Tennis

[alywin]

radio commentary is a problem area for tennis.

It really doesn't have to be: some of the ball-by-ball commentary is excellent in the depth of its coverage. And perhaps I should go and listen to Andy Murray playing while I type this ...

[Lat-Literal]

I remember going to watch Davis Cup and Wightman Cup (ladies', US vs. GB) matches at the RAH, back around 1980. Even if they *had* shrunk the court slightly for the "golden oldies" matches which the place now hosts, I can't see that they could have done so for professional-level matches. Given how important the geometry of the court is to players, I'm sure it would have thrown them right off their game if that had been the case: serves missing the lines, and so on. Actually, I did hear of an instance where some player or other was so totally perturbed because his shots kept unexpectedly going out that the court was re-measured, and found to be several inches too small! Can't remember where or when this was, although I think it was fairly recently.

It really doesn't have to be: some of the ball-by-ball commentary is excellent in the depth of its coverage. And perhaps I should go and listen to Andy Murray playing while I type this ...

Think that may have been the year I went to the Braniff Airways World Doubles Championships at Olympia.

My only indoor venue so I wasn't able to make any sort of comparison.

On radio commentary, pleasant memories of Max Robertson whose wife was, appropriately, the creator of the Wombles.

Alas, no clips.

[Lancashire Lass]

John Inverdale. What is the point?

I can't have been the only person watching Murray v Del Potro yesterday who was shouting at the TV, not so much "Come on Andy!" but "Shut up Inverdale!"

He just talked and talked and talked, vacuous, often repetitive, prattle that not only added nothing to the match but completely detracted from it. He lacks the experience and insight of a professional player, so all he can come up with is cliches like "the seventh game of the set is the most important", or stating the obvious or bigging up each stags of the match -- "this is a really pivotal point" -- as if such a dramatic game needed that.

Dramatic tennis speaks for itself, and while informed comments can enhance the viewers' experience, they need to be pithy. Inverdale seems to think that odd oases of silence are vacuums that have to be filled, and he's the man to fill them!

As for his complete lack of respect for others, he barely let John Lloyd -- by comparison, a fount of wisdom -- get a word in. He was still yak-yakking when Del Potro served at match point, a very quick point as he served an ace, by which time Inverdale had successfully distracted much of the audience from the ultimate -- if disappointing for GB fans -- climax of the match.

Then there's the "tempting fate" remarks. I know there's been flak for Andrew Castle on these pages, but Inverdale is in a class of his own.

Early in the game, when it was already clear that Murray faced an uphill struggle to win, Invers was gaily speculating on whether, if there were a UK final, it would be held in the O2 or at Wimbledon.

"I did say 'if there were to be'" he chirped, as if that fig-leaf of caution justified his presumption.

Immediately afterwards, Murray lost the point, unluckily -- I think it was the one he should have won with a winner but there was a bad line call and the point was replayed and he lost.

Leaving aside the criticisms of sexism, patronising manner, etc. Inverdale is simply appallingly bad at his job, and I have e-mailed the BBC to ask them to remove him from tennis commentating duties.

I have to say though that the game was extraordinary, with an unbelievable standard of tennis, and emotionally draining. I'm disappointed Murray lost but either player could have, and at least Del Potro got a deserved victory after what must have been a soul-destroying defeat in the Olympic final.

[Lat-Literal]

John Inverdale. What is the point?

I can't have been the only person watching Murray v Del Potro yesterday who was shouting at the TV, not so much "Come on Andy!" but "Shut up Inverdale!"

He just talked and talked and talked, vacuous, often repetitive, prattle that not only added nothing to the match but completely detracted from it. He lacks the experience and insight of a professional player, so all he can come up with is cliches like "the seventh game of the set is the most important", or stating the obvious or bigging up each stags of the match -- "this is a really pivotal point" -- as if such a dramatic game needed that.

Dramatic tennis speaks for itself, and while informed comments can enhance the viewers' experience, they need to be pithy. Inverdale seems to think that odd oases of silence are vacuums that have to be filled, and he's the man to fill them!

As for his complete lack of respect for others, he barely let John Lloyd -- by comparison, a fount of wisdom -- get a word in. He was still yak-yakking when Del Potro served at match point, a very quick point as he served an ace, by which time Inverdale had successfully distracted much of the audience from the ultimate -- if disappointing for GB fans -- climax of the match.

Then there's the "tempting fate" remarks. I know there's been flak for Andrew Castle on these pages, but Inverdale is in a class of his own.

