I woke to the text saying bring long trousers… That was the cue that I had been granted an upgrade to the East Pit for the men’s final. The reason for the long trousers is that you are not allowed on centre court for trophy presentations’ without them. If Andy Murray was to win, I had to be dressed for it!
I left my digs early to get the Courts for a briefing. On arrival, I went for a big breakfast in the new press restaurants-it was going to be a long day. I made my way into the photographer’s room which is just across from centre court. I was then greeted by Russell Cheyne AKA Rusty the photographic liaison manager for the photographers. He told me that the downside of being granted access to the trophy presentation was that the seat that I had been allocated for the match was seat 2. This was the furthest seat from the Royal & Players box.
Before the Men’s Wimbledon final there was the small matter of the Men’s Wheel – Chair Final on court 17 with another Scott Gordon Reid v Stefan Olsson of Sweden. The 1st set went to nail-biting tie-break which Gordon won 11 to 9 The second set was quite tight but Gordon saw it to through to win the 1st inaugural wheelchair singles for men could there be 2 winning Scott’s in one day?
I headed back to the wire room, to send my pictures from the Wimbledon Men’ s Wheelchair final before heading over to Centre Court for the Men’s Final.
Andy Murray was to enter Centre Court on the final day of Wimbledon for the third time with the hard-hitting Canadian Milos Raoniic standing between Andy winning his third Grand Slam title.
Arrived into centre court early to find my seat and get set up for another Andy Murray Wimbledon Final which this will be my third. The atmosphere a round the court was electric with the anticipation of Andy winning his 2nd Wimbledon Final
Andy storms into the lead in the 1st set winning it 6-4. The next set was tenser but he does see it out in a tie break winning it 7-3. He goes into the 3rd set with a good lead and wins the men’s final in the 3rd set in another tie break winning it 7-2.
I could not have asked for a better position for the winning shot in the 3rd set, right side again.
After fighting my way through about 20 photographers I managed to get onto centre court for the trophy presentation. I felt very privileged to be allowed on court for this, as the last time I was in the west pit of the presentations (not the best spot).
It has been another fantastic fortnight at SW19 lots of great matches. Bring on 2017 for Gordon and Andy to do it all over again!
