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.

Bizarrely, once again , the defending champion match (Garbine ) is hidden on the red button (number 5). Very odd.

The defending champion match was always the first match they showed on the BBC in the old days, men on the Monday, women on the Tuesday. Usually at 2pm. After the 'proper' Wimbledon music.

Yes and not that long ago either. But it could actually be years!

I think he's chasing squirrels on his sleep- he keeps twitching.

Jane the mind plays tricks , doesn't? It is probably years since they showed matches how I think they did.

Delpo is getting quite irate - I need my Spanish speaking DS to translate - he’s not happy about the call. Just need him to focus and finish off the match.

I would have thought the defending women’s match would have been shown on main channel - who knows who’s behind the weird scheduling.

Istomin is playing Kyrgios - very early days. NIck appears to be moaning about something already. I'm not watching- come on Denis!

Kyrgios moaning? Surely not

When did Wimbledon stop starting at 2pm? Feels like not long along Although is probably longer than I’d like to think

He's not on a show court- they are trying to minimise that by saying he likes playing to cheap seats (he likes the Hisense arena in Australia, for example). I actually think he is pissed off by this.

Miranda it's odd, isn't ? I remember looking up (last year)when they stopped playing the 'proper' Wimbledon theme tune- and it's about 8 years ago, or something equally bizarre.

It's probably years since they changed the 2pm thing!

Yay! Delpo!

Gulbis is two sets up. He's behaving himself!

Garbine doing well.

Broady not disgracing herself- but she's not going to win.

Edmund won a comfortable first set.

Zverev match has just started.

I've just been reading in The Telegraph about Roger changing his sponsor and they had this quote:
One woman on centre court said: "He's still very dashing isn't he? He's always been my favourite." The woman didn't want to be named in case her husband saw this.

Edmund 2nd set- 0 unforced errors, 100% points won on first serve. He's got to be happy with that. For an attacking player, 0 unforced errors

Too much tennis! Can’t choose which one to watch - Kyle seems to be doing well. Might catch a bit of Zverev - it seems weird watching him on grass.

ferrier Kyle is looking very good indeed.

I am, as expected, tying myself in knots going between matches.

Fun, though.

Bolt is rather less like his Jamaican name sake (but he's been through qualifying and may have run out of steam).

And Garbine is through.

Shame about the Istomin match- both sets going to tie breaks- and Kyrgios taking both.

Gulbis match going the distance. Good going by Jay.

Jay Clarke doing well - all square in the fifth set against gulbis (nice beard)

Now for Rafa.

If I can find him!

Hello fellow tennis folks!

Well we survived Dante's Inferno, otherwise known as Centre Court! 40 degrees court side according to DH phone app 😱😱
We were in Block 204 and our Row JUST crept into the shade after about an hour. It was the hottest I've ever been on CC and lots of people around us saying the same.
The roar Fed received on arrival was spine tingling but the match itself was little more than a practice session. Some lovely Fed strokes for the crowd to oooohhhh at but not at all competitive.

Did some zooming in on Fed's Player Box, and Mirka looked great, plus twins made an appearance. Saw Mirka just casually wandering around with one of the twin boys after the match, smiling at anyone who said hello to her. Very cool.

So many people in the queue seats just below us in full Fed Fan gear. 👀

Anyway, thank heavens for the women's match as we scooted off to get some lunch and spend more time than necessary in the air conditioned shop before heading back for Stan V Grigor. Brilliant match, Grigor seemed to play first set with a game plan but as soon as Stan started fighting back Grigor seemed at a loss. I would say 75 per cent fo the crowd was for Stan and it was truly exciting. We were also fully shaded by now so much more comfortable.

The crowds seem to get bigger every year, it's quite challenging to move around, so we stayed close to CC and didn't venture very far.

Anyone who is going, please take a refillable water bottle, as there are plenty of water points to top up and I would say a hat is essential, especially if you are anywhere other than Centre.

I'm quite glad to be watching on TV today! We were shattered when we got home!