 0:37:46# Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do... #

0:37:46 > 0:37:49Tennis lends itself to actually look very good.

0:37:56 > 0:38:01We are light years from Wimbledon. This is tennis country, USA.

0:38:01 > 0:38:05Fort Lauderdale in the southernmost state of Florida.

0:38:05 > 0:38:09You won't find too many grass courts here, but Wimbledon reaches out,

0:38:09 > 0:38:14and a teenager from this town knew exactly why she had to go.

0:38:16 > 0:38:19The beauty of Wimbledon is it's like the tennis cathedral,

0:38:19 > 0:38:23because there's such a reverence about that Centre Court,

0:38:23 > 0:38:29and when you walk out there's such a hush before everybody explodes.

0:38:29 > 0:38:32You don't get that at any other Grand Slam on Centre Court.

0:38:32 > 0:38:34- How are you?- Good!

0:38:35 > 0:38:38- I can't believe you're down here! - I can't believe I'm here!

0:38:39 > 0:38:45I was a 17-year-old protected schoolgirl from Florida.

0:38:45 > 0:38:50England, London, seemed so far away, across the ocean.

0:38:50 > 0:38:53Wimbledon was special because you walk into that tea room

0:38:53 > 0:38:56and you look around, there would be every player there,

0:38:56 > 0:38:59and you'd go, "Oh, my God, Bjorn Borg over there,"

0:38:59 > 0:39:02Rod Laber was over there, Billie Jean was over here.

0:39:02 > 0:39:06I mean, it was really the social scene of London,

0:39:06 > 0:39:07really, at that time.

0:39:07 > 0:39:13You in some ways were the first person that made women's sport sexy.

0:39:13 > 0:39:15I always wanted to be feminine

0:39:15 > 0:39:19and being feminine while I was on the court sweating

0:39:19 > 0:39:24and while I was on the court really trying my best was important to me.

0:39:24 > 0:39:29You don't have to be big and tall and muscular -

0:39:29 > 0:39:33I wasn't the greatest athlete but I made it happen,

0:39:33 > 0:39:39and so I think I gave hope to little girls all around the world

0:39:39 > 0:39:41that, "If I try really, really hard

0:39:41 > 0:39:44"and I work hard and I want it badly enough,

0:39:44 > 0:39:46"I've got a shot at this."

0:39:46 > 0:39:49I think that that's what my appeal was.

0:39:53 > 0:39:55OK, what happened there?

0:39:59 > 0:40:03Right, but also if you're going to commit and poach,

0:40:03 > 0:40:07you've got to go in. You don't go sideways.

0:40:07 > 0:40:09OK, cut it off and go in.

0:40:09 > 0:40:12I see things. I didn't do them but I see things.

0:40:15 > 0:40:20Chris won three Wimbledon singles but 1974 was the year,

0:40:20 > 0:40:22a headline writer's dream -

0:40:22 > 0:40:25her fiance Jimmy Connors won, too.

0:40:26 > 0:40:29That was also '74, when they called it the Love Double.

0:40:29 > 0:40:33'74, I don't think the two of you were off the front page.

0:40:33 > 0:40:34- Yeah.- People were intrigued

0:40:34 > 0:40:38with two young tennis players that were in love

0:40:38 > 0:40:41and that were going to get married. It was like a Cinderella story.

0:40:41 > 0:40:45It was fantastic, and I remember he beat Ken Rosewall in the finals

0:40:45 > 0:40:49and I sat next to his mom and Ava Gardner.

0:40:49 > 0:40:50- Wow!- Yeah.

0:40:50 > 0:40:53Wimbledon brings out special people.

0:40:53 > 0:40:55Did you have to dance together when you won that?

0:40:55 > 0:40:57We did, and we danced to the Girl Of My Dreams,

0:40:57 > 0:40:59and I remember I saw a picture of it

0:40:59 > 0:41:01and I'm wearing, like, seven-inch stilettos.

0:41:01 > 0:41:03My hair was down to here...

0:41:03 > 0:41:07We were both pretty immature, but we were caught up in the story too,

0:41:07 > 0:41:09I think, and...

0:41:09 > 0:41:11When two people are trying to be number one in the world,

0:41:11 > 0:41:12it's never going to work.

0:41:12 > 0:41:15Chris was undisputed world number one.

0:41:15 > 0:41:19A Wimbledon favourite until a rival emerged,

0:41:19 > 0:41:22not from sun-kissed Florida but from Revnice,

0:41:22 > 0:41:26near Prague in then-Communist Czechoslovakia.

0:41:28 > 0:41:29So, Martina, this is home.

0:41:29 > 0:41:31Your home is how far from here?

0:41:31 > 0:41:33It's about 300 yards down the hill.

0:41:33 > 0:41:35But this is like the centre of the village?

0:41:35 > 0:41:38It used to be cobblestones but then they paved the road

0:41:38 > 0:41:43so riding a bicycle was a bit of a precarious proposition.

0:41:43 > 0:41:46When she was 18, Martina left home for America.

0:41:46 > 0:41:50It would make life hard for the family she left behind,

0:41:50 > 0:41:53behind the Iron Curtain.

0:41:53 > 0:41:56That was the hardest thing that I've ever had to do.

0:41:56 > 0:41:59After that, playing a match, even coming out, piece of cake,

0:41:59 > 0:42:03when you consider what I did when I was 19, almost 19.

0:42:03 > 0:42:06Didn't know when I was going to see my parents again,

0:42:06 > 0:42:08didn't know if I was going to see them alive.

0:42:08 > 0:42:11When I won my first Wimbledon, I was stateless.

0:42:11 > 0:42:14I was officially not from anywhere.

0:42:14 > 0:42:19In rejecting her home country, it wasn't just Martina who suffered.

0:42:19 > 0:42:22Her family were isolated, lost their jobs

0:42:22 > 0:42:24and prevented from leaving the country.

0:42:25 > 0:42:27We all felt for you in that Wimbledon final

0:42:27 > 0:42:31when your family couldn't come to watch you, in '78.

