Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Once a year on the most famous tennis court in the world, in one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in sporting history, you will find Ruth Watts.
The British/Samoan line umpire has worked her way up from the ASB Classic in Auckland to the coveted courts of Wimbledon.
This was her fifth year at the major tennis competition, but it was the first time she got to work in the women’s singles final.
“I knew that Wimbledon was like a dream that I would be able to go there one day,” she enthuses.
“Being a line empire or a chair empire requires 1000% concentration in focus. And when you start doing it, you realise how difficult it is to actually cut out all of the distractions, all the noise, even thoughts that come into your head while you’re in the middle of a point.
“If you just lose concentration for one millisecond, you miss what you’re needing to do.”
On an average day, Watts works as an accountant for a finance team. But the Christchurch-born local says tennis was always the “family passion” and umpiring is a “family hobby”.
When her father volunteered to umpire local games, the rest of the family subsequently joined in.
But the hobby developed into something more for Watts when she met other tennis officials from around the world.
“Moving over and being able to walk on those grass courts is such a different experience.”
Watts says they were the only Samoan family in Canterbury who were umpiring at the time. And while she may be the only Samoan on the Wimbledon court, she shares that experience with many others at the British Tennis Association.
“I love and work with lots of other ethnicities and at Wimbledon…when you meet other ethnic minorities, you feel that affiliation,” she says.
“It was a proud moment for me to stand on court knowing that I’m the only Samoan on court.”
A court that has hosted some of the biggest talents in tennis, what’s it really like being on the same court as some of the most powerful serving tennis players in the world?
“Some of them are serving at around 130 miles an hour,” Watts laughs.
“It is about technique and anticipating when the ball’s coming and, the path and the spin.”
So you learn to dodge two inches that way or three inches the other way – I was hit a couple of times, not badly, I’ve still got a bruise on my knee, but most of us manage to avoid it.”
And even after five years of working at Wimbledon, Watts maintains the job isn’t always “glamorous.”
“Be prepared for a lot of hard work. Learn to practice focus. I think that’s one of the biggest things in the sport; enjoy meeting lots of people from all walks of life.
“It’s a different perspective being up and close with all of these tennis players and being close to the action. So if you’re interested in tennis, I definitely say give it a go.”
