Wimbledon 2014

Barring an unlikely string of results and a heap of Italian good fortune, the England football team were seemingly eliminated last night from the 2014 World Cup. Following a a weekend in which the National rugby team also lost a decisive match in their test series against the New Zealand, English and indeed British eyes will begin peering hopefully ahead to the start of the 2014 Wimbledon tennis tournament on the 23rd June.

In last year's final Andrew Murray dramatically defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 to end Britain's 77 year wait for a Wimbledon Men's Champion. In 2014 Murray enters the tournament as the 3rd seed and whilst he is arguably under significantly less pressure than in recent years, many Britons will be pinning their hopes on the Scot to revive a thus far underwhelming year of British sport.
Britain's top Women's prospect Laura Robson has already been ruled out of this year's Tournament with a wrist injury, dashing any hopes of finding a successor to 1977 champion Virginia wade and leaving Murray still firmly in the spotlight. 2014 also presents Murray with the unique opportunity to become the first Briton to win consecutive Wimbledon titles in the professional era, a feat which would no doubt see him entrenched amongst the legends of the sport, a spot which many would argue is already well deserved.

Whilst it may not have the furor, high fashion and foods of centre court, it is a common sight during the tournament to see our students relaxing between classes by watching the matches together in the student lounge, indeed as the weather continues to improve many of them may take the opportunity to visit the Wimbledon grounds or even pick up a racquet themselves here in one of Oxford's many parks!  

Takashi, OISE Oxford's Tennis Supremo!

The word around the OISE Oxford block was that we had a pro tennis player in town. His name: Takashi Kawamura. Takashi first started playing at high school, following a 5 year bout of severe illness. He was introduced to the game by his mother and brother, both of which were and continue to be keen players.

After playing for his high school, he then entered St. Pauls University, Tokyo, where he was made 1st team captain. While in those days baseball was the most popular sport (closely followed by football), St Paul's prided itself on the tennis team, which started over 95 years ago. We thought it would be interesting to ask Takashi a little more about his tennis career:

Q. When did you start playing professionally?
A. I started playing professionally when I left university. I started working for a big IT company, and was soon asked to play for the company tennis team. In Japan, some employees are hired only to play for the company team. The company pay you a basic salary, and then on top of that they give you money for playing, travelling, event registration, coaching etc. Of course, at the tournaments, the company's name and logo are sprawled across your shirt. Many of the players stay with a company for two years and then move on. Fortunately I was hired for my academic achievements, and so the tennis was just an added bonus for them.

Q. What are you best at? Serving, forehand, backhand?
A. You would be surprised. Of course the very best players have everything, but the main thing at all levels, I would say, is to be fit, mentally and physically. For the two years that I played for my company I was extremely fit. It took a lot out of me. Training during the weekends and then games and tourments during the week, as well as work!

Q. Who is the best player you have ever played against?
A. It has to be Mitsuru Takada, at the time one of Japan's top 10 players. Yes, he was very good, an ATP player.

Q. What was the score?
A. 0-6, 1-6, he laughs.

Q. How do you see the future of Japanese tennis?
A. Well, I think tennis is certainly becoming more popular. This is partly thanks to Kei Nishikori,
Japan's current number one and #11 in the world seedings. He is doing very well at getting the youth of our country engaged in the sport. I think Japanese tennis has a bright future. Who knows, it may overtake baseball soon!

*Note: OISE Oxford's Academic Assistant, Karol Bucky, and fellow student Mikhail thought they would challenge Takashi and another student to a doubles match at the grass courts in North Oxford. It was clear that Takashi was of a different calibre. "He was strong and played very elegantly," said Karol.

Wimbledon - we're still in it, folks!

Following our Wimbledon blog post earlier this week we are proud to say that both Laura Robson and Andy Murray are both still in with a chance!

'British number one Laura Robson is into the third round of Wimbledon for the first time thanks to a comfortable 6-4 6-1 win over Mariana Duque-Marino.' 

The staff at OISE Oxford along with the general public will be closely following the upcoming games and rooting for our British sportsman. Andy Murray's childhood friend has even written him a song to show his support - a little bit cringe perhaps, but anyway, click below for a listen.

Stawberries and cream anyone?

So its time to get excited, Wimbledon is just around the corner. 

The Championships, The Wimbledon Championships or simply Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the others being the Australian Open, French Open and US Open. Wimbledon is the only Major still played on grass, the game's original surface, which gave the game its original name of "lawn tennis".

The tournament will be taking place from this approaching Monday 24th June for 13 days, culminating on Sunday 7th July. 

Wimbledon traditions include a strict dress code for competitors, the eating of strawberries and cream by the spectators, and Royal patronage. The tournament is also notable for the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts.

The five main events, and the number of players (or teams, in the case of doubles) are:
Gentlemen's Singles (128)
Ladies' Singles (128)
Gentlemen's Doubles (64)
Ladies' Doubles (64)
Mixed Doubles (48)

AT OISE Oxford we will be rooting for Andy Murray. Seeded number 2 in the Championships.  We all hope he will be able to build on his recent win of the Aegon Championships title at The Queen's Club. 

To keep fully informed on the tennis check out the coverage on BBC and the official Wimbledon webpage. 

Go Murray and go Wimbeldon!  Wimbledon fever here we come!