0:42:31 > 0:42:34I didn't even know if they were able to watch

0:42:34 > 0:42:35because Czech TV didn't show it.

0:42:35 > 0:42:38They would show Wimbledon until I started winning

0:42:38 > 0:42:40and then they wouldn't show it.

0:42:40 > 0:42:42That's how people knew I was in the finals,

0:42:42 > 0:42:43when they didn't show the final.

0:42:43 > 0:42:46They would write about the tournament

0:42:46 > 0:42:48and then ignore my half of the draw!

0:42:51 > 0:42:53That's it! That's it!

0:42:53 > 0:42:57And a truly wonderful victory for Martina...

0:42:57 > 0:43:01Finally saw my mom in '79, four years later,

0:43:01 > 0:43:03when she came to Wimbledon,

0:43:03 > 0:43:06when the Duchess of Kent helped get her Visa.

0:43:06 > 0:43:10It's like a long-lost daughter or son coming from war, almost.

0:43:10 > 0:43:12At some point, we didn't even know

0:43:12 > 0:43:14if we would ever see each other again.

0:43:14 > 0:43:18- It's four years since you last saw her in the flesh.- Four and a half.

0:43:18 > 0:43:23- How has she changed? - She is now very skinny

0:43:23 > 0:43:26and, for me, is very beautiful.

0:43:29 > 0:43:32It was a perfect rivalry.

0:43:32 > 0:43:37You couldn't ask for two more different people, players,

0:43:37 > 0:43:40personalities, looks.

0:43:40 > 0:43:42Everything was polar opposite.

0:43:42 > 0:43:46Coming out, I think, really helped me become the tennis player

0:43:46 > 0:43:49that I became because then you're free.

0:43:49 > 0:43:52She brought her set of fans, I brought my set of fans

0:43:52 > 0:43:56and it was really pretty intense and pretty unbelievable.

0:43:58 > 0:44:02Game, set and match, Miss Navratilova.

0:44:02 > 0:44:04They couldn't have been more different.

0:44:04 > 0:44:07They couldn't have been closer at the top of the women's game.

0:44:07 > 0:44:10Chris dominated on the clay of Paris

0:44:10 > 0:44:12winning seven singles titles there -

0:44:12 > 0:44:16but on grass, there was only one winner.

0:44:16 > 0:44:18They met in five singles finals,

0:44:18 > 0:44:20Martina won them all,

0:44:20 > 0:44:24but in those days she couldn't win the hearts

0:44:24 > 0:44:25of the Centre Court crowd.

0:44:25 > 0:44:30I did get the acceptance early on, but then it disappeared.

0:44:30 > 0:44:33Being gay and winning, it was too threatening.

0:44:33 > 0:44:36It was OK to be gay as long as I was losing,

0:44:36 > 0:44:41but when I started dominating, somehow I had an unfair advantage -

0:44:41 > 0:44:42I don't know, how -

0:44:42 > 0:44:46and that support had really shifted.

0:44:46 > 0:44:49After all her nine wins, it was when she lost

0:44:49 > 0:44:52that Martina showed what Wimbledon meant to her

0:44:52 > 0:44:55and the crowd took her to their hearts.

0:44:55 > 0:44:59And tremendous cheer for the former champion,

0:44:59 > 0:45:02and one or two tears for her, I suspect.

0:45:02 > 0:45:06I did get a big round of applause

0:45:06 > 0:45:08when I got the trophy and they just kept clapping -

0:45:08 > 0:45:12and that's when I broke down because I realised that they accepted me

0:45:12 > 0:45:14as an American, and as a gay woman.

0:45:14 > 0:45:18The crowds really embrace you,

0:45:18 > 0:45:21no matter who you are, no matter where you are from.

0:45:21 > 0:45:23They really are respectful,

0:45:23 > 0:45:28they're knowledgeable and you feel appreciated -

0:45:28 > 0:45:31but I think the crowds have a lot to do with the love

0:45:31 > 0:45:33that I have for Wimbledon.

0:45:33 > 0:45:36But what do they do when play is stopped?

0:45:36 > 0:45:39Ladies and gentlemen, Cliff Richard!

0:45:39 > 0:45:41CHEERING

0:45:41 > 0:45:42- HE HUMS - Right.

0:45:42 > 0:45:43# We're... # No, wait a minute.

0:45:43 > 0:45:45- What key would it be in? - LAUGHTER

0:45:45 > 0:45:49# We're all going on a summer holiday

0:45:49 > 0:45:53# No more working for a week or two

0:45:53 > 0:45:57# Fun and laughter on our summer holiday

0:45:57 > 0:46:00# No more worries for me or you

0:46:02 > 0:46:03# For a week or two... #

0:46:03 > 0:46:04Oh, my God! When it rained...

0:46:04 > 0:46:07We'd read the tabloids and have a laugh...

0:46:07 > 0:46:10- "Chrissie! Look at Sue Barker!" - SUE LAUGHS

0:46:10 > 0:46:12Keith Richard! No, what was...?

0:46:12 > 0:46:15- Cliff! - Cliff, sorry!- Not Keith Richards!

0:46:15 > 0:46:17# ..I'm all shook up! #

0:46:17 > 0:46:20CHEERING

0:46:24 > 0:46:27Long before Sir Cliff shook Centre Court,

0:46:27 > 0:46:31a certain German teenager came to London and fell in love.

0:46:34 > 0:46:36Everything I am, everything that I have

0:46:36 > 0:46:39and everything that I will be is because of this court.

0:46:39 > 0:46:41So I have nothing but great memories.

0:46:41 > 0:46:42I wouldn't change a thing.

0:46:42 > 0:46:45This place very much became my home.

0:46:46 > 0:46:49In 1985, Boris Becker was unseeded

0:46:49 > 0:46:51and a complete outsider for the title...

0:46:54 > 0:46:57I was 17 but I was already number 20 in the world.

