Wimbledon 2018

[robf]

I've started this one so you can discuss any happening on Centre Court and beyond on one thread...

[RailwayRowdy]

Wimbledon. Where do I start ?

 

Firstly, I always wonder before post codes were introduced how did the media refer to the tournament as SW19 did not exist ?

 

I actually like tennis and have enjoyed my two visits to the championships.

 

But the snobbery surrounding the fortnight is unbearable. If I see one more middle aged woman with a plastic Union Jack hat shouting “come on Tim/Andy” I swear I will throw the TV out of the window no matter how much it cost.

 

A day a Wimbledon is a fantastic experience and one I would recommend to anyone, just keep away from the once a year Sports fans eating strawberries & cream. Usually on Henman Hill. Oh and the Gestapo stewards. If you haven’t got your Rolex watch or Armani suit on, forget the show courts.

[TJHValiant]

Wimbledon.

 

If you haven’t got your Rolex watch or Armani suit on, forget the show courts.

 

Really? I have saw the Men’s Semi Finals on centre last year and have seen games solely on centre every year for the past 15 years, but including the men’s final in 2009 and I always wear a T shirt and shorts.

 

It is true you need to wear dress for the debenture lounge, but unless you can afford 40k per year for a centre court debenture or pay the mad prices for a debenture seat, they won’t let you in anyway.

[RailwayRowdy]

Interesting match tomorrow when Britain’s Jack Duckworth takes on Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

 

I hope that sticky back plastic holds on his spec’s.

[Paul6754]

Does Vera play as well.

 

Much prefer going to the Open, magnificent event, this year at Carnoustie will be spectacular. Been to Wimbledon once (Friend of mine had some tix) but preferred to watch on the outside courts, you can feel and almost touch the pain, sweat and tears these folks go through during a match.

[RailwayRowdy]

Does Vera play as well.

 

Much prefer going to the Open, magnificent event, this year at Carnoustie will be spectacular. Been to Wimbledon once (Friend of mine had some tix) but preferred to watch on the outside courts, you can feel and almost touch the pain, sweat and tears these folks go through during a match.

 

Funnily enough Paul, walking amongst the outside courts was what I found the most interesting.

 

I first went to Wimbledon about ‘79. It was quite surreal strolling through what looked like Burslem Park, yet stars of the day were playing in the worlds most prestigious tournament literally only feet away

 

I saw a young Martina Navratilova on one of these courts. God she had thighs like a lock forward !

 

Quite bizarre !

[TheSage]

I try to go to Wimbledon every year, if I can. I'm going next week and can't wait.

It's a fantastic day out and though quite expensive you do get good value as the tennis can be on for 7-8 hours.

To be able to see the likes of Federer and Nadal at close quarters, and appreciate how good they are and how fast the ball moves, is something that you don't appreciate on the box.

Serena I think out muscles Martina in the thigh stakes!

 

It does still have the overall feeling of an exclusive, middle class club, especially around Centre Court and the restaurant areas. There's an expensive champagne bar too. A lot of Debenture ticket holders just go for the food and free drink and it's galling to see a few toffs ignoring the tennis in favour of the booze. It's definitely one of the big days on the social calendar for the upper classes and spotting celebrities in the Royal Box is interesting - royalty, film stars, Posh & Becks, Cliff - they're all there in the posh seats.

 

I don't find the stewarding intrusive. Everyone I've met has been unfailingly helpful and friendly. It's a super fortnight and well worth going to if you are lucky enough to get a ticket. The worst thing for me are the crowds. It's very busy and you have to queue for everything. And Wimbledon of course is on t'other side of London and not easy to get to from the Pots.

 

Have a walk around Wimbledon village while you are there and see how the other half live. £6-10m mansions and a Bentley or Porsche or two in the drive.

[RailwayRowdy]

Britain’s no.1 but Sth African born Kyle Edmund advances to the 2nd round.

 

Meanwhile Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who was born in Johannesburg,loses to former Slovak, then Brit, now Slovak again Alijaz Bedene.

