Sitting courtside at Wimbledon, the sculptor Mark Reed found inspiration as he watched players serve. The power, speed and beauty mesmerized him. Commissioned by the All England Club to create a sculpture that combined tennis and his trademark metal trees, Reed envisioned a piece that presented a serving player in human and tree form.
This year, when fans enter the tournament grounds through Gate 1, they will be greeted by “The Serving Ace Meeting Tree.” The nearly 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture features a tree trunk and branches curved to represent a player in midserve. A canopy of stainless-steel leaves shades the bench below.