0:46:58 > 0:47:00..but he powered his way into the final.

0:47:00 > 0:47:02Game, set...and match!

0:47:03 > 0:47:06I felt, you know, there is something changing, now,

0:47:06 > 0:47:07especially the second week.

0:47:07 > 0:47:09I kept talking to more and more people

0:47:09 > 0:47:11and the press conferences were getting longer.

0:47:11 > 0:47:15But I wasn't afraid - put it that way.

0:47:15 > 0:47:17I slept pretty well the night before.

0:47:17 > 0:47:21I envisioned holding the trophy, which is something.

0:47:21 > 0:47:23I really stuck to my routine

0:47:23 > 0:47:27and I didn't want to change anything from the semifinal to the final.

0:47:27 > 0:47:30Just obviously, when I walked out, I was trying to be the first one.

0:47:30 > 0:47:35All this roar started and I was, "OK, where am I?!

0:47:35 > 0:47:38"It is a Wimbledon final!"

0:47:38 > 0:47:40The power was obvious.

0:47:40 > 0:47:42The big serve was back...

0:47:43 > 0:47:45..plus the Boris dive.

0:47:48 > 0:47:52- It changed your life - drastically, didn't it?- Yeah. Until now.

0:47:52 > 0:47:56The reason we are talking today is because of the summer of 1985.

0:47:56 > 0:48:00It changed my life so much that I call Wimbledon my home these days

0:48:00 > 0:48:01and it's never been the same.

0:48:01 > 0:48:04I call 7 July 1985 my birthday!

0:48:07 > 0:48:09At some point, the youngster would falter

0:48:09 > 0:48:12against the experienced Kevin Curran, wouldn't he?

0:48:14 > 0:48:20Coming out to serve for the title, surely the nerves were kicking in?

0:48:20 > 0:48:23That's when I, for the first time in the match,

0:48:23 > 0:48:26became a little nervous, a little frightened.

0:48:27 > 0:48:30First point, double fault, immediately.

0:48:30 > 0:48:33Another double fault on my first match point and I just, you know,

0:48:33 > 0:48:37prayed God, give me one more serve! I need one more serve!

0:48:37 > 0:48:38And then, there we go.

0:48:41 > 0:48:43- Yes! - CHEERING

0:48:43 > 0:48:47- Game, set and match... - CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:48:47 > 0:48:48..to Becker.

0:48:51 > 0:48:53That was the moment, that I felt,

0:48:53 > 0:48:56walking to shake Kevin's hand, that something changed.

0:48:56 > 0:49:01Something dramatically is not going to be the same any more.

0:49:01 > 0:49:04At that moment, I didn't know what, but it felt there was a change.

0:49:04 > 0:49:06CHEERING

0:49:12 > 0:49:15If you win out here, you lose your privacy, period.

0:49:15 > 0:49:18That's the price you are going to pay.

0:49:18 > 0:49:21Some players didn't mind.

0:49:21 > 0:49:24Some players couldn't handle it.

0:49:24 > 0:49:27I had my moments of good and bad.

0:49:30 > 0:49:32I felt a lot of pressure from everybody -

0:49:32 > 0:49:36and I wasn't sure whether that was a one-time thing,

0:49:36 > 0:49:40if it was two weeks that would never, ever be repeated again,

0:49:40 > 0:49:42or am I good? Am I that good?

0:49:42 > 0:49:43So, for me personally,

0:49:43 > 0:49:47the defence was much more important than the first time around,

0:49:47 > 0:49:51because it instilled in me an inner belief of...

0:49:51 > 0:49:54I belong in this tennis world.

0:49:56 > 0:49:57Yes!

0:49:57 > 0:49:58- CHEERING - Game, set and match to Becker!

0:49:58 > 0:50:00Back-to-back championships

0:50:00 > 0:50:03and the following year, he lost in the second round.

0:50:03 > 0:50:04Now came a test.

0:50:04 > 0:50:06How would he treat such an indignity?

0:50:09 > 0:50:13I think you had one of the quotes of the championship ever

0:50:13 > 0:50:14when you lost to Peter Doohan

0:50:14 > 0:50:18and you went in the press conference and you said this...

0:50:18 > 0:50:20Well, basically, I lost a tennis match, you know.

0:50:20 > 0:50:23I didn't lose a war. Nobody died. I lost a tennis match.

0:50:23 > 0:50:25And everybody was stunned

0:50:25 > 0:50:29and, I said, "Yes, I lost a tennis match, that was it."

0:50:31 > 0:50:36He would win again and for a while, Germany would rule Centre Court.

0:50:36 > 0:50:38- CHEERING - That's it! Steffi Graf!

0:50:38 > 0:50:41The new Wimbledon champion.

0:50:41 > 0:50:44MUSIC: 20th Century Boy by T. Rex

0:50:45 > 0:50:47Wimbledon was box office.

0:50:50 > 0:50:53What began as German interest in the Boris and Steffi show

0:50:53 > 0:50:56became an income stream from television

0:50:56 > 0:50:59that would change the face of Wimbledon.

0:51:00 > 0:51:02Stand by...

0:51:02 > 0:51:05No expense is spared, from practice facilities...

0:51:05 > 0:51:10tunnels that protect the stars from the mobbing of old...

0:51:10 > 0:51:13an international broadcast centre, the latest technology...

0:51:15 > 0:51:19..and against our dear old weather, roofs.

0:51:19 > 0:51:23Looking ahead, respecting the past.

0:51:23 > 0:51:25The good part about the All-England Club

0:51:25 > 0:51:27is that they have kept a lot of the traditions

0:51:27 > 0:51:30but they have come up into the 21st century, too.

0:51:30 > 0:51:32So we sort of have the best of both worlds

0:51:32 > 0:51:33and the players appreciate it.

0:51:33 > 0:51:36I think it's the better experience for the fans than ever.

0:51:36 > 0:51:41The wonderful thing about Wimbledon is tradition and innovation -

0:51:41 > 0:51:45and combining those two give it texture.

