Subba is one of TWC’s longest members to date. He is an internationally renowned entomologist and is from a tennis family: “My eldest brother was Indian no. 4.” Subba is an experienced tennis player himself who was a linesman and chair umpire at Wimbledon during the Championships. “For the last 10 years of being an official I was only on Centre Court. I was also a regular official at the Stella Artois tournament.” I remember meeting Subba for the first time as a junior. As he walked past I foot faulted and he told me off…

Name: Subba Rao B.Sc. (Hons) Assoc. IARI., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.A.Sc Section: Tennis, Retired Member since: 1971

You were a linesman and Chair Umpire during the Championships. Tell us about your umpire days. How did you get into it?

I Umpired for the Indian Davis Cup in 1950. In 1967 I was an elected member of the Umpires Committee at the International Club and All India Tennis Association where I was foreign Secretary from 1970 until I resigned in 1980.

I came here in June 1968 when I was offered a job in the British Museum for my Scientific work. I accepted it but longed to be on court umpiring so I wrote to the secretary of the AELTC. He advised me to contact the British Umpires Association, who were responsible for providing umpires for the Wimbledon Championships so I wrote to them.

Within the first year I was made a permanent member and selected to umpire at Wimbledon. It usually took a minimum of 2 years and it’s rare to be selected so soon for the Championships but I excelled. I umpired for the qualifying event at Roehampton where I often had 6 matches in one day.

Subba recollects one doubles match at Wimbledon: “I was on the chair when John & David Lloyd were playing. It lasted 5½ hours, the score in the final set was 14-12 to the Lloyd brothers. There were only two other officials on court with me; one linesman and one on the service line.

I came up to court number 5 as Chair umpire before I decided to focus solely on linesman duties.

Tell us the differences from linesmen in your day to linemen today?

1. When I first began in 1969 there was only one linesman and a Chair umpire. Today there’s a minimum of 7 linesmen.

2. Up until 1980 the umpires and linesmen were selected by the Chief of Referees. He would select the people after watching their performances throughout the year.

These days they are graded on their performance. Every time you go on the show courts, the chair umpire marks the linesmen. If a score of less than 3 is given more than once you are degraded. These courts are very tough to get on. Once on, you must keep the standards high.

3. Up to 1980 umpires were allowed in the players area. They are not allowed now.

4. Uniforms were introduced in 1980. Every 5 years uniform changes.

5. In 1969 Umpires were paid £1.75 per day to cover expenses. In 1995, the year I retired, I was given £1500 (for the duration of the Championships) towards expenses.

6. In the old days pre-1980 linesmen on show courts weren’t allowed to roll sleeves up and no water was allowed. The leader decided whether to wear the blazer or not. That’s all changed now.

7. Only 14 courts in my day. Now there are 20 courts.

8. 1995 I retired because of age rules. That’s all been changed now.

Did you ever umpire John McEnroe? How did you deal with his temper if you did?

Yes. I never had a problem with any player including McEnroe. I remember giving him a foot fault once. He just looked at me - he didn’t say a word. I tell you he is absolutely perfect; when he started quarreling, he was always right. It’s the media you see, they write to provoke. The linesman would make an erroneous call and it was not corrected, that’s when he would lose his temper.

One Quarter Finals on Centre Court as usual, the linesmen were first on court. John McEnroe came on, he looked around and told the chair he didn’t want one linesman. The chair’s hands were tied as the chief of umpires made the selection. The match began. In the 2nd game that gentleman made an erroneous call against McEnroe. He immediately went to the chair and said: “I told you I don’t want him - he made a wrong call.” Play continued. The same gentleman made another erroneous call. McEnroe went berserk. Instead of the team captain moving that one individual to another position, the whole team was changed by the Chief of Umpires.

Can you tell us your most memorable moments as a linesman. I’m sure you have a few…

I was at the net cord on No. 1 Court, Martina Navratilova was playing. An insect was flying around her, so unable to play. The Chair asked me to sort it. I went over and caught the insect, in my hand - it was a male bee. I said “it’s only a male it can’t hurt you” …afterwards I realized what I said!

The 1993 Wimbledon Final (Sampras vs Courier) - I was on the baseline. I called a Sampras ball out which the chair Umpire (name withheld) immediately intervened and overruled. It made it into the press:

When did you join TWC? What attracted you to the club. In 1971 a member named Val Cookman, who regularly represented the first team, introduced me to TWC. A trial was arranged - I beat the gentleman 6-1 and was offered membership. I was invited to join the 2nd team and later represented the club as a veteran. The grass courts were a big attraction.

John Parsons-The Telegraph reported: “The chair Umpire intervened on a line call. His decision that a Sampras forehand which had been called out on Courier’s game point, should have been called in, not only shocked Courier, who made his objections clear, but most of the crowd.”

The best Ladies I umpired for… Unfortunately, my name just missed the board after losing in the finals to Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, two gentlemen; Norris Hoffman & John Carter. My hands were so sweaty Evonne Goolagong, Ann Jones, I couldn’t hold my racket. We were playing very well until then. Steffi Graff.

Were you a sportsman during your early days? I was a student at the Men…. Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, University of Mysuru where I was an outstanding sportsman excelling in Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Stefan tennis, cricket and athletics. I represented the university at all three. It Edburg. was a great honour to be selected to play. These were all the finest players,

they never said a bad word.

Due to a shoulder injury Subba has had to hang up his racket. He continues to come to the club for coffee & catch ups with his friends and of course, to call out foot faults… Subba was regularly featured in the press (see below) and was rewarded for his work both as a linesman and his work in Science.

Right, a plaque “honouring me at Bengalur” for his Scientific work.

ᘏ Printed in the 1994 Wimbledon Annual book. “It was a rarity to be selected”