Vijay’s Day at Wimbledon Probably Will Be His Last

LONDON —  When he glanced into the standing-room section at the top of the stands of Court 2 Monday afternoon at Wimbledon, Vijay Amritraj couldn’t believe his eyes.

There was Premjit Lall watching his match.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Amritraj, an Indian countryman of Lall. “I had a flashback to 1969 when I stood and watched him play (Rod) Laver here. Prem was ahead, but lost.”

Laver went on to win the Grand Slam, the last male player to do so. Fifteen-year-old Vijay Amritraj went on to a distinguished tennis career that included his 17th and probably final Wimbledon match, which he played Monday.

Amritraj, 36, the oldest player in the tournament, lost to Joey Rive of West Palm Beach, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and said afterward he probably will not be back.

“It’s a longshot,” said Amritraj, who won three matches to qualify. “As I walked off, I really felt an end. I couldn’t hold it in. I literally had tears on my wife’s shoulder.

“It was a really very special moment. For a tennis player, I cannot recommend a better stage.”

Amritraj, who has homes in Madras, India, and Encino, intends to revive an acting career that began with roles in “Octopussy” and “Star Trek IV.” Elected to a second term as president of the Assn. of Tennis Professionals’ player council, Amritraj didn’t plan to play Wimbledon again until two weeks ago when he won a men’s 35-and-over tournament in Windsor, England.

After a professional career of 17 years, Amritraj was not rattled by what may be his last Wimbledon match. He said the only time he was nervous was the first set of his third qualifying match.

“I thought ‘Oh, my God, I think I can get in,’ ” he said.

In 1969, Amritraj did not get into the main draw but played as a junior. Monday seemed to complete the cycle.

“I decided I’d give the fourth decade a shot,” Amritraj said.

Twice, Amritraj lost to the eventual Wimbledon champion. He led Jan Kodes, 5-4, in the fifth set and was two points from winning their 1973 quarterfinal, but lost. He led Bjorn Borg by a set, 3-2, and, 0-40, but wound up losing in 1979.

Amritraj has shared locker rooms with Laver, Ilie Nastase, Ken Rosewall, Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith, then with Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi.

“I am of another age,” Amritraj said. “I feel it and I know it, but I had a fantastic time.”