0:51:45 > 0:51:48But it still has that magic atmosphere about it.

0:51:48 > 0:51:50There is something magical about that place.

0:51:50 > 0:51:53Wimbledon. It's like a grandparent who you love

0:51:53 > 0:51:55but who's totally up-to-date.

0:51:55 > 0:51:59Wimbledon has an interesting way of staying relevant,

0:51:59 > 0:52:02staying very much in the moment,

0:52:02 > 0:52:04yet preserving history and tradition.

0:52:08 > 0:52:12Boris had been the teenage sensation, fearless in his youth -

0:52:12 > 0:52:15but the next dominant force was about to appear.

0:52:19 > 0:52:22Pete Sampras, he took over your living room, didn't he?

0:52:22 > 0:52:25I gave him the keys. I said that.

0:52:25 > 0:52:27"You are the new owner of this court,"

0:52:27 > 0:52:29and he is the best one I ever played on it.

0:52:34 > 0:52:35He was just better.

0:52:35 > 0:52:40I felt, on my very best day, and on his best day, he was just 10% better

0:52:40 > 0:52:42and he is probably the reason why I eventually retired

0:52:42 > 0:52:47because I said, if I feel like I can't beat everybody I want to beat

0:52:47 > 0:52:49on this court, then what's the point of playing?

0:52:51 > 0:52:53- CHEERING - Game, set and match Sampras!

0:53:02 > 0:53:04I remember I was about ten years old,

0:53:04 > 0:53:07we'd get up at six in the morning in LA

0:53:07 > 0:53:11and we would all sit around together and watch the final.

0:53:11 > 0:53:14It was sort of our Super Bowl in our sport,

0:53:14 > 0:53:19and as a kid, I just, you know, watching Borg-McEnroe,

0:53:19 > 0:53:22Becker winning at 17, Pat Cash winning there,

0:53:22 > 0:53:23those were big moments for me.

0:53:23 > 0:53:24So as a kid, I was, like,

0:53:24 > 0:53:27"OK, Wimbledon, that's the place I want to be."

0:53:27 > 0:53:28That was it.

0:53:28 > 0:53:30And what a moment...

0:53:30 > 0:53:33for this delightful shotmaker.

0:53:35 > 0:53:37He is absolutely up there

0:53:37 > 0:53:40with the very best players who have graced this famous court.

0:53:40 > 0:53:43The age of the man they called Pistol Pete.

0:53:43 > 0:53:47There had been Rod Laver and now there was Pete Sampras.

0:53:47 > 0:53:51And 1999 was his year of years.

0:53:51 > 0:53:52- Yes! - CHEERING

0:53:52 > 0:53:55Game, set and match, Sampras!

0:53:55 > 0:54:00The performance of a maestro and surely, no-one will argue

0:54:00 > 0:54:03that Sampras is the greatest grass court player of all time.

0:54:05 > 0:54:08It was the best tennis I have ever played, bar none.

0:54:08 > 0:54:11People ask me my best match, it was sheer perfection.

0:54:13 > 0:54:15I almost felt embarrassed when I won, sometimes -

0:54:15 > 0:54:19but I was all about the winning and the working hard and achieving goals

0:54:19 > 0:54:23but the attention and the stardom...

0:54:23 > 0:54:24I grew to accept it.

0:54:24 > 0:54:27I always felt that when I was the best player in the world,

0:54:27 > 0:54:28something was going to make me fall.

0:54:28 > 0:54:32That's why I always kind of had this recipe to keep it the same.

0:54:32 > 0:54:37Keeping it fast and familiar, he won six times.

0:54:37 > 0:54:41Nobody had ever won seven Wimbledon titles.

0:54:41 > 0:54:44My parents were there, I had just got engaged

0:54:44 > 0:54:45and life was just about perfect.

0:54:46 > 0:54:51Now, then, we have found the parents of Pete Sampras.

0:54:51 > 0:54:55The gentleman with the eyebrows, yes, a telltale sign!

0:54:55 > 0:54:57Sam and Gloria, their first time ever at Wimbledon.

0:54:57 > 0:54:59As far as I know, their first time ever

0:54:59 > 0:55:01watching him in a Grand Slam final.

0:55:01 > 0:55:02Fault!

0:55:02 > 0:55:04Did they not see you play that often, then?

0:55:04 > 0:55:06Well, they never saw me play live -

0:55:06 > 0:55:11and I wanted them to come to Wimbledon and they never would...

0:55:11 > 0:55:13- Their choice?- It was their choice.

0:55:13 > 0:55:15I was always nervous to bring them over

0:55:15 > 0:55:18if I would have lost or just... my dad is superstitious.

0:55:18 > 0:55:20It was my dream to have him there.

0:55:20 > 0:55:21Time.

0:55:21 > 0:55:23CHEERING

0:55:28 > 0:55:31He wanted to be away from it, but deep down, I missed him.

0:55:38 > 0:55:41Three points for a seventh championship

0:55:41 > 0:55:44and a 13th Grand Slam title.

0:55:45 > 0:55:47- UMPIRE:- Quiet, please. Please.

0:55:50 > 0:55:54- CHEERING - Game, set and match, Sampras!

0:55:55 > 0:56:006-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.

0:56:03 > 0:56:06There was an amazing time after,

0:56:06 > 0:56:10they were emotional, I was emotional and...

0:56:19 > 0:56:21- Sorry.- No, that's all right.

0:56:26 > 0:56:28I still get emotional about it,

0:56:28 > 0:56:30especially as I see my dad getting older now.

0:56:30 > 0:56:33It's tough times as you see your folks get older.

0:56:33 > 0:56:35So I think about him in those moments

0:56:35 > 0:56:38and wish he would have been part of those a little more often.

0:56:38 > 0:56:44And I think, I think we just want to hear how much that meant to you.

0:56:44 > 0:56:45It means so much to me.

0:56:45 > 0:56:47My parents are over here today.

