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<\/p>\n Tournament Feature
\n Inside Wimbledon’s most sacred tradition: Sinner & co’s walk to Centre Court<\/p>\n
ATPTour.com speaks to Dan Bloxham, Sinner, Patten & Fearnley<\/p>\n
July 10, 2025<\/p>\n
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AELTC\/Jonathan Nackstrand<\/p>\n
Dan Bloxham is the Head Coach at the All England Club and also the Master of Ceremonies during The Championships.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can meet with Triumph and Disaster. And treat those two imposters just the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those who may not know, this famous line by poet Rudyard Kipling is etched into the walls of the clubhouse at the All England Club, and it’s the final thing that players see before walking onto Centre Court at Wimbledon<\/a>. But the last person they lock eyes with before the world watches on? That\u2019s Dan Bloxham.<\/p>\n As well as the Head Coach at the All England Club, Bloxham is the Master of Ceremonies during The Championships, playing a vital role in one of Wimbledon<\/a>\u2019s most sacred rituals: the walk onto Centre Court. His job may be to ensure players arrive on time, but the role is far more personal \u2014 managing nerves, restoring calm, and upholding tradition in the most quietly pivotal moments of the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big moment\u2026 My nightmare is that I say something and then the guy loses and I think \u2018Did I say it too aggressively or too slow?\u2019,\u201d Bloxham told ATPTour.com while perching on the cushioned seats on Centre Court. “I came in at a big time, with Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Andy. I saw a British player win Wimbledon<\/a>\u2026 I was probably the last person to speak to Andy and I said \u2018Are you ready?\u2019. I must\u2019ve said it in a way that he felt okay about life!”<\/p>\n The walk from the dressing room to Centre Court is unlike any other in tennis. Reserved for those at the very top of the game, or those lucky enough to find themselves in a career-defining match, it\u2019s steeped in prestige. Bloxham has led hundreds of players down that hallway, but he still vividly remembers his very first time in the role in 2008.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first player I had to take to Centre Court was Roger, and he knew what he was doing way more than I did,\u201d Bloxham said with a smile. \u201cI was blown away when I first met him, because that was Roger at his absolute peak. My first final was Roger vs. Rafa, with Borg in the Royal Box. Roger was trying to beat Borg\u2019s record [of winning five consecutive Wimbledon<\/a> titles].<\/p>\n \u201cI got them on court, thinking that was great\u2026 The stress of that was immense, but on that day, they came off court another two times. And when they went on for the last time, it was almost dark. They asked me \u2018Are you sure it\u2019s ready to play?\u2019 I remember thinking \u2018I\u2019ve got no idea really\u2019. But they told me it was ready to play and we finished with about one minute of light.\u201d<\/p>\n The tension in that moment summed up everything Wimbledon<\/a> represents: tradition, history, expectation. But as much as the walk-on is about honouring those values, it\u2019s also a deeply human experience. From calming a debutant\u2019s nerves to subtly keeping routines on track, Bloxham works in step with both the grandeur and the emotion of the moment.<\/p>\n At Wimbledon<\/a>, the standards are famously high. Everything from the precisely cut grass to the all-white dress code is part of what makes The Championships unique. The sense of detail expands to every aspect of the tournament, including Bloxham\u2019s role in making players feel cared for before and after their match.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost more important to make sure they also get back safely. They\u2019re both in a good mood when they walk out, but when they finish, one guy is obviously a little bit flat and the other sort of doesn\u2019t quite know where they\u2019re going,\u201d Bloxham said. \u201cOne thing I introduced was bringing players back, but you would rarely see that because you\u2019re only focusing on going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n That care extends especially to those experiencing Centre Court for the first time. The walk may be one they\u2019ve watched all their lives, and now they\u2019re the ones making it. For Bloxham, the challenge is creating space for them to take it all in.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one of the best things that we\u2019ve done is that we make those players feel really cared for, and you try and make it a special journey, whether they\u2019ve won or lost,\u201d said Bloxham. \u201cAs the years have gone on, there has been an effort to do more before the match.<\/p>\n \u201cTo try and make them feel really well looked after and embrace the opportunity to see the court. I\u2019ll also introduce them to some key members of the club so that they\u2019re meeting people on the way to the court, because it heightens how special it is.\u201d<\/p>\n That personal approach stood out to Henry Patten<\/a> ahead of last year\u2019s men\u2019s doubles final. The Briton, who was preparing for his first ever match on Centre Court \u2014 and his first major final \u2014 found comfort in Bloxham\u2019s calm presence before the storm.