Meet the man who saved Wimbledon
Plus: Where to watch the tennis if you don't have a ticket
Good morning Wimblers — I hope that everyone has cooled down after Monday and Tuesday’s scorching temperatures.
We’re off! Wimbledon has officially begun this week, and oh boy, is the atmosphere around town electric. I particularly liked the man singing outside of the station on Tuesday doing his best rendition of “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron.
The print edition has been distributed to more than 17,000 readers as I write this. If you haven’t got a copy, there will be more at The Fire Station Café, by the big screen in Wimbledon Quarter and by the Quarter’s M&S. It was also rather cool to spot a member of the crowd at the Championships using our paper as a fan — see the video below!
This week we have a fantastic interview with tennis legend Roger Taylor. Taylor was ranked as Britain’s no. 1 in 1973 and 1974, won the US Open’s men’s doubles twice, nearly played James Bond and famously defied the 1973 Wimbledon boycott. He has also just released his official biography, The Man Who Saved Wimbledon, which shines a light on his career, his triumphs and tribulations, his personal life and much more. Scroll down to read all about one of Britain’s earliest tennis heroes.
We’ve also got your news snippets, some great recommendations, a list of where to watch the tennis if you don’t have a ticket and a very tennis-themed property of the week.
Shout out this week to Rupali, who stopped me in Wimbledon Quarter to tell me that she and her husband love The Wimble. Thank you for taking the time to say hello; it made my day. The support from our readers continues to amaze me.
As always, please do get in touch with any ideas, comments, opinions and stories: zak@thewimble.com.
I think that’s all for now. Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞️
🍨 Amorino has officially opened in Wimbledon Quarter. The famous gelateria opened its doors this Monday just in time to serve the people of Wimbledon their signature rose-shaped scoops of ice cream and sorbet in the boiling hot weather. Pop in if you fancy a sweet treat.
🤖 The Championships’ new electronic line-calling system is causing a bit of a stir. Some players — like China’s Yuan Yue — have shone a light on the issue in recent days. During her first-round match on Court 8, Yuan Yue went so far as to ask the umpire to increase the volume. Read more about the ongoing situation here.
⚽ AFC Wimbledon’s fixtures for the League One 2025—26 season have been announced. The Dons are back in the third tier after three years, and fans will be happy to know that their upcoming season has already been mapped out. Click here to see all the matches, home and away.
Property of the week 🏠
Seeing as it’s Wimbledon this week, I thought it more than appropriate to feature a home with a tennis court. Look at this place. Everything about it screams opulence. From the heated outdoor pool and principal house to the separate two-bedroom cottage, this house is as stylish as they come (and it should be, for £9m). Check out more photos on Rightmove.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🥕
🥕 Wimbledon Village farmers’ market: What better way to spend a Sunday than by admiring some farm fresh and local produce? There are so many great suppliers at this farmers’ market — some of whom contributed to the Sourced and Found supper club — and it’s certainly worth the trip. Get yourself over there for a gander this Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Village High Street
When: Sunday 6 July, 10am — 3pm
🎸 Live music at the Dog & Fox: The Dog & Fox are pulling out all the stops for this year's Championships, with a live acoustic band playing every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I, for one, think a boogie and a beer after an intense day of watching tennis is the perfect evening plan.
Where: Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village
When: Thursday 3 July — Sunday 6 July, 5pm — 12am
🌹 Whispering Angel tasting at Friarwood: This is your chance to get your hands on the uber-popular rosé, Whispering Angel… for free! And it’s a drop-in event, so no booking is required. Go on, you know you want to.
Where: Friarwood, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 11 July, 1—6pm
🎾 Judy Murray OBE book signing: The famed Scottish tennis coach and mother of Wimbledon legend Andy Murray is back in SW19 for a one-hour signing of her new novel: Game, Set and Murder. Make sure you grab a copy if tennis and murder mysteries are your thing!
