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.

Thanks for the recipes, magimedi. I'm already relying on the ready pouches, luckily I love lentils, put especially, and rice as well.)

And thank you for the reminder, had completely forgotten I had them! That will sort out tonight at least.

Sabalenka was very loud and the umpire warned her/asked her to tone it down a few times (didn't see full match).

Re. relying on family. It struck me during the docu they did on Serena a few years ago, that she travelled with family (mother, sisters, aunts) and was so reliant on them, it was like a very extended childhood. Suppose it's changed a bit now she's married and a mother herself.

I bet a million (Mumsnet virtual) pounds that Stan v Grigor will be on Centre on Monday, which I am delighted about!

Sorry for both that they had to meet so early, but this is one of the most interesting things about this year's W, the top guys not in their usual slots. Stan, Djokovic, Murray etc have to fight their way through the draw in a different way.

I will take some photos (only have my phone) and post them here if anyone is interested.
I'm almost betting that Serena will be on CC, if only for the fact she didn't get to open play last year, when she was the reigning champ.

Might be controversial but I would rather see all men's matches than suffer Serena! Good point earlier about Azarenka should have been seeded. Her position has been complicated because her shitty ex wouldn't let her take their son out of the US, so she missed a load of tournaments whilst that fight was going on.
Bet she posts on the Ukraine Mumsnet Relationships or AIBU boards. 😀

Thanks for those recipes Magi I am totally using the lentils and feta one.

Although not a Serena fan, I like Venus. Maybe she will be on CC?

I like Venus too.

I think I'm going to have to keep the volume low for this final!

Well done Caroline. Sabalenka seems lovely.

She did , didn't she Jane.?

I'm pleased Wozniakci won this week.

Too hot for me today, and I'm suffering with a migraine. Which I hope will have gone by Monday!

She did seem lovely. I think she has a great future. Very pleased for Caroline, I like her.

Raahh hope your poor head feels better soon.

It's a bit cooler here today thank goodness, 27° down from 31° yesterday.

Pleased for Caroline but I really like Sabalenka.

Do you realise that there is NO tomorrow?

I've heard from some friends who are in The Queue, which doesn't officially start until 8am tomorrow. They were in the road but have now been moved into the park. They've travelled from Switzerland!

Already there are more people present than the 500 Centre Court tickets available.

Every person they've spoken to is queuing for Federer, and would not have bothered if he hadn't been playing.

People are going bonkers on Twitter because they were planning to get there tomorrow!

Has anyone been reading/watching any Wimbledon predictions/previews? Everyone seems to be picking Federer and Serena... (Apart from thread favourite Sam Smith, who mentioned Wozniaki, Stephens, Kvitova...) Yawn though if it's the Roger and Serena show again. Give someone else a go will you?!

Getting excited for Wimbledon now although realistically not sure how much I’ll see what with work and the holiday etc but will try and see as much as possible.

I’m hoping that Rafa will be playing on Tuesday as I’ve got a free afternoon then. I love seeing the first match on centre court when the crowd go quiet and the umpire says ‘play’.

one can’t believe that people have been queuing up since yesterday - they must be very hot! Hope you enjoy your time at Wimbledon.

I didn’t get tickets this year but will probably try again next year.

Sounds as if Andy Murray still not sure if he’ll be playing - I think if he’s that undecided he should withdraw now and let someone else have a chance.

Sam Smith is definitely becoming my favourite person in the world. She seemed pissed off with everyone this week. I think the main thing- and I thought it too- was the focus was taken away from the women at Eastbourne, which is a higher level tournament for the women than it is for the men (it's only a 250 for the men ).

It became all about Murray at the beginning of the week- and rightly, Sam wanted to keep it about the women. She was talking about it with Claire Balding, before the final yesterday (who , again , wanted to bring things back to Murray and his comeback- that's not why the BBC were there).

I also think Fizzy that an 11th hour withdrawal from Murray is not unlikely, and would be fair, really.

Private the Roger /Serena show thing pisses me off. There are 256 players across both singles draws. But you won't know it- it will either be either be all about Roger- with endless videos of Murray fist pumping inbetween (until he loses) -or waffling about Serena, and how brave she is.

But I'm so excited! I don't care who I watch tomorrow! I just want it to start now! .

Ooh Serena is on court 1!

Raahh I know, it's so frustrating. I love that tennis is so high profile here for these two weeks, but it's about so much more than Roger and Serena, and I don't know why media can't put some of the other players in front of viewers/readers from time to time.
Btw. I actually think Rafa has a good shot at it if he doesn't run into any big servers, and I think most of them aren't on his side of the draw.

I'm so excited too. It's like Christmas Eve!

Also (sorry about all the posts, am definitely over-excited ) I completely agree about Eastbourne being about the women - it's the main grass court event for the women, the men have already had Queens by that stage! Go Sam!!

AN interesting article in the paper today (think it was Pat Cash) saying how exciting it was when Boris Becker burst on the scene & how, great though they are, it would be nice to have a change from Rafa & Roger winning everything.