<\/p>\n \u201cDan very kindly came up to me in the morning \u2014 I was probably looking a bit nervous, a bit pale faced \u2014 and said \u2018Do you want to come and have a quick look at Centre Court?\u2019,\u201d Patten told ATPTour.com . \u201cThis was before anyone was in the grounds, there were no spectators, just some school kids on a trip.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was my first look at Centre Court. It was really nice of him to do that. I signed some autographs for the kids and that really helped settle my nerves before walking on for the match, which was obviously a different experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Patten and partner Harri Heliovaara<\/a> would go on to win the title. It was a moment they will never forget, but one helped along by a small but significant gesture earlier in the day. It\u2019s these behind-the-scenes touches that set Wimbledon<\/a> apart, not just in how the tournament is run, but how it\u2019s felt.<\/p>\n Even with the sport evolving and new generations coming through, the reverence for Wimbledon<\/a> and the traditions that define it remain. Players today continue to respect those unwritten codes, thanks in part to the example set by legends before them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe young guns have learned amazingly well from the players before them,\u201d Bloxham said. \u201cIf you walk into the dressing room and you see the respect Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy show each other and the respect they show dressing room staff, the security, that has to pick up on you.<\/p>\n \u201cThe young guys now say hello to everyone, they\u2019re polite, they show respect with their clothing. They\u2019re always on time and yet they\u2019re all really different. The difference between Carlos and Jannik is probably similar to that between Roger and Rafa. They\u2019re individual but they\u2019re managing to follow on from those amazing traditions handed down.\u201d<\/p>\n One of those new standard bearers is the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Jannik Sinner<\/a>. For him, the traditions and structure surrounding Centre Court play a major role in how players experience it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe organisation here is incredible, they treat us here like it’s our home,\u201d Sinner told ATPTour.com. \u201cWe have the privilege\u2026 The walk-on is different, especially for people who are playing there for the first time. Maybe you get a little bit lost there also, so you need someone who guides you. It’s always a very special feeling. They make sure that everything is perfect and that people cannot go towards you before the match. They do an amazing job.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, Jacob Fearnley<\/a> lived that experience. The Briton was playing in the SW19 main draw for the first time and found himself up against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic<\/a> in the second round on Centre Court.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember being at the top of the stairs next to the seeded locker room and seeing Novak there. Dan could tell I was a little bit anxious and he was doing his best to calm me down, but nothing was really working,\u201d Fearnley told ATPTour.com with a smile. \u201cJust seeing Novak at the bottom of the stairs is pretty intimidating.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a cool walk-on. I\u2019ve watched it on camera, usually before the final. I\u2019ve watched that numerous times, so to do that walk through the club was pretty cool. A very special moment.\u201d<\/p>\n For Bloxham, facilitating the walk-on never loses its significance. But just as meaningful is what he\u2019s able to carry beyond the gates of the All England Club. He is able to pass on the spirit of tradition and respect that he sees every year through his coaching and outreach.<\/p>\n \u201cThe experience I got from being around these top athletes, I can throw that straight back when I teach,\u201d said Bloxham. \u201cI gain that knowledge and I can pass it on to anyone I see. The highlight this year is that I spoke in a village hall, and I talked about how respectful the players are. That\u2019s a real privilege. Maybe it’s with a speech or going to a school, but I can bring that amazing vibe and energy and the way that people treat Wimbledon<\/a>, and I can share that with other people.\u201d<\/p>\nTaylor Fritz, Dan Bloxham” style=”width:100%;” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2025\/07\/09\/10\/10\/bloxham-frit-zwimbledon-2025.jpg?w=100%25″>Dan Bloxham watches on as Taylor Fritz<\/a> prepares to walk onto court. Photo: Joel Marklund<\/p>\n
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Dan Bloxham became the Master of Ceremonies in 2008. Photo: Florian Eisele\u00a0<\/p>\nHarri Heliovaara, Henry Patten<\/a>” style=”width:100%;” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2025\/07\/09\/10\/14\/patten-heliovaara-wimbledon-2024.jpg”>Harri Heliovaara<\/a> and Henry Patten<\/a> win the 2024 Wimbledon<\/a> men’s doubles title. Photo: Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
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