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Original poster

To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?

140 replies

CoffeeCantata · 12/07/2024 18:39

I love watching Wimbledon and so much about it is excellent but...

The poor Linesmen/women! Those horrible outfits suit absolutely no-one and are totally inappropriate for the job. Whatever their physique, this gear just doesn't seem to fit any of them. Shirts with contrasting collars, ties (for goodness' sake!) and badly-cut trousers. How about a smart polo shirt and either shorts or culottes?

Why do the ball-girls have to wear skirts? Why not shorts like the boys? Seems a bit outmoded.

The umpires' chairs are magnificent structures, affording excellent views and with multiple shelves and all kinds of devices attached - they want for nothing. But the players!! Two miserable plastic chairs?? Why can't they have a specially designed unit featuring a cushioned seat, an integrated, lidded cool-box and shelves for all their stuff? It seems they just have to dump all their stuff around them - very untidy and a bit 'school sports day'.

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KatyaKabanova · 13/07/2024 17:03

Tumblingjungleofchaos · 13/07/2024 16:54

While people are reading this, can I give a shout out to the wheelchair tennis players. Such skill and athleticism to manoeuvre their chairs while playing amazing tennis. It's very exciting to watch! The only thing I'd change about Wimbledon would be to massively increase their prize money.

Give Alfie some support tomorrow if you're there please!

Good call. I watched the women's final and it was amazing! Such skill and strength.

Runningupthecurtains · 13/07/2024 17:01

Churchview · 13/07/2024 16:42

Eh, that's weird. Why would I not be?
I've been on MN a while and you can read my other posts.
I'm an RHS qualified gardener, have run my own gardening business and am often on the gardening/garden related boards.

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Because you don't seem to understand that there is nothing, literally nothing, that can be done to make grass survive the type of pounding it takes at Wimbledon. You can see that it is due to wear as it is in set areas - the places where the vast majority of the play takes place.
That is why the wear patterns are pretty much identical on both sides of the net.

To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?
Tumblingjungleofchaos · 13/07/2024 16:54

While people are reading this, can I give a shout out to the wheelchair tennis players. Such skill and athleticism to manoeuvre their chairs while playing amazing tennis. It's very exciting to watch! The only thing I'd change about Wimbledon would be to massively increase their prize money.

Give Alfie some support tomorrow if you're there please!

Churchview · 13/07/2024 16:42

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 16:34

Aye …,course you are 🙄

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Eh, that's weird. Why would I not be?
I've been on MN a while and you can read my other posts.
I'm an RHS qualified gardener, have run my own gardening business and am often on the gardening/garden related boards.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 13/07/2024 16:38

wizzler · 12/07/2024 23:35

There are beautifully dressed people at Wimbledon but there are also a lot of people who dress for comfort. There are exquisitely posh restaurants and there are queues for pizza. I like the contrast of it all

That said, I agree that the linesman's outfits did no one any favours despite being high end designer

Yes, this. I am one of those dressed for comfort as I will usually have queued overnight for a Centre or No 1 court ticket. I'm not remotely posh, don't have a tennis court in my garden (I don't even have a garden), and have never felt out of place at Wimbledon.

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 16:34

Churchview · 13/07/2024 15:39

I'm a gardener by trade. There my interest ends.

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Aye …,course you are 🙄

Churchview · 13/07/2024 16:28

Well they have all year to choose the most robust grass mix, improve the drainage, it's a world class venue and they must have the best resources available regarding materials, fertilizer, under soil systems, watering methods, substrates etc. I realise during the Wimbledon competition it's being played on all day but they have all year to get it ready.

It was just a comment really. Perhaps nothing can be done about it, but it just struck me. Especially when you look at the grass on golf courses, race courses etc - all gets a pasting, all looks better than that.

Still - thanks for replying everyone and I hope you enjoy the tennis.

Tumblingjungleofchaos · 13/07/2024 16:11

@Churchview when do you expect them to "sort" the grass when it's being played on for seevral hours a day every day??