0:56:47 > 0:56:51They gave me an opportunity to play this great game and I love them,

0:56:51 > 0:56:52I love my fiance, Bridget.

0:56:52 > 0:56:56Everybody who really put me together these last couple of weeks.

0:56:56 > 0:56:58CHEERING

0:57:01 > 0:57:03My kids are 14 and 11, now.

0:57:03 > 0:57:06You want to be part of those moments

0:57:06 > 0:57:10and my parents weren't part of those moments enough for me -

0:57:10 > 0:57:12and I think I carry that a little bit today.

0:57:12 > 0:57:15Um...

0:57:15 > 0:57:18It's my home away from home, so, I...

0:57:18 > 0:57:20I've grown to love Wimbledon and...

0:57:21 > 0:57:23..I always will come back here,

0:57:23 > 0:57:25even when I'm done playing this great game,

0:57:25 > 0:57:27come back as a fan and sit in that royal box

0:57:27 > 0:57:29and enjoy these guys sweating it out!

0:57:31 > 0:57:35He did come back to play twice more, but without winning again.

0:57:35 > 0:57:38Another new age was beginning.

0:57:38 > 0:57:40I saw Lleyton Hewitt play his first-round match

0:57:40 > 0:57:41and I was in Palm Springs

0:57:41 > 0:57:44and I turned it on and watched for half an hour, I'm like, "Oh, my God,

0:57:44 > 0:57:47"I don't miss it, I don't want to be there."

0:57:47 > 0:57:49I had no emotion towards it.

0:57:49 > 0:57:53I was tired of the sport, tired of the lifestyle...

0:57:53 > 0:57:55For me to say that about the Wimbledon,

0:57:55 > 0:57:59you know deep down I'm officially 100% done playing tennis.

0:57:59 > 0:58:04..as arguably the greatest champion of all time.

0:58:04 > 0:58:07God, I won seven times - I never thought that would happen.

0:58:07 > 0:58:09It's where I made my name.

0:58:09 > 0:58:11When people think of me, they think of Wimbledon.

0:58:12 > 0:58:14CHEERING

0:58:16 > 0:58:21The making of the name, etching a place in the list of the greats.

0:58:21 > 0:58:23Some are still in the process.

0:58:23 > 0:58:26Roger Federer, still going,

0:58:26 > 0:58:31seven times the Wimbledon singles champion, equalling Pete Sampras -

0:58:31 > 0:58:34and no sign yet the Swiss master of precision

0:58:34 > 0:58:37is reaching that moment of saying, "I am done."

0:58:40 > 0:58:44A great moment, walking through the gates and asking,

0:58:44 > 0:58:47"Where is the locker room and where can we warm up,

0:58:47 > 0:58:48"what we are allowed to do?

0:58:48 > 0:58:52"When do we play, what's the routines?" and all these things.

0:58:52 > 0:58:53Everything was so new,

0:58:53 > 0:58:55and it's like living in a dream world

0:58:55 > 0:58:57once you enter the gate, back in the day.

0:58:57 > 0:58:59I remember very vividly, actually.

0:59:01 > 0:59:06Memories of the junior championship, which he won.

0:59:06 > 0:59:09Now he needed a breakthrough moment as a grown-up.

0:59:10 > 0:59:15The 2001 fourth round against Sampras was a surreal experience.

0:59:15 > 0:59:18A few times, I was like...

0:59:18 > 0:59:20"Is this a dream, or is this, like, reality?"

0:59:20 > 0:59:22But then I thought, "This must be real,

0:59:22 > 0:59:25"because this is an unbelievable feeling I have right now."

0:59:26 > 0:59:30I remember warming up, the five minutes with Pete, hitting balls.

0:59:30 > 0:59:32I was so nervous, and then I would hit the ball,

0:59:32 > 0:59:35I would follow the ball in and Pete would hit it back to me,

0:59:35 > 0:59:37and I was like, "This is so cool!"

0:59:37 > 0:59:39I mean, it was Pete Sampras on Centre Court at Wimbledon,

0:59:39 > 0:59:41I mean, what else do you want?

0:59:43 > 0:59:45Victory in five sets.

0:59:45 > 0:59:47He was on his way.

0:59:47 > 0:59:50The first to topple Sampras at Wimbledon in five years.

0:59:52 > 0:59:54He had the whole package, even at that time.

0:59:54 > 0:59:57I just felt like, "This guy serves pretty big

0:59:57 > 0:59:59"and he returns quite well and he moves well,

0:59:59 > 1:00:01"and he's got all the shots,"

1:00:01 > 1:00:03and at that point, I said, "This kid's going to be good."

1:00:03 > 1:00:05Little did I know that he would win 18 majors

1:00:05 > 1:00:07and do everything in the sport!

1:00:07 > 1:00:09But I could see that he was going to be good,

1:00:09 > 1:00:12I just had no clue that he was going to take it this far.

1:00:14 > 1:00:16Your first Grand Slam title.

1:00:16 > 1:00:20Is that still one that is the most special to you?

1:00:20 > 1:00:23Yeah, I think it was the most emotional.

1:00:23 > 1:00:24It was so real.

1:00:28 > 1:00:29- CHEERING - Game, set and match, Federer.

1:00:29 > 1:00:31I can tell how raw it is when people walk over,

1:00:31 > 1:00:33because it has just happened,

1:00:33 > 1:00:34and so many emotions are going...

1:00:34 > 1:00:37Yeah, I was young and it was unexpected and everything.

1:00:37 > 1:00:43So it was absolutely the most magical moment in my life, and...

1:00:43 > 1:00:45my career could have stopped right then

1:00:45 > 1:00:47and I would have been a complete human being

1:00:47 > 1:00:48and tennis player, really.

1:00:49 > 1:00:53Roger Federer, Wimbledon champion - you had better get used to that!

1:00:53 > 1:00:55CHEERING

1:00:55 > 1:00:57Thank you.

1:00:57 > 1:01:02You know, it's an absolute dream for me, coming through...

