Thirty Wimbledons ago, Pat Cash celebrated his title win over Ivan Lendl by jumping into the stands and weaving among the sunhats and applause towards his supporters. His pioneering scramble into the player’s box was a Wimbledon first. It was astonishing at the time, a kind of athletic breaking of the fourth wall. The singles tennis player is a historically lonesome operator, partitioned from friends and foes alike, and within minutes Cash had transformed from solitary volleyer into tactile pack animal.
Over the past decade, this old aura of solitude has been steadily dimming. The tennis court has often been likened to a gladiatorial arena, but we seem to have had enough of the gladiator’s self-absorbed glory. At the Miami Open this year, Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal to win the tournament, and during the trophy ceremony they both congratulated each other’s teams. The champion is now a vivid composite of other people’s time and expertise.
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