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NZ tennis player Brett Steven at Wimbledon - Source: Getty -
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Brett Steven always looked forward to playing at Wimbledon.
Not only was his classical serve and volley game particularly suited to the fast grass surface, but he also enjoyed a lot of Kiwi support.
The Auckland-born Steven spent a decade on the ATP tour, had a career high ranking of 32 and reached three finals.
He earned his crust (almost $US2.5 million) playing all over the world, in a new city every week, usually with no New Zealand fans in the crowd or Kiwi media present.
Wimbledon, however, was very different as all the resident New Zealanders in London make their annual pilgrimage to the famous courts at SW19.
"It sort of felt like I was playing at home almost when I was playing at Wimbledon, he told tvnz.co.nz
"It made it a bit more special having that extra attention."
Steven made his first main draw appearance in 1993 and went on to play on the hallowed courts on five more occasions, garnering a respectable nine wins from 15 matches.
It was a consistent record, as he only failed to make it past the first round once, twice went to the third round and in 1997 reached the round of 16.
Greatest moment, biggest regret
His greatest Wimbledon moment is also his biggest regret.
In 1997, ranked 104 in the world, he won his first three rounds taking down the world number 55 Lionel Roux, as well as 38th-ranked Magnus Norman on the way.
He faced 44th ranked Frenchmen Cedric Pioline in the round of 16 and lost a tight struggle 6-3 3-6 4-6 5-7.
"[I felt] a little bit of a tinge of sadness that I wasn't able to win that match, as a semi-final certainly beckoned."
It was an open field that year, with Sampras knocked out early and virtual no-names Richard Krajicek and Mal Washington playing in the final.
Looking back now, Steven is philosophical about his Wimbledon experience.
"I had some good results but I never had a tournament that I can look back on and say, wow that was career defining."
Major opposition
The draw wasn't always kind to the affable Kiwi, but according to Steven that is the essential nature of a major tournament.
"That's how it is at all the grand slams. You really need to beat a top 10 or top 20 type player to really go on and make a semi or a final. I had the potential to do that on grass but came up against some good grass court players."
Over the years in London Steven faced off against Australian grass court expert Wally Masur, Swedes Magnus Gustafsson and Magnus Norman, 1997 champion Richard Krajicek, Czech Petr Korda, and England's Greg Rusedski.
Like most aspiring tennis players from this part of the world, Steven grew up dreaming of Wimbledon.
"It was the only (international) tennis we ever got on TV.
"From a Commonwealth perspective we all looked to it and we all followed. It was the bee's knees, it was the Championship that you wanted to win.
"It was special because it had all the history, the great matches, the rivalry."
On the eve of 2009 nothing has changed as we look forward to
more history, plenty of great matches and a enduring
rivalries.
TVNZ is bringing you the biggest tennis tournament in
the world LIVE on air and online. Wimbledon 2009 will be broadcast
live from London on TV ONE and streamed live on
www.tvnz.co.nz.
What are your favourite Wimbledon memories? Share them
on our messageboard below
Add a Comment:
Post new commentJaycie13100 said on 2009-06-20 @ 19:19 NZDT:
The day when I was a teenaer and a mere boy named Ken Rosewall had to play veteran Drobny and the whole centre-court crowd to come ever so close to the ultimate. Sadly he retired as the greatest player NEVER to have won Wimbledon [or perhaps equal with Ivan Lendl]
cutecasper said on 2009-06-18 @ 17:01 NZDT:
Boris Becker and Stephan Edberg - This is the MATCH to watch....FINAL feels like a FINAL... I love Boris Becker, Its only coz of him i love Tennis..and it is my FAV sport and only sport i play!! .. Cant wait for WIMBLEDON to start...NEVER MISS IT! Since i have started watchin Tennis !
Baseliner said on 2009-06-18 @ 14:26 NZDT:
Becker was a legend! He seemed to have the biggest serve anybody had ever seen and the German always used to do cool tricks with the ball and racquet in between points or when he was walking up to serve.
Kiwi Royal said on 2009-06-17 @ 14:04 NZDT:
1) Watching Lewis beat Curren on tv as a kid in the semis of 1983. 2) Lining up at 2am for tickets on Middle Saturday and only getting them for Court Two! It worked out great though as McEnroe and Graf played Mixed Doubles on the court. 3) Knocking off work early with a mate, going up to Wimbledon, getting recycled Centre Court tickets and seeing Federer concede the only set he was to lose (to Mardy Fish) on the way to his first title in 2003.
Laurie Reid said on 2009-06-17 @ 13:28 NZDT:
Just the tears of Henman. He was so unlucky on so many occassions! But then again the Poms are known for that...