From the sidelines: Beyond the traditions, glimpses of Wimbledon's fierce sporting soul

LONDON, July 14 : At Wimbledon, the 149-year-old tournament's roots in tradition and British social customs are preserved and nurtured like the perennial ryegrass on the All England Club's iconic courts.The oldest Grand Slam, with around 675 matches across all categories, featured players dressed in white down to their shoes, spectators with creative hats snacking on strawberries and cream, and appearances by members of the royal family.Visually, the two-week event stood in stark contrast with the FIFA World Cup it coincided with. But beneath the polished packaging, the soul of Wimbledon lay in a competitive core very similar to the World Cup: the best players in the world battle over the sport's most prestigious title.Reuters photographers covering the event captured glimpses of this tumu