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.

Wow - v emotional Andy after the match there. Not sure what happened to Stan though.

Wish I could have seen the match. What state was Murray in at the end? Shame he's got Edmund next. Could have done with an easier draw to give him more of a chance of a run in the tournament, if only to give him some more match play so he can gauge his recovery.

Tbh kazza, I thought he looked pretty good - not knackered anyway, although it was pretty hot obviously. He said on court afterwards that he didn't know how it was going to go, and was clearly massively pleased to win. I guess you'd have to pick Edmund to beat him just based on match fitness, but honestly - Andy could definitely win that one as well.

Hi Parkin when I was watching y'day, I kept looking at a fairly aged gentleman in the 1st row (so kept seeing him as he was behind the player as they served) and kept thinking "but he hasn't had a drop of water for hours now" - in that heat!

How long has the Beeb got Wimbledon for? I think it might be 2020 ... quite worrying to think it might not be terrestrial after that. What does Amazon do when it's a changeover - do they stay with the match - they don't have ads or anything, so they?

I have Amazon Prime (supposedly), but I can't work it. . I imagine they are the same as the BBC at change of ends?

I didn't get to see much yesterday, but I saw some of the Kvitova match- she was looking fairly comfortable.

Rafa is playing some exhibition games at the Hurlingham club this week. (where Murray was meant to play before Wimbledon last year when he'd lost early at Queen's - can't remember if he did).

It's hot here again. Dh works in Oldham , and saw effect of the fires on Saddleworth when he came home last night. It's really very bad.

Bagel I guess there is quite a big crossover between fans of tennis and fans of classic films!!

It looks a bit cooler at Eastbourne today, I think? Hopefully all Monday's spectators were ok! Raahh I saw the news report about Saddleworth last night - it looks awful.

Re Amazon prime - I just watch it on my laptop - tbh all I did was search "Eastbourne tennis" on the Amazon website and it took me straight to it. It is nice with no ads at the change of ends. There is commentator chat but that was fine - it was Robbie Koenig and someone else (! Can't remember who).

I see they are going to announce whether Serena will be seeded or not today. I think she should be (Jane was it you who said it would be good for other players as well as they won't meet her early on? Agree with that), but it's rough on Cibulkova, who would miss out on a seeding. Apparently they looked into increasing the number of seeds but it wouldn't have worked. Intrigue! I love the Wimbledon build-up.

Private I think it was magi but I agree.

Just looking at BBC news now. The smoke from the fire must be awfu. Hope everyone will be safe.

Serena is seeded 25 - and Sharapova is seeded 24!

Jane I live near Manchester airport, so about 20 miles from Saddleworth- there is a definite smell of smoke in the air , even here. DH was due to work from home today anyway, which he's glad about.

I'm annoyed they have bowed to pressure and seeded Serena. And Mcenroe is fucking rude- when he was asked if it was unfair on the number 32 seed, he apparently 'joked' 'what's her name'. Knob.

I feel sorry for Cibulkova- who has played all year and earned her ranking. I think it's very wrong- and it will be even worse if Serena isn't actually fit enough and loses early anyway.

Private Sharapova is 22 in the world rankings, so her seeding is understandable. And at least she has played a number of tournaments this year, unlike Serena who has played 3 since her 'comeback'.

I still can't believe it is nearly Wimbledon though- it just doesn't seem that long since last year!

Yes the whole seeding thing just seems a bit mad. Also I'd thought Serena would just be seeded 32 or not at all - I didn't know she could be bumped up further. I suppose it's just the organisers' "discretion".

Can't believe McEnroe. Hasn't he learnt his lesson?? (Obviously not)

At least it's not in the top 8 or 16, which Mac was wanting the other day .

The men know that with Wimbledon (unlike everywhere else) their world ranking is not how the seeding is decided. They use a special formula based on the last 2 year's performance, in conjunction with the WR. So, Roger is 1 and Rafa , 2. It also means Djok is bumped up from 21-ish to 12, and Raonic has been given a big boost from 31 to 13, for example.

But the women don't do that, it follows the current WTA rankings. Or should, unless there is a good reason to do otherwise.

The Boodles is on the Free Sports UK channel if anyone has that. I was just watching Delpo and Taylor Fritz, who seems like a very nice young man

Oh, yes, Fritz is one of the new breed of young Americans, isn't he, that they are pinning their hopes on over there. He's had some good results.

I'm watching Konta, on the red button, due to the football, Wozniacki has drawn the match level at a set a piece now.

Well, I've just heard (that after saying Kvitova looked ok yesterday) she withdrew with a hamstring injury today!

Hopefully she'll be fine for Wimbledon.
Raahh I keep meaning to say I'm so pleased about Raonic's seeding! I think the fact he was in the final is often overlooked and he's rarely in the conversation - I know he's had lots of injuries - but it's nice that it's acknowledged.

Private I agree- and he recently reached the final in Stuttgart, where Roger didn't have it all his way.

2017 really did turn out to be a bit of a crap year for some players who had had really good year the year before. Raonic was defintely on the up in 2016.

Just listening to Murray v Edmund on r5 live extra - that’s about as technical as I get!

Edmund just taken first set 6-4.

I can understand why serena being seeded will protect some players in the early rounds but I still think it’s unfair that she seems to get special treatment. The WTA need to make a decision for all players.

One of the reasons McEnroe wanted her to be seeded was to increase the viewing figures for Wimbledon in USA, probably where he is commentating.

I'm glad Caroline Wozniacki won her match.

Come on andy!!

Ah I wish the men's was on BBC.

I see Chickenato will be playing Milkman in the next round

They’ve put the cricket in radio 5 now - I’ve given up

I too wish it was being shown on the bbc Jane

Clare Balding thinks Andy isn't moving well. I hope he will be at Wimbledon.

Fizzy yes, I read that about Mac/NBC. When Serena plays , it can increase audiences for them by 50%. whilst they haven't got top men to focus on, they are clinging to Serena.

US broadcasting influences a lot of things in tennis. It's not right really.

They were talking about Murray earlier- and the fact he's walking funny isn't always an indicator of how well he is . He's always had a bit of an awkward gait.

Surely Clare how's more about the movement of horses than tennis players?