The title of Wimbledon referee is highly esteemed in the world of tennis. Alan Mills, who passed away at the age of 88, served in this role for 23 years, from 1983 to 2005, with dignified composure.
If this indicates a profession of sailing on calm waters, it would be incorrect. Acting as the ultimate decision-maker during two weeks of intense sports competition under the scrutiny of the world would, rightfully, imply a job with more turbulence. Add in individuals filled with the skill and temperament of John McEnroe, Ilie Năstase, Boris Becker, and others with equal wild ambition, and it becomes evident that unique qualities are necessary to prevent the Championships from falling apart.
According to Jim Courier, a former Grand Slam champion and Wimbledon finalist, Alan had a unique ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations. As someone who was not always easy to work with, Courier acknowledges that referees at major tournaments are constantly dealing with intense reactions from players and their agents. However, among all the referees he has encountered, Alan stood out as the best.
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Mills became known as “Rain Man” because he was often seen with a walkie-talkie and sometimes an umbrella, closely observing the weather from his post on Centre Court at Wimbledon before determining if it was suitable for play. With a wry smile, Mills would jokingly refer to himself as the “killjoy in the grey suit.”
The weather-related job, with nervous hands on tennis rackets in the changing room, was full of tension. However, Mills hardly ever displayed it, even when dealing with the difficult situation of trying to calm down an angry McEnroe after he famously uttered the phrase “You cannot be serious” during a outburst at umpire Ted James at Wimbledon. Mills also had the unfortunate responsibility of disqualifying a young Tim Henman in 1995, after the British player accidentally hit a ball girl in the face with a wild swing at a ball.
In addition to managing the sequence of events and supervising court officials or umpires, a referee is also responsible for numerous duties such as ensuring the well-being of the athletes.
Bill Norris, the ATP Tour’s physiotherapist for over three decades, expressed his appreciation for the valuable lessons he gained from Mills. They often engaged in lengthy conversations about effectively managing medical time-outs, determining the ideal amount of rest for players to perform at their peak, and other behind-the-scenes aspects that are not typically made known to the public. Norris praised Mills for always being accessible, pleasant, and sympathetic.
Mills was born in the Lancashire town of Stretford. His father was a railway controller, and his mother a railway clerk. After the family moved to Formby, Merseyside, Alan went to Waterloo grammar school, near Liverpool, leaving aged 16 to become an apprentice electrical engineer.
He started playing tennis at a young age and became the county champion before joining the RAF for his national service. He then went on to win the RAF Tennis Championships.
When he started participating in the amateur circuit, he faced tough competition due to the presence of skilled British players like Mike Davies, Billy Knight, and Bobby Wilson. This limited his chances of playing in the Davis Cup, although he was part of the British teams that made it to the semi-finals in 1959, 1961, and 1964.
In 1959, in the spa town of Mondorf-les-Bains in southern Luxembourg, Mills made history in the Davis Cup by winning a singles match in just 34 minutes with a score of 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. His opponent, Joseph Offenheim, was the top player from Luxembourg at the time.
Despite not having the necessary skill to win major championships, Mills achieved a fourth round appearance at Wimbledon in 1959 and made it to the semi-finals in doubles with Mark Cox in 1966. Overall, Mills retired with an impressive record of 31 titles and a win/loss ratio of 324 to 178.
After becoming a professional, he worked as a tennis instructor at a hotel in the Bahamas and later at a tennis club in Ohio. He also spent a year coaching at Millfield school in Somerset and for the Wales team. In 1977, he was selected as an assistant referee at Wimbledon.
In 1983, Mills was appointed as the head referee, but he didn’t just limit his skills to Wimbledon. He was also asked by Butch Buchholz, an American, to oversee a major tournament originally known as the Lipton and now called the Miami Open. Buchholz’s goal was to make it one of the top five events in the world, featuring both male and female players in large draws.
“I had no one else in mind when I searched for a referee,” stated Buchholz. “We faced some challenges with tents being knocked over and schedules being disrupted, but Alan handled them all with grace.” Mills remained involved with the event until 1993.
In 2005, a year after his retirement, the Lancastrian received the honor of being appointed CBE in addition to his previous MBE. He also published his memoir, “Lifting the Covers,” in the same year.
In 1960, Mills tied the knot with Jill Rook, a champion table-tennis player from England. She and their children, Barry and Penny, outlive them.
Source: theguardian.com
