Bryan Shelton is the men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida. He is a former All-American player at Georgia Tech who lived and trained in Atlanta during his nine years on the ATP Tour. From 1999 to 2012, he was head coach of Tech’s women’s team, which won an NCAA title in 2007. He recalls what it was like to play at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon is the only place I ever played where I got goose bumps every time I walked on the court. It’s different than any other grand slam. The history and tradition, the grass, the crowds, the fact that everything is a little more proper, it’s something that is very special in tennis.
In 1989, I played Wimbledon for the first time. I won three matches to qualify, and then I played Boris Becker on Court 2 in the first round.
To play someone of that star status, an icon, in my first Wimbledon was overwhelming and intimidating at the time. I remember feeling a lot smaller than him. The moment was too big, and I lost 6-1, 6-4, 7-6. Fortunately I was able to get back a number of times and find success.
In 1994, I made the round of 16. My ranking had dropped out of the top 100, and I’d lost several matches in a row. I was at a low point. I finally won a match in qualifying, but didn’t play that well. I played better the next round. Then in the third round, I played great. I started seeing the ball like it was a basketball.
In the main draw, I was back on Court 2 — they call it the Graveyard of Champions — this time against the No. 2 player in the world, Michael Stich. He had won Wimbledon in 1991.
Stich had a big smile on face before the match. He thought it was going to be an easy day. I knew it wasn’t. I didn’t know that I would win that match, but I knew it would be tough on him. I won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. What a thrill.
Stich later said that he would’ve beaten Bryan Shelton 99 out of 100 times. I’ll never forget that.
The most important thing is what you believe, not what someone else believes. Don’t let people put limitations on you. I obviously had a lot of belief that I could come through at that moment.
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