1:01:02 > 1:01:06I was always joking around when I was a boy, I'm going to win this!

1:01:06 > 1:01:08- And... - SUE CHUCKLES

1:01:08 > 1:01:10..now I have it!

1:01:10 > 1:01:13And you have had so much support from back home and everybody here.

1:01:13 > 1:01:14What is your message to them?

1:01:14 > 1:01:19Oh, yeah, a lot of people came from Basel and home.

1:01:19 > 1:01:21So nice to share this moment -

1:01:21 > 1:01:24and thanks to everybody... It's great...!

1:01:24 > 1:01:28HE SOBS Congratulations, Roger Federer!

1:01:33 > 1:01:35It became an annual event.

1:01:35 > 1:01:37Roger won the next four finals.

1:01:37 > 1:01:41He was the best of a golden generation.

1:01:41 > 1:01:44Tennis, as it had never been played before.

1:01:52 > 1:01:55CHEERING

1:01:57 > 1:02:03Rafa Nadal finally ended Roger's run in 2008 in a final to cherish.

1:02:05 > 1:02:07When you are winning, it's easy to love you,

1:02:07 > 1:02:11because you are supposed to be the best and everything you do is great,

1:02:11 > 1:02:13and everything you touch turns to gold -

1:02:13 > 1:02:15but when you lose and you get the support,

1:02:15 > 1:02:16I think that means so much to you.

1:02:26 > 1:02:29He was soon winning again.

1:02:29 > 1:02:31If he won here in 2009,

1:02:31 > 1:02:35he would pass Bjorn Borg's five Wimbledon titles,

1:02:35 > 1:02:40pass Pete Sampras's total of 14 Grand Slam victories.

1:02:40 > 1:02:42Andy Roddick was his opponent on court

1:02:42 > 1:02:45and not the only person in Roger's thoughts.

1:02:45 > 1:02:48The record was on the line, of getting to my 15th Grand Slam.

1:02:48 > 1:02:50My wife was pregnant with twins -

1:02:50 > 1:02:54nobody knew that other than the family and my friends -

1:02:54 > 1:02:58and it was like this perfect summer, really, for me.

1:02:58 > 1:03:01Under the gaze of a former champion.

1:03:08 > 1:03:10CHEERING DROWNS COMMENTARY

1:03:13 > 1:03:16..number 15 overall.

1:03:16 > 1:03:18..7-6, 7-6, 16-14.

1:03:18 > 1:03:22History for Roger Federer, and respect between these two men.

1:03:24 > 1:03:27Bjorn Borg was there, John McEnroe was there...

1:03:27 > 1:03:31- Pete was there?- Pete, absolutely, exactly. Pete came.

1:03:32 > 1:03:34Four and a quarter hours,

1:03:34 > 1:03:3837 service games without being broken until that last game!

1:03:38 > 1:03:43Yeah, and I couldn't break Andy, he was playing that well -

1:03:43 > 1:03:46and my only break I got, got me the win.

1:03:46 > 1:03:48It was totally crazy,

1:03:48 > 1:03:53but it shows that you just have to sometimes mentally push

1:03:53 > 1:03:57and stay around and physically believe you can manage,

1:03:57 > 1:03:59and it paid off. It was amazing.

1:04:01 > 1:04:03I fell in love with the club,

1:04:03 > 1:04:06and not only just the atmosphere of the tennis tournament,

1:04:06 > 1:04:09and its history, but also the people at the club.

1:04:09 > 1:04:11Everybody has always been so super-friendly -

1:04:11 > 1:04:15and yes, I can't wait for the day to come when I will go there

1:04:15 > 1:04:17away from the Championships. Yeah.

1:04:23 > 1:04:27Champion Serena Williams. For me, the greatest of all time -

1:04:27 > 1:04:29but she won't be here this year.

1:04:29 > 1:04:31Perfect excuse, though.

1:04:35 > 1:04:37- CHEERING - It's Serena Williams,

1:04:37 > 1:04:3914 years after that first victory here.

1:04:39 > 1:04:41Grand Slam number 22.

1:04:42 > 1:04:45Serena won't be here to defend.

1:04:45 > 1:04:48She's pregnant, so she can't add to her tally

1:04:48 > 1:04:50of 39 Grand Slam titles for a while.

1:04:50 > 1:04:54Last year's win was her seventh Wimbledon crown,

1:04:54 > 1:04:56her 22nd Grand Slam singles title.

1:04:56 > 1:04:57Yes!

1:04:57 > 1:05:00My dream was never to win Grand Slams,

1:05:00 > 1:05:02and then all of a sudden, it became my goal.

1:05:05 > 1:05:09I wanted to win the US Open and wanted to win Wimbledon and...

1:05:09 > 1:05:12people are talking about, "You can equal Martina Navratilova

1:05:12 > 1:05:14"and Chris Evert's records and win 18."

1:05:14 > 1:05:16I was like, "OK, I want to do that."

1:05:16 > 1:05:18And then the next one was like,

1:05:18 > 1:05:20"Well, you can equal Steffi Graf with 22."

1:05:20 > 1:05:22I'm, like, "OK, I'll do that, too."

1:05:23 > 1:05:26- CHEERING - Game, set and match...

1:05:26 > 1:05:29I didn't grow up and say, "Oh, I'm going to win 22 Grand Slam titles."

1:05:29 > 1:05:32- No!- That still doesn't sound right, but...

1:05:32 > 1:05:33- SUE LAUGHS - ..it happened.

1:05:33 > 1:05:35And there's more -

1:05:35 > 1:05:38with sister Venus, she's won six doubles titles.

1:05:38 > 1:05:40This must feel like home, now, this court?

1:05:40 > 1:05:42Well, this court definitely feels like home.

1:05:42 > 1:05:46I love playing out here on Centre Court, especially with my sister,

1:05:46 > 1:05:49who has just inspired me so much to be here and to be who I am.

1:05:49 > 1:05:50Well, you have inspired many, as well.

1:05:50 > 1:05:52Congratulations.

