Ever since I entered full-time ministry in 1990, I’ve missed Breakfast At Wimbledon.
The Men’s Final always starts at 9 a.m. Eastern time on the concluding Sunday of the tournament. Tennis fans are supposed to eat strawberries and watch tennis.
And I’m at work at that time. So no breakfast for me.
But the last two years, I’ve been able to see the last part of the final match as breakfast at Wimbledon has happily turned into lunch at Wimbledon.
In 2008, it was because rain delays pushed back the final points of Rafael Nadal’s epic win over Roger Federer to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time, 9:15 p.m. London time.
Yesterday, there were no such delays in the match between Federer and Andy Roddick.
Just an endless fifth set. So I raced home after the 11:30 service was finished. When I got in the door, the score was 12-all in the fifth set between Federer and Roddick.
I didn’t need to hurry.
In fact, I was able to change clothes and grab a bite — of lunch — on the changeovers.
It finally ended at 1:30 or so, with Federer winning 16-14 in the fifth. I played a 20-18 set once, but that was doubles, and I was 17.
I don’t know how they could stand up at the end.
But both Federer and Roddick did. Taller than ever.