To think that Wimbledon needs to up its game?

[CoffeeCantata]

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'.

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

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.

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 🙄

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

This is Steffi Graf in 1988

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

Helps if I include the picture

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)🤣

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

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.

Aye …,course you are 🙄

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

I'm a gardener not a groundsman - there are many different areas of horticulture and not many people know it all.

Sports pitches are not an area in which I have any experience. I was just genuinely surprised that it's so worn but I can see exactly what you mean.

@Churchview there was some beautiful horticulture on display too.

The nature of tennis focuses immense amounts of stress on a few square feet of turf unlike many sports where the play is more random or evenly spread.

@Runningupthecurtains That's stunning. Much more up my street.
Been reading up on the turf and it seems the modern faster style of game is much harder on the grass too.

Oh but they are though!

Very unsuitable for their purpose and dated. The poor linespeople look as though they've come out of a 1980s office meeting.

KatyaKabanova
It doesn't matter if you'd prefer to wear shorts as a teenager.

What a funny thing to say!

I don't suppose much of what any of us say on here matters - we're expressing opinions, and as private citizens, I guess none of them matter very much.

But they can be interesting to read and think about, to put it no higher than that.

It's not a funny thing to say. It's my opinion.
The ball girls are perfectly appropriately and modestly dressed.

Well, duh!

It was indeed - it's been called "the most promising child of the Gothic Revival", and I agree.

And although its heyday was before the First World War, the A & C aesthetic was still hugely influential in the 20s, especially in terms of domestic architecture - look at the 'Metroland' building of the 20s and 30s. It started off, as many movements do, as an elite style which gradually filtered down in a diluted form to everyone.

You're being inconsistent though. You say that my opinion doesn't matter - but yours does? That's illogical.

None of our opinions matters, or all of them do - this is just a discussion!

But it's hilariously typical of aibu - people can get stewed up about the most mild and innocent things. Oh dear.

I don't think they are volunteers. I recall reading an interview with a professional linesman about this job and how he got into it.

I would have thought there would be progression from line judge to umpire so it's a shame if the role of linesman is being phased out.

I've been several times and absolutely love it. Tennis is the only sport I'm interested in. Sadly haven't had any luck in the ballot in recent years.
I've never felt it's too upper class. Obviously those in the debenture seats are somewhat more privileged than the rest of us, but they are greatly outnumbered by the tennis fans.
It's a lovely day out and imo very reasonably priced although that may have changed since I've last been. £80 for two tickets last time I went - a bargain for a great day out for two.