1:05:52 > 1:05:54Ladies and gentlemen, Serena Williams!

1:05:54 > 1:05:55CHEERING

1:05:55 > 1:05:59Her achievements are there for the next generation to aim at.

1:05:59 > 1:06:04Just as a young Serena found her motivation in an earlier era.

1:06:04 > 1:06:06Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

1:06:06 > 1:06:08This is Peter Wilson with the BBC film unit

1:06:08 > 1:06:11speaking to you from the Centre Court at Wimbledon

1:06:11 > 1:06:15on the final day of the 1958 championships.

1:06:15 > 1:06:19Althea Gibson won back-to-back championships in 1957 and '58.

1:06:19 > 1:06:24Almost 20 years later, Arthur Ashe won his Wimbledon title.

1:06:24 > 1:06:27Coming up in the late '80s,

1:06:27 > 1:06:29it was like, there wasn't many African-Americans playing,

1:06:29 > 1:06:33so it was, like, you wanted to learn the history of all of them.

1:06:33 > 1:06:35So I read all the books about Arthur Ashe,

1:06:35 > 1:06:37I read all the books about Althea Gibson,

1:06:37 > 1:06:40because I wanted to know the history and everything they went through -

1:06:40 > 1:06:41and it motivated me.

1:06:43 > 1:06:47We are all here to do our best and to inspire one another

1:06:47 > 1:06:51and to lift each other up, and not to let anyone down.

1:06:53 > 1:06:56There will be something new for this year's championships.

1:06:56 > 1:06:59Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge

1:06:59 > 1:07:01has become patron of the All-England Club.

1:07:01 > 1:07:07She is a fan of Wimbledon and a Wimbledon great is a fan of hers.

1:07:07 > 1:07:09It adds even more prestige to the tournament,

1:07:09 > 1:07:12seeing Princess Catherine there, Prince William...

1:07:12 > 1:07:16Who knows, maybe in the future we will see some of those people

1:07:16 > 1:07:19giving a Wimbledon trophy, as well. That would beautiful, I think.

1:07:19 > 1:07:22- Roger Federer, isn't he a joy to watch?- Absolutely.

1:07:22 > 1:07:23Here's my mother's heart-throb

1:07:23 > 1:07:26and I don't think she's going to mind me saying that!

1:07:26 > 1:07:27I think he probably knows that, too.

1:07:27 > 1:07:29He is many people's heart-throb!

1:07:29 > 1:07:30Absolutely.

1:07:34 > 1:07:36Growing up, I sort of watched - obviously watched Wimbledon,

1:07:36 > 1:07:39it has been very much part of my family growing up.

1:07:39 > 1:07:42It's such a quintessential part of the English summer,

1:07:42 > 1:07:44and I think it really inspires youngsters -

1:07:44 > 1:07:47myself, it inspired me when I was younger,

1:07:47 > 1:07:49to get involved in the game.

1:07:49 > 1:07:52It hasn't changed, either, I think that's what is so wonderful -

1:07:52 > 1:07:54and everyone's still there in their whites.

1:07:54 > 1:07:56Wimbledon still looks as amazing as it did,

1:07:56 > 1:07:58as I remember it as a youngster.

1:07:58 > 1:08:00You've got the strawberries and cream.

1:08:00 > 1:08:02Every time Wimbledon's on,

1:08:02 > 1:08:05I'm thinking, "I can do the same, get that the racket!"

1:08:05 > 1:08:07Sadly, never the same results.

1:08:07 > 1:08:12- Who did you enjoy watching?- I was really taken by the likes of Agassi

1:08:12 > 1:08:16and Sampras, Ivanisevic when they were playing, and things like that.

1:08:16 > 1:08:19So that, for me, was my first memory of the players.

1:08:19 > 1:08:23- Did you ever go to the Championships?- I did.

1:08:23 > 1:08:27My first chance at going was queueing up on a People's Sunday,

1:08:27 > 1:08:28or People's Monday, I think,

1:08:28 > 1:08:31and being able to go into Wimbledon

1:08:31 > 1:08:34and sort of be part of what is so amazing there.

1:08:34 > 1:08:36The atmosphere there is incredible.

1:08:36 > 1:08:40Whether you are sitting on Henman Hill or been fortunate enough

1:08:40 > 1:08:44to be in and wander around the ground courts, it is hugely special,

1:08:44 > 1:08:46and I was very fortunate that I did get through -

1:08:46 > 1:08:49it was quite late in the day, I'm not going to lie!

1:08:49 > 1:08:51but luckily, play went on quite late in the evening,

1:08:51 > 1:08:53so I managed to get to see some.

1:08:55 > 1:08:57What are your favourite Centre Court games?

1:08:57 > 1:09:02The Ivanisevic game, where he got the wildcard draw.

1:09:02 > 1:09:06Because it was such a passionate game.

1:09:06 > 1:09:09That, for me, just shows the sportsmanship behind tennis

1:09:09 > 1:09:12and actually, anyone has got a chance.

1:09:12 > 1:09:14Do you get to meet any of the players during the tournament

1:09:14 > 1:09:16- when you're there in the Royal box? - Every now and again -

1:09:16 > 1:09:19that's what's so wonderful, you sort of bump into somebody

1:09:19 > 1:09:23as they're walking courtside or to an interview or something,

1:09:23 > 1:09:27and then, after games I try and say hello to players.

1:09:27 > 1:09:29I can remember, actually, walking past ...

1:09:29 > 1:09:31My father is not going to enjoy this!

1:09:31 > 1:09:33but I remember walking past Tim Henman,

1:09:33 > 1:09:35from under one of the show courts,

1:09:35 > 1:09:39and I was there with Dad and we had got in and very excited,

1:09:39 > 1:09:42keeping a beady eye out on who we could see,

1:09:42 > 1:09:44and I can remember walking past Tim Henman

1:09:44 > 1:09:46and we'd just seen Sampras play,

1:09:46 > 1:09:50and Dad, as he came past, said very coolly, "Hi, Pete,"

1:09:50 > 1:09:53and I was like, "Dad, you can't do that!"

