Court No. 1 in December 1995 after the grass had been laid.

WIMBLEDON, June 23: The rains stayed away, the covers came off and the latest grass court was ready to become part of The Championships at the All England Club. Half-an-hour after the ball boys had trooped in with flags of 58 countries which are being represented here, and the legends did a lap of honour. The new No 1 court blended majestically with the ambience and tradition of the Club.

It is not very often that a grass court sees so many legends at the same time, as it did during today's inauguration by the Duke of Kent. Not everybody who had won here was invited; there was a clear demaracation between champions and mere winners. For, those who had lined up at the new court had won here three three times or more.

Rod Laver, John Newcombe, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras.There were other legends as well ranging from Louise Brough, who last won here in 1955, to Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. In a typically, understated ceremony, which clearly depicted the aura which surrounds the tournament, the Duke of Kent gave away plaques to each of the champions.

The loudest cheers went out to John McEnroe. Super Mac tried to put on that boorish look on his face but the enormity of the occasion forced even him to sport a smile. He waved in acknowledgment as he walked up in a leisurely pace, the greying hair only adding to the charisma of this champion.

And, for a change, Barbara Feltus was not biting her nails, nor did she have that agonising look when her husband Boris Becker came on court. She was all smiles this time.

Thus, the 11,000 capacity stadium and its carefully prepared turf from a site in Yorkshire, on soil supplied by the Club and laid in 1995, came into being. The new court replaces the old where the last ball was hit last September during the Davis Cup tie between Britain and Egypt.

The historic turf had seen many a memorable match since 1924 and its turf was acquired last autumn for Devonshire Park, Eastbourne home of the International Ladies' Championships, held before Wimbledon.

The new court is rather similar to the Centre Court, but smaller. The court, built on a hill, provides a magnificent view of the London skyline to the east. Landscaping of the Aorangi Picnic Terrace has been completed to give the court a breathtaking setting.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.