TENNIS THREAD- Grass season is in full swing, stock up on strawberries and Pimms!

[Raahh]

at magi's request here is the first grass thread ( we will probably need more than one!).

Can't believe it time for Queen's again. Hope the weather holds out- bit gloomy in the north west.

( can't link to other thread as on my phone).

See you all later- the only thing I'm not looking forward to is the likelihood it will be Mr Castle in the commentary box.

Am just doing some baking (not sure why I thought that was a good idea... am sweltering) and then I'm going to commandeer the TV...

Wow well done Coric - I do like Roger but surely even he can’t go on forever?

I’ve come inside now to watch the queens final - feel as if I’m the only person in the world not watching footy - apart from everyone on here of course

Private - it’s my DS2’s birthday tomorrow and he wants a home made cake - I agree it is too hot to be baking.

Just had a late lunch in the garden and now come in to watch tennis. It's the battle of the ball bouncers! I wish they'd both get on with it and serve! Oh great, Mohammed is umpiring! Even my teenage DS (who never swears) said "this umpire is really p*ing me off. Why does he take so long to call the score? He says Advantage, waits 5 seconds, then Djokovic - why does he do that, mum?

The umpire does seem to be bigging his part up a bit Kazza

Uh oh Djokovic has won the first set and Cilic seems to be losing the plot a bit in the second set - might go and sit in the garden for a bit.

Game on, come on Cilic!

I have just got home, am glad to see that Marin has drawn level (my phone died when I was out).

Come on Marin!

Yay! well deserved I think.Well done Marin.

Yay! So pleased for him. He seems a bit different this yr - I was expecting he 'd be nervous serving it out, but no. Really interesting ahead of Wimbledon...

Well done Marin!

Why did I decide to make a roast dinner today?

A Fever Tree hamper?! It sounds like a prize from the school summer fair!

Well, not from our school fair - but a posh one

Marin seems a nice guy. But secretly ruthless i reckon.

Yay well done Marin - he’s got a really nice smile. I want a Fever-Tree hamper!

I am really chuffed for Marin- he is proving to people that he has got where he i on merit, and is a really good player.

A Croatian double today- Goran would be be absolutely beside himself!

Well done Marin, pulled it out the bag. Can I have a Fever Tree hamper, please?

A disappointing weekend for me.

Roger didn't seem his usual self all week so I hope he can get over whatever is bothering him (I know he said tiredness, hopefully that is all it is) before Wimbledon.

Also really enjoyed seeing Novak back to something like his old form. I'm not a fan particularly of his personality (his attempts to get fans on his side for example and his sour grapes at Roger and Rafa being more feted than him) but I much prefer his style of play (crafts the points more and less defensive) to that of Andy and Rafa. Also prefer it to the big servers - one of whom was/is Cilic. Having said that, Cilic has improved the rest of his game enormously over the last couple of years so I do kind of enjoy watching him now, but more on clay than the other surfaces.

I think Cilic is one of the most underrated guys out there. He only made 30-odd per cent of his first serves in that first set, and still won the match, so I think it's definitely true to say he's not just about the serve! You don't win a match like that without being a great grass court player, and he is. I don't think Djokovic is quite back to his best but you can see the confidence coming back.

I think Fed is a bit of an unknown quantity coming into Wimbledon, isn't he? He didn't play that well in Halle by his standards, but I presume he'll be his usual self by Wimbledon! Really looking forward to it (as always) - I really hope we get a new champ on the men's side.

I wonder how Djokovic will do at Wimbledon? Is he up to best of 5 yet? Hmm. Could be interesting.
Also I presume Rafa will definitely be there? Haven't heard much about him since the French.

Saw the advert for Wimbledon on bbc1 this morning - starting to get excited!

I agree that Cilic is underrated and feel a bit sorry for him - he was no 1 seed at queen’s but everyone seemed more concerned with kyrgios and Djokovic.

I think Roger will be more fired up for Wimbledon but apart from the last few weeks he’s not really had much match practise. He is also getting on a bit in tennis terms - wonder how often his age will be mentioned at Wimbledon.

Fingers crossed that Rafa will be ok for Wimbledon. They’re doing the seedings tomorrow.

Does anyone know if any of the men’s eastbourne matches are on tv?

Private Rafa has been training in Mallorca- there was a women's tournament there last week, on grass (Uncle Toni is the tournament director, iirc),and Rafa was on the practice courts. I think he might be coming over to do some exhibition matches this week, but I'm not sure.

Not sure about Djok- there were moments against Chardy that his mind wandered a bit, but he does seem to be re-gaining some form. Definitely totally different to how he seemed at RG. He needs to stop trying to get the crowd on side though, it's getting really cringey.

I saw an article earlier discussing Serena, and seeding. I realised it's all gone a bit quiet about her. I wonder what she will wear (majorly important question).

fizzy the men's Eastbourne matches are only on Amazon prime But 5 live extra has radio commentary on the Andy v Stan match later.

That's true about Cilic but I wonder if it's to his advantage to go under the radar a bit?

On the Tennis Podcast today they were saying favourites for Wimbledon (men's) are Fed, Cilic, Djokovic! They said Rafa was an unknown quantity as he hasn't played in the run-up.

I haven't seen the BBC trailer yet - will look out for it!

I just ordered something from Amazon - and you can get Prime for a week's trial for 99p (incl free delivery for the item) so I signed up! Now I just need to remember to cancel it...

Private i got stung a few years ago because I didn't cancel Prime. That was a shock

Raahh - yes exactly! I know I'll forget so I've put a reminder in my calendar!! And even then I'll probably manage not to do it!

I think my DS1 has amazon prime - will see if I can also use it (not very techy here!)

Apparently John McEnroe thinks that serena should be seeded for Wimbledon - I don’t see why things should be different for her. Other players have had babies and not had their ranking protected.

Yes private it probably does suit Cilic to be under the radar a bit but I still think he should get a bit more recognition.

In first world problems I will be on holiday in Mallorca for the second week of Wimbledon (holiday planning fail!) does anyone know if Wimbledon is usually shown in Spain and which channels?