Sahara123 · 13/07/2024 15:54

What do people suggest they do about the grass? At the beginning of the fortnight it’s immaculate, after two weeks inevitably it’s going to be worn, you can see the heaviest wear at the baseline. How could that be avoided , plastic grass ?(ducks)🤣

MirandaWest · 13/07/2024 15:53

Helps if I include the picture

To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?
KatyaKabanova · 13/07/2024 15:53

MirandaWest · 13/07/2024 15:51

The grass starts off very green. Over the two weeks there are parts of it that are stood on more and so those parts get more worn.

Yes, that was explained upthread, but perhaps if you're not a tennis fan it doesn't make sense!

MirandaWest · 13/07/2024 15:53

In the 80s there was more colour in people's tops quite often.

This is Steffi Graf in 1988

Runningupthecurtains · 13/07/2024 15:52

Churchview · 13/07/2024 15:45

I thought other people would be boggling at the state of the grass too. Just me.

Well no because most people understand that grass that has people running and jumping on it for 6+ hours a day for 14 days isn't going to be pristine 🙄

MirandaWest · 13/07/2024 15:51

The grass starts off very green. Over the two weeks there are parts of it that are stood on more and so those parts get more worn.

Churchview · 13/07/2024 15:45

I thought other people would be boggling at the state of the grass too. Just me.

Churchview · 13/07/2024 15:39

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 12:51

Well you do have some interest in it….cos you taken a great deal of interest in the grass🙄

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I'm a gardener by trade. There my interest ends.

ClaudiaWinklepanda · 13/07/2024 14:37

The white trousers make me nervous, if I was mid peri-menopausal period I couldn’t do the hands on knees thing without some serious carnage.

tigger1001 · 13/07/2024 14:14

logicisall · 13/07/2024 10:08

Its a very upper class atmosphere with most people probably having their own tennis courts. I think I'm middle class but I've never felt such a pleb. I don't get it.

Well I've been there and didn't feel like a pleb at all and I'm very much not upper class. Your feeling of inferiority is a you issue.

I hope Wimbledon never changes too much. I've also been to the US Open too, and these events are all about enjoying the tennis, not measuring yourself against other fans.

I agree with this.

I've been a few times. Never felt like a pleb. Loved it all in fact. Yes some do get very dressed up. But plenty don't. Going for comfort for the long day rather than glamour.

Runningupthecurtains · 13/07/2024 13:57

jellymaker · 12/07/2024 23:08

I went last week. I felt like I had stepped into the set of Brideshead Revisited and Sebastian was around every corner. The umpires and lines men looked ridiculous with their white trousers. A lot of spectators were dressed very smartly. Men in suits and women in dresses you would wear to a wedding. Several high end shops are in the grounds. Its a very upper class atmosphere with most people probably having their own tennis courts. I think I'm middle class but I've never felt such a pleb. I don't get it.

I was finally lucky in the ballot this year. As you can see from the photo there was a huge range of clothing on show. Just like any other summer event. It could have been school sports day or the village dog show. I'm both 'common' and gasp 'northern' and didn't feel at all that I didn't belong. The famous strawberries cost a very reasonable £2.50 and we noticed fish and chips and pizza on sale - hardly the preserve of the upper classes.

To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?
KatyaKabanova · 13/07/2024 12:54

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 12:51

Well you do have some interest in it….cos you taken a great deal of interest in the grass🙄

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😂

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 12:53

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 13/07/2024 11:23

Either way they're still volunteers.

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The kids get 200 quid each and are allowed to keep their RL …..which many of them put on eBay and make a good few ( hundred) quid

Kitkat1523 · 13/07/2024 12:51

Churchview · 13/07/2024 10:01

Like I say, not interest in it at all. Just thought they have all year, a shed load of money and the best groundsman and the best they can manage is like the bit under the swing in the garden.

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Well you do have some interest in it….cos you taken a great deal of interest in the grass🙄

NooNakedJacuzziness · 13/07/2024 12:43

I really hope they don't get rid of the line judges - everything is so soulless nowadays

MistyMountainTop · 13/07/2024 12:25
  • *and local parkland concreted over

It's a golf course that we locals haven't been allowed on