I am a great Murray fan but I hope he goes out early as: a) he's not going to win it. b) I get so sick of all the blether about him.

Magi I love the word blether

Private Rafa always down plays his chances, and he knows grass has been hard for him over the years, especially coming off a heavy clay season.

But- the last time Roger was seeded number 1 at Wimbledon was 2010 (also, same as this year, he was seeded ahead of Rafa , even though Rafa was world number 1).

And who won that year?...

(Spain also won the World cup)

Could be an omen

Or a load of coincidental rubbish .

I actually think Cilic could have a really good chance, and I'm not actually discounting Novak to go far if he's fit enough.

I want Halep to have a good run for the women, and I love seeing Muguruza do well. There are a lot of women who appear from nowhere, do well, and then disappear, on the tour though. It's hard to keep up.

I'm delighted Serena is on Court 1. Should really be a non-show court altogether, but that's too much to hope for. No doubt there will be someone complaining about it.

I'm baffled by the Roger hate on here, he's the reigning Champion so there has to be a lot of focus on him, and he is good value for the media as he always gives considered interviews.

At the French Open, the focus was all on Rafa, quite rightly, given his dominance of that event, but other stories emerge as the tournament progresses.

I think many Brits think tennis is only Wimbledon. There is a whole annual tour out there, so the themes ebb and flow depending on the tournament.

The issue with Serena is her recent dominance and there is no one on the female side with equivalent narrative. Yet. Again, that will emerge over the tournament.
Sadly, the media has to try and sum up the tournament ahead of it actually happening! Hence the emphasis on the past.

For PP above, Rafa's half of the draw will play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday of the first week.
One thing I love about Wimbledon is the precise format of the Order of Play, with alternate days. Unlike the bloody French Open who have the First Round over three days so you can't properly plan to see your favourites!

Magi I think we must read the same paper! I just can’t see any off the new players coming through at Wimbledon this year - most of them are clay court players.

I also think it could be Rafa’s turn this year (hope I’m not going to jinx him). He’s not really been mentioned as a possible contender. I also think that Cilic has a chance - his win at queens will have given him a confidence boost.

Yes, definitely excited - I want it to start now as well!

Ooh I don't hate Roger One! Or Serena for that matter. Far from it. I'm just saying the coverage we get here tends to focus on him and Murray, I do realise why! But when I saw all those previews this morning and they all picked him for the title, it just made me think: is there no-one else they can put into the mix?!

I think Pat Cash is right. I'd love to see someone burst into SW19 and take it by the scruff of the neck, wowing the crowd with masses of exuberance, unbelievable diving volleys and extremely short shorts But I think Boris was a one-off, in many ways.

I wonder if Tsitipas could make an impression this year. I know he's another unknown quantity on grass but I think he could do quite well. And I'm hoping Richard Gasquet will do well too - and he's just won a title on grass IIRC.

PS ha I just realised my last post made it sound like I thought Gasquet could win the title. (Now that I would like to see!) I don't, but I think he could have a good run if he gets past Monfils.

Thanks Private, most posts are measured and maybe 'hater' is too strong.
Cards on the table, I do mainly support Roger, but I like a lot of other players too. Oddly, I don't see him winning it this year, simply because so many others are in the mix.
Coric is a real threat for him, lurking in the last 16. Nadal's draw suits him, again at least into the second week. However, there are always surprises, like Muller. Who would have predicted that before the tournament began.
Like others I think Djokovic is playing himself back into form. Cilic has got the grass game, and I would love Sascha Zverev to have a good slam.

With Serena, I was never a fan because of the way she spoke to that line judge at the US Open, however, I have felt more for her this year, given her horrific childbirth experience and her comeback. I do prefer Venus, who battles every day with an auto immune condition and is still a contender.

I see I've got Wozniacki on Centre tomorrow, was secretly hoping for Vekic v Stephens as the Women's Match, but I will love every minute.

The Women's Match at least gives us a space to go and have some lunch/tea!

Hope you have a fab day One - looking forward to hearing about it if you get the chance!! Sorry if I came across too negatively about Roger - I really do appreciate his many talents, but I always like the idea of a "changing of the guard" - not sure how likely that is but we'll see. No-one is really talking about Zverev are they - but I heard he has been injured/not v well since the French - not sure if that's right though.

Also, it was great to see Mischa win a title yesterday! Love his style of play.

I would have expected the Stephens match to be on Centre as well, but I can understand the choice of Caro, as she is a Slam champ now of course, and on form. Does anyone think she could win the tournament? I tend to think a big hitter is more likely on the women's side, but she definitely has a chance I think...

Oh, have a great day, One ! Hope it's not too warm!

I've just noticed it's gone a bit cloudy here. Still like an oven though.

I just hope I get to watch something. I've a feeling the school run will get in the way of things.

I don't intend to end up in hospital during this tournament though!