1:09:54 > 1:09:56Utterly...

1:09:56 > 1:09:57I was mortified!

1:10:00 > 1:10:03The most memorable moment for me and for so many people

1:10:03 > 1:10:04was Andy winning in 2013.

1:10:04 > 1:10:07- The first British man to win in 77 years.- It was amazing.

1:10:07 > 1:10:11I was very heavily pregnant with George, so I wasn't able to turn up.

1:10:11 > 1:10:12But you had a great excuse!

1:10:12 > 1:10:15I know, but even still, I sort of was there

1:10:15 > 1:10:17thinking, "Maybe I could go, maybe..."

1:10:17 > 1:10:20The doctor said, definitely not -

1:10:20 > 1:10:23but I wrote to him afterwards, said, "Sorry for not being there,

1:10:23 > 1:10:25"but huge congratulations."

1:10:25 > 1:10:28It was great seeing all the flags

1:10:28 > 1:10:33and everything like that and how the public got behind home players.

1:10:33 > 1:10:35I find it hugely emotional,

1:10:35 > 1:10:37and I'm not even taking part.

1:10:40 > 1:10:42Wimbledon does this to people.

1:10:42 > 1:10:44It makes a connection.

1:10:44 > 1:10:46It draws us in.

1:10:46 > 1:10:50Let's have a walk - because it's so different along here.

1:10:50 > 1:10:51Are you aware...

1:10:51 > 1:10:55Because there are so many fans who line up here, screaming...

1:10:55 > 1:10:56Yes, you can hear them.

1:10:56 > 1:11:00Do you take that in, or are you now just focused?

1:11:00 > 1:11:02Yeah, pretty focused.

1:11:02 > 1:11:06The closer you get to going out there, you're nervous

1:11:06 > 1:11:08and obviously as you start to make the walk,

1:11:08 > 1:11:12you think, "Can I actually play tennis? I'm terrible!"

1:11:12 > 1:11:13As soon as you get on the court,

1:11:13 > 1:11:15it's actually OK, once you get out there.

1:11:15 > 1:11:18CHEERING

1:11:18 > 1:11:20Andy last year.

1:11:20 > 1:11:23This to become a two-time Wimbledon champion.

1:11:23 > 1:11:25He gave a masterclass.

1:11:26 > 1:11:32- CHEERING - He's there! Straight sets again.

1:11:32 > 1:11:34Wimbledon champion again!

1:11:34 > 1:11:37A supreme performance, a first-class tournament.

1:11:37 > 1:11:39Andy Murray.

1:11:39 > 1:11:41It definitely felt different to me.

1:11:41 > 1:11:43The one thing that I made sure that I did this time

1:11:43 > 1:11:45was I really, really enjoyed it.

1:11:45 > 1:11:48The last time, there was a few things

1:11:48 > 1:11:50that I wish I had done differently

1:11:50 > 1:11:52in terms of celebrating and everything.

1:11:52 > 1:11:55- I heard it was a big celebration! - Yeah, it was a big celebration!

1:11:55 > 1:11:58I said to my team, "Look, if I ever win a Grand Slam again,

1:11:58 > 1:11:59"I'm doing what I want to do

1:11:59 > 1:12:01"and having my friends around me." Which I did.

1:12:01 > 1:12:04And for somebody that doesn't really drink a lot of alcohol...

1:12:04 > 1:12:06- I don't drink, so imagine! - ..you did!

1:12:06 > 1:12:09I did drink a lot that night, and it wasn't pretty,

1:12:09 > 1:12:12but... Yeah. We had a good time.

1:12:12 > 1:12:14Were you on the dance floor?

1:12:14 > 1:12:16Yeah. Yup.

1:12:16 > 1:12:17Well, I think so.

1:12:17 > 1:12:20I don't remember much about it, but I'm pretty sure I was.

1:12:20 > 1:12:22- Yeah. - SUE CHUCKLES

1:12:22 > 1:12:25I think this bit is the most special for me. The wonderful...

1:12:25 > 1:12:27the saying, the trophies.

1:12:27 > 1:12:29It's such a magical place.

1:12:29 > 1:12:32Do you have a little glance off to the right as you come down?

1:12:32 > 1:12:36Yeah, it's a shame we don't get to keep that one for the year,

1:12:36 > 1:12:39but, yeah. It's...

1:12:39 > 1:12:42Yeah, it was obviously amazing, amazing trophy -

1:12:42 > 1:12:46- but that, it literally never leaves that as except on finals day.- No.

1:12:46 > 1:12:49- There is, like, a lot of security and...- I know!

1:12:49 > 1:12:51- They won't let me touch it!- As soon as I've taken the photo with it,

1:12:51 > 1:12:54they like, snatch it back off you

1:12:54 > 1:12:57and put it back in its box and off it goes.

1:12:58 > 1:13:00For me, making this film

1:13:00 > 1:13:03has been far more than any professional assignment.

1:13:03 > 1:13:07From kissing the champions to sitting with my idols.

1:13:07 > 1:13:11I have laughed and cried with people I have played against

1:13:11 > 1:13:14and those I have admired from the stands.

1:13:14 > 1:13:16You're the absolute pits of the world!

1:13:18 > 1:13:23The one thing that unites us all is a love for this place -

1:13:23 > 1:13:26and as Bjorn explained, when it's in your heart,

1:13:26 > 1:13:29no-one can ever take it from you.

1:13:29 > 1:13:33It will always be OUR Wimbledon.

1:13:36 > 1:13:39- Sue, happy holiday. - Thanks. And you.

1:13:42 > 1:13:44Look at the state of that!

1:13:47 > 1:13:49THEY LAUGH

1:13:58 > 1:14:00Brilliant.

1:14:00 > 1:14:01Thanks so much.

1:14:12 > 1:14:14..Richards!

1:14:18 > 1:14:20Cut, cut!