Where: Wimbledon Books, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 4 July, 10.45—11.45am
🎭 Live Comedy at Tunnel 267: You’re in for a treat: Tunnel 267’s comedy nights are bringing laughter back to Wimbledon. Click here to see this Saturday’s acts and here to get your tickets.
Where: Tunnel 267, The Broadway
When: 8—10pm
Meet Roger Taylor: The man who saved Wimbledon 🎾
Put it this way: tennis legend Roger Taylor has a long list of achievements. He was the working-class Sheffield lad who made good by becoming Britain’s No. 1 ranked tennis player in 1973 and 1974. He reached Wimbledon’s semi-finals three times. He defeated reigning champion and world number one Rod “Rocket” Laver in 1970. He beat a young Björn Borg in 1973. He was nearly cast as Sean Connery’s replacement in James Bond. He had back-to-back wins at the US Open’s men’s doubles in 1971 and 1972. He was part of Lamar Hunt’s exclusive Handsome Eight. And, famously, he refused to boycott the 1973 Wimbledon Championships after the burgeoning Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) pulled 81 top players from the competition in protest against the suspension of Nikola Pilić.
With the help of Marcus Buckland, Taylor has now written a tell-all book about his life, his relationships and what it was like to stand up against his peers in 1973. This week, he and I sat down to discuss his fascinating career and what his new book is all about.
You can buy Taylor’s book here.
The Wimble: Let’s start with the book. What does the title The Man Who Saved Wimbledon mean?
Roger Taylor: In 1973, there was a boycott of Wimbledon. A lot of people today don’t know about this, but it happened. It was decided that 81 players from the (nascent) Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) would not play in the Championships that year. This was because of what happened with Nikola Pilić and what followed. I was No. 1 in Britain at the time, and I just didn’t agree with what was happening, with what the strike meant for Wimbledon. So I decided to play. I was told by Stan Smith — the reigning Wimbledon champion — that I’d never play tennis again if I didn’t go along with the strike.
In a way, it was a difficult period for me and a huge trauma. But in the end, I think I made the right decision. I felt I had to do well that year; I had to uphold the competition.
Did you receive a lot of backlash for not boycotting the Championships?
No, not really. I think a lot of people wanted to play. And I think the whole situation fizzled out after a short while.
Talk to me about the highs and lows of your career. Whilst you may not have won Wimbledon, you did have success in the US.
I did have success in the US, though that wasn’t the peak of my career. I think the peak was preparing for Wimbledon. Reaching the semi-finals on three occasions felt like the peak. My ambition at the time was to win — being that close and not winning… well, it can feel pretty disappointing.
I suppose America was where I became a better player. I turned pro at the end of 1967, and back then, when you turned pro, you lost your amateur ranking. I was No. 1 in Britain, turned pro and then lost my ranking, and then I went to America and joined a group made up of eight tennis players [the so-called Handsome Eight: Nikola Pilić, Taylor, Butch Buchholz, Dennis Ralston, Pierre Barthes, Cliff Drysdale, John Newcombe and Tony Roche]. We played each other every night, and through that experience I honed my skills.
What was it like playing on Centre Court for the first time?
Yes, that was pretty nerve-racking [laughs]. The club was very different back in my day. You didn’t get any practice on Centre Court. You didn’t get much practice on grass, either. Wimbledon is such a dream for any tennis player — it’s obviously daunting, and you need to prepare yourself mentally for that. In the end, that became one of my strengths: I could hold my game under the immense pressure of performing on Centre Court.
In terms of both the game and Wimbledon itself, what would you say the biggest difference is between now and then?
I think equipment is the biggest change. We’ve gone from rackets with wooden frames to metal frames to fibreglass frames. It took a while to get that right. Jimmy Connors had a frame where the strings were on the outside! Back when I played, our shoes were very flimsy. Today’s players have fantastic shoes. They have fantastic kit. Their rackets are perfect; the players can swing faster, which creates more spin on the ball. The grass is better. It’s all about learning, and it seems tennis has learnt a lot.
