Review for Wimbledon: 2010 Official Film

Wimbledon, the only grand slam event still played on grass, is the oldest and arguably most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. With such a rich history and heritage, tennis fans are guaranteed some special moments every time the championships take place.

This film presents an overview of the 124th Championships, which were notable for a variety of reasons. The Queen visited the tournament for the first time in over thirty years to watch Andy Murray play, while elsewhere in the Men's draw a truly epic contest took place between John Isner and Nicholas Mahut. Played over three days, the American Isner eventually prevailed 70-68 in a final set which alone surpassed the length of the entire previous longest match.



The production values of the documentary are high throughout, with scenic shots of the grounds helping to capture the atmosphere of the tournament. The narration and background music are of a high standard too, helping to emphasise the dramatic moments as the championships unfold. Interviews with players conducted during the tournament, along with several from former greats of the game, are interspersed between coverage of the matches and ensure the documentary keeps a pleasant flow.



Highlights are taken from a total of twenty-six matches, but due to time constraints in most cases they are reduced to only a few points. While this is understandable, I was still left disappointed by the briefness of the highlights. Combined with frustrating close up camera angles which often obscure the actual tennis being played, it is difficult to really appreciate and enjoy the shot making which shaped the matches.



Ultimately, the Official Wimbledon 2010 film provides an entertaining recap of the championships and would make a nice souvenir for tennis fans, however it should not be viewed expecting a large amount of match highlights or insightful analysis.