 

Also in the women’s event, Australian born British No.1 Johanna Konta also advances to the 2nd round.

 

Call me cynical, but are any Brits at this championship actually British ?

[TheSage]

Britain’s no.1 but Sth African born Kyle Edmund advances to the 2nd round.

 

Meanwhile Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who was born in Johannesburg,loses to former Slovak, then Brit, now Slovak again Alijaz Bedene.

 

Also in the women’s event, Australian born British No.1 Johanna Konta also advances to the 2nd round.

 

Call me cynical, but are any Brits at this championship actually British ?

 

You cynic!

 

I'm afraid with the demise of Andy Murray we might be waiting a very long time before we see see his like again.

Just like the old days in the sixties when we supported Cox & Taylor. Anyone who got to week 2 was treated like a king.

 

It's hard to fathom why we can't produce more tennis players. The LTA makes a mint from this fortnight but I'm not sure that a lot of state schools play much tennis. It's still regarded as a bit of a middle-class sport which is a shame. I know we don't have the weather or that many public courts but we really ought to be doing better.

The number of eastern Europeans who play to a high standard is frightening.

[RailwayRowdy]

You cynic!

 

I'm afraid with the demise of Andy Murray we might be waiting a very long time before we see see his like again.

Just like the old days in the sixties when we supported Cox & Taylor. Anyone who got to week 2 was treated like a king.

 

It's hard to fathom why we can't produce more tennis players. The LTA makes a mint from this fortnight but I'm not sure that a lot of state schools play much tennis. It's still regarded as a bit of a middle-class sport which is a shame. I know we don't have the weather or that many public courts but we really ought to be doing better.

The number of eastern Europeans who play to a high standard is frightening.

 

Even at a local level the scale of snobbery is unbelievable.

 

As a young teenager I TRIED to enquire about joining the tennis club in Basford. I didn’t get through the outside gate before I was informed it was a PRIVATE club and I should use the public courts at Morton House May Bank or Porthill.

 

Needless to say I never bothered again.

[RailwayRowdy]

Normal pre Murray service is resumed. Before the end of day 4 at Wimbledon ‘18 and Kyle Edmund is the only “Brit” still standing.

 

I remember hearing an interview with Murray a few years ago where he said he succeeded “despite” the LTA rather than because of it.

 

Indeed his mother Judy decided that her son had to go to train in Spain to achieve his goals after the LTA had “let down” her elder son Jamie.

 

That’s not to say that in Britain tennis is an elitist sport of course.

[TheSage]

You are echoing my thoughts exactly.

We go to Eastbourne every year and watch some of the tennis there. It's a lovely atmosphere and super tournament to be part of, especially getting within touching distance of Caroline Wozniacki, but the British contingent fold like a pack of cards and seldom get far.

The prize money for a first round loser at Wimbledon is the best part of 40k so there's plenty to motivate you I would have thought.

 

But once Wimbledon is over no-one seems that bothered about tennis for another 12 months.

 

I fear that it will be a very long time again before we see another Andy Murray. I suppose Fred Perry was the best before Murray so we're going to have another very long wait and probably not ever again in my lifetime.

[RailwayRowdy]

Are all the ball boys & girls at this year’s tournament a Wilson Keppel & Betty tribute act ?

 

What’s with those hats ?

[Jacko51]

Amazing match between Anderson and Federer.

[RailwayRowdy]

On a serious note, a defeat for Federer but has there been a better grass court player in the open era ?

 

He has a fantastic serve people rarely talk about and I doubt there’s been a better backhand, maybe Laver apart.

 

The Wimbledon courts have certainly “slowed” over the last couple of decades which has helped the baseliners, but his overall game is remarkable.

 

Obviously it’s not possible, but I would love to a see a Wimbledon Championship featuring Laver, Borg, McEnroe, Sampras, Federer etc and see how these all time grass courts specialists would play each other.

 

My money would be on Federer, but I wouldn’t rule out the “iceman” Borg.

 

But my favourite would still be McEnroe !