Wimbledon honours former champions

Three of the best: Becker, McEnroe and Borg

BBC Sport Online's Gabrielle Lewis witnessed Wimbledon heralding its former greats.

It was a real trip down Memory Lane, especially for those who have only followed tennis for the last 30 years.

Fifty-nine of Wimbledon's past and present greats gathered together on Centre Court to commemorate the Millennium Championships.

For many of the packed crowd, the names of Sidney Wood and Pauline Betz-Addie, singles winners in 1931 and 1946 were almost anonymous.

Yet like the doubles champions and finalists who had come before them, the early champions duly received the respectful applause they had earned from their successes.

Red carpet

The red carpet had been brought out and on it stood a Union Jack-adorned table with a single crystal plate upon it. As the brass band heralded the arrival of the legends at 1.05pm, a hush enveloped the tiers of supporters.

1930s finalist, Bunny Austin

The 1932 and 1938 runner up Bunny Austin led the parade in a wheelchair to polite applause.

But it was not until the faces of Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova appeared that the whoops of delight were heard.

Icons

As the collection of tennis icons awaited their individual introductions before marching forward to receive the crystal plate from the Duchess of Gloucester, Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association, it seemed as though the presence of so many legends had stunned the stadium.

Sharing old memories

The atmosphere was made all the more surreal by the fact that the same plate was presented to every player and so they had to return it straight after they had their photograph taken, although they did get to keep the momento after the parade.

But once again, the volume increased as the players became more recognisable to the audience.

It could almost have been a parade of television commentators as, one-by-one, the BBC's Wimbledon team made their way forward.

Pam Shriver, Virginian Wade, Jana Novotna, Frew McMillan and Pat Cash were all there. But the reception they received was mute compared to that accorded to Navratilova, and McEnroe.

Ovation for Borg

A special ovation was reserved for five-time singles champion, Borg. The Swede had never returned to Wimbledon after his last appearance as a runner-up in 1981.

70's champions

Borg's attendance at the parade made the absence of two mavericks Ilie Nastase, twice a runner-up, and the 1974 and 1978 winner Jimmy Connors all the more marked.

Connors has made a name for himself as a player who does not turn up to such occasions - he missed the All England Club's 1977 Centenary Parade. But Nastase's no-show left the onlookers baffled.

Richard Krajicek, the 1996 winner, was also missing following his second round exit.

Absent friends

The ceremony's scheduling meant five players had to abstain. Six-time doubles champions Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde were already on court, whilst 1997 winner Martina Hingis, twice-finalist Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and reigning champion Pete Sampras could not interrupt their match preparations.

Many of the champions were present

World number one Andre Agassi and 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport snatched a taste the occasion as they rushed in and out to receive their plaudits in their tracksuits amid their warm-ups.

Then it was all business as normal. Sampras made his way on to the court as soon as the parade had finished and those of his non-broadcasting predecessors dispersed to the Royal Box to watch his match against Justin Gimelstob.

For the Wimbledon crowd, the occasion had been a unique opportunity to catch sight of their heroes.

For the players and many of the guests, like Navratilova's mother who had flown in to see her daughter celebrated for her nine Wimbledon titles, it was just another champions parade in just another country.