Wimbledon will always hold a special place in my heart. For me, it is a breathtaking place. There is something beautiful about grass and we should hang on to it. Players nowadays know enough about slowing the court down or speeding it up, so the grass should remain. It’s great that Wimbledon’s traditions have been kept up over the years — and yet, at the same time, it has moved with the times. It’s not so stuffy, the fans are treated much better, while the relationship between the organisers and the players has improved.
It would, however, be good to have a roof built at Wimbledon very soon. I think it’s a good idea for all major sporting venues. If you have a situation such as the US Open last year, when there were three to four days of virtually no play, having a roof would mean fans knowing that they are going to get some tennis. Yes, a roof does potentially change conditions, but here in London you can be playing a match where it’s raining and cold in the morning, then take a break and come back to find there are no clouds. These things happen and you have to make adjustments to win.
I certainly know what it’s like to have to make adjustments at Wimbledon. There is a lot of history for me as a player at Wimbledon and my games were, in many ways, my most formative ones, as I had such a big desire to prove to myself that I could win. And then when I did, I wanted to come back and do it all over again — though I did get a lot of flak for some of those infamous lines.
I felt total exhilaration playing at Wimbledon and now, as I return as a commentator for the BBC, I feel I have come full circle. It feels entirely right, especially as I don’t have the same expectations of me as when I was a player. But I don’t think watching the modern game is as exciting. For me it doesn’t look as aesthetic. I might be showing my age, but I thought there was something beautiful about the wooden racket. You also notice that the players are bigger and stronger today, and that the tournament has become a lot more serious because there is so much money involved. But, having said that, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick are a breath of fresh air. I think Federer will win this year. He is playing so well and is the most dangerous competitor. Roddick has tremendous power, too, and has a chance.
In the women’s tornament, Serena Williams is my choice to win. If not, then Venus. I don’t think anybody can dislodge the Williams sisters at present.
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And Tim Henman? Well, in the French Open he showed that he is very healthy at the moment and able to bounce back when he is down in a game. But he has to be a lot more aggressive. He seems to hesitate more nowadays, and at times he be on the back foot and rather defensive. I would tell him not to do that, and to improve on his second serve.
Can he win? He is still a contender but the odds get longer each year.
Coverage of Wimbledon begins on Monday on BBC One and BBC Two, BBC Radio Five Live, BBCi and bbc.co.uk. Interview by Christine Smith