[Archived] Wimbledon

[adopted scouser]

And there's the rub. The first rule of Ladies tennis............. the fittest women always go out in the first week?

Anybody care to speculate why? The likes of Navratilova, Serena Williams, Betty Stove, BJK etc annually making it into the semi's in their days at the top suggests that having bolloxx must be a great asset for tennis.

'Cause they're built like fellas, should be called 'mixed singles'.

Reminds me of when Fatima Whitbread went to the doctors as she had hairs on her chest.

"How far down do they go" ? said the doctor

"right down to me d*ck" replied Fatima

For our younger viewers >

[blue phil]

Anybody care to speculate why? The likes of Navratilova, Serena Williams, Betty Stove, BJK etc annually making it into the semi's in their days at the top suggests that having bolloxx must be a great asset for tennis.

A little cruel on Serena , Drog - she looks all woman to me .

Well , more than her bro.... sorry , sister , Venus , anyway .

[American]

Amen to that, Phil. Serena is my kind of woman - Sir Mix-a-lot is my mentor.

[Eddie]

Its because of the 'private members only' undercurrent that permeates through British sport.....Wimbledon is a classic example of this vile snobbery and the same with the top golf clubs and to some extent rugby and cricket 'institutions'.

The top facilities are only availiable to the wealthy and priviledged.

Wimbledon should remain that way. Do you think any old sod walks onto Roland Garros for a set in August?

Facilities in England are horrible, that's the big problem. Having grown up in the States and France I was amazed to go to University, make the tennis team at a school that is quite reputable when it comes to sports and invests heavily in facilities only to find that there were NO indoor courts and that many of the outdoor courts were cracked. You can't expect to produce great tennis players like that. Not only is it not good for your game, but it just doesn't inspire you. Almost every town in France will have a decent football pitch and tennis courts (usually including at least one indoor court). That's the secret to success. Private members club still exist in both the States and France and they are still where you find the very best facilities, that shouldn't really be the focus, the focus should be on the average. When the average tennis court is good, that is when you'll produce good tennis players. Is it any surprise that the last 3 good male tennis players from the UK were Henman (affluent upbringing), Rusedski (grew up abroad) and Murray (happened to have a mother who was a tennis coach).

[Mattyblue]

Its because of the 'private members only' undercurrent that permeates through British sport.....Wimbledon is a classic example of this vile snobbery and the same with the top golf clubs and to some extent rugby and cricket 'institutions'.

The top facilities are only availiable to the wealthy and priviledged.

I agree to you to some extent, but with cricket I feel it is one of the few sports that you get a true cross section of society and geography, public school, state school, northeners, west country bumpkins, oxbridge, more so than footy or rugger.

[Nelsta]

Looking forward to the tennis today.

Nadal is a class act and i hope he goes on to lift the trophy, But Federer is just quality.

Fingers are crossed for Nadal - Federer final.

[Presty On Tour]

Has there ever been a Wimbledon where it hasn't rained once during the whole tournament?

[Nelsta]

Nadal was just awsome, He is just leagues ahead of Murray.

[blue phil]

Its because of the 'private members only' undercurrent that permeates through British sport.....Wimbledon is a classic example of this vile snobbery and the same with the top golf clubs and to some extent rugby and cricket 'institutions'.

The top facilities are only availiable to the wealthy and priviledged.

I'm afraid we simply live in a society where such facilities would not be treated with much respect by all classes of society . There's a massive problem in our society and until that's sorted out I don't blame people using private golf and tennis clubs . Why should everyone suffer from the yob culture ?

[bellamy11]

And there's the rub. The first rule of Ladies tennis............. the fittest women always go out in the first week?

Anybody care to speculate why? The likes of Navratilova, Serena Williams, Betty Stove, BJK etc annually making it into the semi's in their days at the top suggests that having bolloxx must be a great asset for tennis.

Obviously the stronger a player is the more dangerous they can be if they're actually talented enough to keep it in play. Some of the "fitter" tennis players nowadays posses amazing power but this is more of a recent thing. For example, Sharapova has one of the cleanest, hardest shots on tour.

One speculation I'd make to answer your second paragraph is because I'm going to guess (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) that you mainly watch Wimbledon (if you even really pay attention to tennis at all). Grass suits strong, aggresive players who can end points early. One of the most beautiful players in the world, Ana Ivanovic, won the French open because that favours the most consistent and clever players. It's generally only the most exceptional examples of crafty and subtle female players (Graff, Hingis) who could look good on grass when it's dominated by power.

[adopted scouser]

Hearty congratulations to Venus Williams on beating Elena Dementieva to get to the final of Wimbledon.

I mean have you looked at Dementieva? She's gorgeous. How Venus managed to concentrate on her tennis with an erection is beyond me.

[Presty On Tour]

Hearty congratulations to Venus Williams on beating Elena Dementieva to get to the final of Wimbledon.

I mean have you looked at Dementieva? She's gorgeous. How Venus managed to concentrate on her tennis with an erection is beyond me.

Very disappointed it's an all Williams final, it's going to be more like an exhibition game.

[Eddie]

Put a sneaky bet on there to be two upsets in the mens semis today. Don't expect it to happen, but you never know.

[Presty On Tour]

Just put on the tennis for a view and that safin fella looks like lucas neill, could be his brother!

[T4E]

The final is on, Rafa is a break up in the first set, serving at 4-3.

This guy is a beast.

[American]

Very rare for such a hyped up sporting event to live up to, if not exceed, expectations.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Excellent match, finding the Rafa love fest by the commentators a bit annoying though.

[Nelsta]

What a match, Nadal deserves it..been superb through out.

[Rovermatt]

Federer has played some shocking shots today. It's a wonder he stayed in for so long. What a player Nadal is though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Federer has played some shocking shots today. It's a wonder he stayed in for so long. What a player Nadal is though.

I agree i think Federer was poor and his tactics at time were questionable, in particular trying to slog it out at the baseline with Nadal when it clearly wasn't working.

[Presty On Tour]

Shame about the rain interruptions but one of the best tennis matches I've seen.

I thought Federer would go on and win after he some how got out of the 4th set tie break but fairplay to Nadal, he's some player!

[thenodrog]

Enthralling match with some absolutely stunning play from both players at times. Nadal just would not be denied. Odd thing is that at the end Federer looked like he had just been for a stroll in the park.

[Eddie]

Great match.

I'm not a huge fan of Nadal, obviously the best clay court player in the world and a very talented player, but I don't like the fist pumping and I don't even really like the grunting on virtually every shot, but he did deserve his win today. There's part of me that feels as if Federer had an extra gear that he sometimes went into, but was almost always in cruise control.

[Guest Kamy100]

Superb match and for once the hype was surpassed by the actual event.

Both players showed why they are the best 2 in the world, and showed why the likes of Murray are so far behind. High quality tennis and drama from start to end.

I was rooting for Roger but got to say that Rafa deserved the win just for the sheer amount of effort and intensity he showed.

With this and the Grand Prix it has been the perfect sporting day for me.

[adopted scouser]

Love Wimbledon, the williams girl didn't let me down in her stupid mac.

You can take the girl out of Compton ...............................