Tennis: The sun is out, the sky is blue, the grass is green and Wimbledon is calling

[kazzaD66]

And welcome to Queen's

Thank you all- I have just woken up having taken a tablet earlier that I knew would knock me out. I feel a bit woozy now.

I'm going through the matches - the Shapo/Kohlshreiber match looks lie it has been a tough one. I feel sorry for Kohlshreiber- he's a decent 'journeyman' player. A couple of times, just out side the seedings- and apparently has lot in the forst round 4/5 times in the last 5 years. Not surprising, when I think he's comeup aginst Djok twice.

I did have Shapo down as one of the players who was starting to look good on grass- but I think lack of experience is showing in this match.

We can hear you!!

Having said that, he is winning (Shapo) and could win it in 4.

PHH and his top knot are playing Andujar - I suppose Pablo is more of a clay court player- but PHH doesn't have much luck in singles.

I noticed yesterday a few of the women are now favouring 'messy buns'. Maybe it's a post-lockdown thing

Not like the days when 70% of them had plaits.

Any chance of slipping some of those tablets into Djok's dates Raahh?

Buzarnescu seems to have woken up. Come on Venus!

Yay!

We need something to happen, don't we, because much as I like lots of players- I just can't see any beating him. Even Federer has failed in 4(?) finals.

It's raining now- and I'd just checked on the Zverev score. The covers are coming on. He is on court 1 though- so the roof should be on -eventually.

No interview for Venus? I guess the people we could hear on the walkie talkie didn't get there in time!

Is that Lee McKenzie. She sounds like someone just shoved her in front of the mic when it started raining

She seemed a bit vague about what time play started on centre and no 1 courts!

Carol’s got her umbrella of doom! We seem to have the opposite weather to Wimbledon - it’s warm and sunny here now!

We do too Fizzy. It was roasting here yesterday. It's a bit cloudier today. I have a photo of some years back where I was watching the women's final which was in blazing sunshine and had a fire going because it was so cold here!

Fizzy I think the whole staggered start thing has confused a few people.

We've got warm weather- after being a bit damp at 7-ish, by 9, it was really hot.

Just seen that Benoit lost his match 6-0 in the third and got a code violation for lack of effort - I’m sure his first round loser’s cheque will still come in handy …

So much for doing his best!

The Evans/Lopez match was a bit flat, which was a shame, sad to see Lopez not playing at his best, he has such incredible volleys.

Seriously fizzy ?!
Benoit is an arse of the highest order

He looked like he was in a bit of pain Tall

I don't know anything about Sascha's opponent except that he has an amazing name.

Jane I remember Griekspoor played Murray in Davis Cup in 2019. He was very unlucky to lose the match, actually.

Benoit really is an idiot. I don't think they should even give him the money for losing. I mean, nice little earner to merrily go from one place to anpther, because you've done enough to keep your ranking points up - and then lose straight away.
It's all the ones that have slogged through qualifying I feel sorry for.

It will bite him in the arse, when the rankings go back to normal, and he starts to lose points. Can't see many places falling over themselves to give him wild cards when he's dropped off the radar.

Watching the Barty match (and yes- Bingo! Sam has just told us she used to play cricket)

Lovely tribute to Evonne Goolagong- Cawley- her dress is based on the one she wore when she won in 1971. They are really good friends apparently.

Aswell as the other players working hard and just missing out on a place in the draw instead of Paire, there's also the paying public who have paid for their ticket and travel expenses expecting to see a match where these (often) pampered prince's put some bloody effort in!
Paire moaned that he hated playing (I use the term loosely ) when there were no spectators, but at least they weren't throwing their money away on the watching a thrown match

kazza I know- I mean, I get no spectators in Monte Carlo was not great- but to say it was like playing in a cemetary was ridiculous. He is becoming more and more ridiculous, though- and it's a shame- when he's playing well, he can be a lot of fun.

It was almost pointless coming back after last night to resume the match.

Tuna and cucumber sounds lovely Andrew

Benoit posted this yesterday so I think his head is not in a good place!

Well done Sascha.