Take me back to the beginning of your career. How did you end up in Wimbledon?
I left Sheffield when I was 17. I moved to Wimbledon to play tennis, and I was very lucky that my family let me do that. There wasn’t really any tennis in Sheffield at the time. It was an industrial town, and it was poor. I knew that Wimbledon was where I could train. So I came here and moved into the Wimbledon YMCA on the Broadway and lived there for three years. My friend and I started to work for Fred Perry sportswear in Soho, which was a fairly new company back then. We were on minimum wage — the equivalent of £75 a week — which seemed like a lot. But we were also given the chance to play tennis. We would clock out from work, play a match and then clock back in.
How has the area changed over the past 60 years?
There wasn’t really anything in Wimbledon when I first moved here. The Broadway was barren: one restaurant and two cinemas. I suppose it’s hard to judge, seeing as I was working so much and training all the time. I didn’t really find myself going to many places in the area as I was travelling. When I finished a shift at Fred Perry, I would go for a run in Wimbledon Park and start playing tennis.
The tennis stars of today are nothing short of celebrities. Did you experience a similar sense of celebrity when you were at the top of your game?
There was certainly a spell of fame when I was No. 1, but I wasn’t a celebrity. You weren’t doing television interviews. You were seen in the media half as much as players are today. There weren’t places to go for celebrities back then, no five-star restaurants or swanky bars — not in Wimbledon. It’s nothing like it is today.
Is there one particular moment from your career that stands out for you?
There are two matches, really. I played Rod Laver and beat him in 1970. He was No. 1 at the time and had a fantastic record. So that is certainly a highlight. I also went up against a 17-year-old Björn Borg and won. All of those who played Borg around that time knew he was going to be a star. Once he became famous, I sort of tagged on to that fame because I had beaten him.
Head here to get your hands on a copy of Roger’s fascinating new book.
Forget FOMO: Where to watch the tennis without a ticket 📺
Securing a place at the world's most famous tennis tournament can be hard. Especially if you’re looking for the headline matches. If you don’t already have a ticket, there's always The Queue, but even then, you're still not guaranteed a courtside seat.
Don't worry, though — The Wimble can help. So, if you find yourself in the unlucky and incredibly common position of not getting past the entrance, checking into any of these SW19 venues still means experiencing an incredible atmosphere and catching plenty of the action.
Wimbledon Quarter
A great spot if you like your atmosphere chilled like a good champagne. Though their big (very big) screen is inside, they do a great job at making it feel outdoorsy: think deckchairs, a Pimm’s bar and even a retractable roof. And if it does rain… well, enough said.
Dog & Fox
There’s not much to say about the Dog & Fox that hasn't already been said. It’s a beautiful pub in the heart of Wimbledon Village and deserves all the love it gets. Unlike a lot of gastro bars, this historic hotel actually feels homely, giving visitors a flavour of an authentic London watering hole.
The Alexandra
A Wimbledon landmark and a go-to for locals, you can’t go wrong with the Alex. Sit inside for a bustling atmosphere, or head upstairs to the rooftop bar if you want a little more peace and quiet. Either way, it’s a bloody good boozer and a choice spot to watch the tennis.
Wimbledon Piazza
The Piazza’s big screen celebration of all things summertime and tennis has become increasingly iconic year-on-year. There are deckchairs, food stalls, a number of bars and so much more to explore. The closest thing you’ll get to Henman Hill without being there.
Question of the week 🔎
Last week, I gave you a list of actors and asked which of them was from Wimbledon. The answer: Jack Davenport.
Q: Who was the first woman to win Wimbledon’s ladies’ singles competition?
You’re up to date 👋
I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition. Do pick up a copy of Roger’s new book if you can. If you have any thoughts, queries or ideas, leave a comment below or send me an email. And don’t forget to visit The Fire Station Café, the big screen in Wimbledon Quarter or the entrance of M&S if you want to grab a copy of The Wimble’s summer print edition. Other than that, have a lovely week and we’ll see you next time.