Centre Court

The Times

May 2009

Book captures Wimbledon in all its glory

It is a fine time for the afficiandos of the written tennis word - and for those who love the very best of photographic images. Hot on the heels of the Perry book, another arrived at the Net Post's front door last week, and it, too, deserves the highest acclaim. By this time next week, we shall have seen for the first time Wimbledon's Centre Court under a shroud, of in this case, its translucent roof, when Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters share in a celebration of a piece of architecture many of us did not imagine we would live to admire. The timing, therefore, of a book called 'Centre Court, The Jewel in Wimbledon's Crown' could not be more apposite.

Edited by John Barrett recently retired (and much missed we must add) as the BBC's Voice of the Championships, and Ian Hewitt, a member of the committee of management of the championships, it is a beautifully written and constructed coffee table book, taking the reader through the various stages of the development of the court from the original in 1922 - when the event moved to its current Church Road site - to its current refurbished state, pinpointing many of the magical matches and the fascinating people who have been able to play parts in its unparalleled history.

The very first image that strikes you is that of Roger Federer, the five-time champion, sitting opposite 'his' locker in the men's changing rooms before the 2008 championships who, talking of the roof says "I am sure that everything has been designed with the care and style long associated with the All England Club and in a way that ensures the best playing conditions for the players - even in the English rain."

The Net Post especially loves the stories of those without whom the event could not be so successfully run and who are not so familiar, and that Barrett and Hewitt have captured the many changes of the guard with the publication of newspaper reports across the ages (even one of yours truly's sneaks in). It is a unique tome. The book is published by Vision Sports Publishing at £25. Miss it at your peril.

The Daily Mail

May 2009

To celebrate the arrival of the roof at Centre Court, the All England Club has released a pretty damn impressive coffee table book: Centre Court: The Jewel in Wimbledon's Crown.

The book is a great mix of stunning images from across the years - some never seen before - as well as a foreword by Roger Federer and quotes from a host of other Wimbledon champions.

The Daily Express

May 2009

"A high-quality publication featuring a host of colour and black-and-white photographs as it charts the history of tennis's most famous show court."

Sunday Tribune

July 2009

This impressive coffee table-styled publication contains just the right mix of history, anecdotes and photographs to keep anybody with even a passing interest in Wimbledon entertained. Overall, it's a must for anybody who rates Wimbledon's two weeks the highlight of their sporting summer. ★★★★✩

Tennis Life

July 2009

"A volume that is itself a treasure of Wimbledon." ★★★★✧

Ace Tennis Magazine

July 2009

"A sumptuous coffee table book that celebrates the world's most famous court."

Wales on Sunday

June 2009

★★★★✩