After years of “discouraging players from taking tournament towels,
officials at the All England Club now mostly shrug as competitors stuff
their racket bags with what has become the most coveted keepsake from
the championships,” according to Tom Perrotta of the WALL STREET
JOURNAL. This year marks the 25th year of the commemorative Wimbledon
towel made by U.K.-based
Christy. The company for this year’s tourney “produced 99,500 Wimbledon
towels, of various sizes, most of which are sold to the public.” The
company said that sales “have increased" 46% since '08 and Wimbledon
towels next year “will be sold in India for the first time.” Towels
similar to those the players use sell for about $44. Christy sets aside
6,000 towels for players, who "are given two during each match.” Welspun
U.K. CEO Robert Walker, whose company owns Christy, said that “about
60% of those 6,000 towels vanish by the end of the tournament.” The
towels “have become a popular souvenir,” and tennis player Novak
Djokovic reportedly “keeps a stockpile.” Roger Federer said, "I only
keep about two a tournament and I give the rest away." Some players are
“besieged with requests for towels from friends and family.” Christy
“redesigns the towel every few years.” Christy's Lucy Ackroyd, who
designed this year's towel, said, "In the past, the towels had a novelty
look, like a stylized image of a racket or a net. The club thought that
was looking a bit tired and wanted something more contemporary,
upmarket and elegant" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/5).
LOST BALLS: In London, Donna Bowater reported that Wimbledon organisers lose 50 tennis balls every day, with many taken by fans "who want a memento." Some 54,000 stamped Slazenger balls are ordered for the two-week tournament. Almost 2,000 are used every day. Even though the All England Club gives visitors "the chance to buy used balls at the official shop," the man in charge of keeping track of them "suspects wayward balls are kept by fans" (TELEGRAPH, 7/4).