Early in the game, when it was already clear that Murray faced an uphill struggle to win, Invers was gaily speculating on whether, if there were a UK final, it would be held in the O2 or at Wimbledon.

"I did say 'if there were to be'" he chirped, as if that fig-leaf of caution justified his presumption.

Immediately afterwards, Murray lost the point, unluckily -- I think it was the one he should have won with a winner but there was a bad line call and the point was replayed and he lost.

Leaving aside the criticisms of sexism, patronising manner, etc. Inverdale is simply appallingly bad at his job, and I have e-mailed the BBC to ask them to remove him from tennis commentating duties.

I have to say though that the game was extraordinary, with an unbelievable standard of tennis, and emotionally draining. I'm disappointed Murray lost but either player could have, and at least Del Potro got a deserved victory after what must have been a soul-destroying defeat in the Olympic final.

Thank you for your comments Lancashire Lass.

In tennis terms, Del Potro has become an interesting story in himself.

As for Inverdale, I felt that neither he nor Redgrave came across well in their recent spat and, of course, the former has been putting his foot in it since the Bartoli episode.

Murray cleverly pointed out the gaffe about the Williams sisters during the Olympics.

What this really reiterates is Dan Maskell was the greatest.

[Padraig]

What this really reiterates is Dan Maskell was the greatest.

He may well have been, Lat; but, my word! Lancashire Lass's contribution was certainly a peach of a post - an ace right down the centre line.

[ahinton]

Thank you for your comments Lancashire Lass.

In tennis terms, Del Potro has become an interesting story in himself.

As for Inverdale, I felt that neither he nor Redgrave came across well in their recent spat and, of course, the former has been putting his foot in it since the Bartoli episode.

Murray cleverly pointed out the gaffe about the Williams sisters during the Olympics.

What this really reiterates is Dan Maskell was the greatest.

But maybe Schönberg was even greater when playing Gershwin; six-love, twelve equal to all others and all that...

[Lat-Literal]

I say.

Two rather dry volleys in a row(in the best possible way).

Thanks.

[johncorrigan]

Well, we might be rubbish at football these days but Scotland's got a couple of wonderful tennis players to be proud of. Well done Jamie Murray; and well done Andy Murray, the end of year World Number 1. What a year! Wimbledon champ! Olympic Champ! What a performer...they should just give him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy to keep.

[Richard Tarleton]

Well done indeed. No arguing with this year's achievements!

It looks to be a tricky venue, if you're used to SW19 on telly - unruly audience, flashing mobile phones, and...that court surface , those squeaky shoe soles - not really a pleasure to watch, or listen to.

[teamsaint]

Well, we might be rubbish at football these days but Scotland's got a couple of wonderful tennis players to be proud of. Well done Jamie Murray; and well done Andy Murray, the end of year World Number 1. What a year! Wimbledon champ! Olympic Champ! What a performer...they should just give him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy to keep.

He'd have been your best footballer at the moment.

[HighlandDougie]

He'd have been your best footballer at the moment.

Oy! Less of the cheeky (if possibly true) comments or we'll be sending the Tartan Army to march on sunny Salisbury.

[teamsaint]

Oy! Less of the cheeky (if possibly true) comments or we'll be sending the Tartan Army to march on

sorry, HD :(

TBF, I miss the days when you used to send a steady supply of good players south......every Div 1 team used to have a few...we had Jimmy Gabriel ( what a player), Eric Martin and so on.

No doubt the Tartan Army are still a force to be reckoned with.

and what a great footballer Murray would have been........

[gurnemanz]

Well done indeed. No arguing with this year's achievements!

It looks to be a tricky venue, if you're used to SW19 on telly - unruly audience, flashing mobile phones, and...that court surface , those squeaky shoe soles - not really a pleasure to watch, or listen to.

Despite being a tennis fan I also got put off and switched to David Attenborough with spider monkeys then to the snooker - a thrilling match in which journeyman, Mark King, won his first tournament in 25 years as a pro.

[Lat-Literal]

Congratulations to the greatest male singles player of all time, Roger Federer, for the most fantastic achievement in Australia this week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38787436

The one that must be achieved now is a further Wimbledon win to ensure that the overrated Pete Sampras is not seen in the same light.

[Dave2002]

It was a really good match, and it was great to see Roger hang on and come back at the end, but it was a close run thing. It was good to see both of them acknowledging the other afterwards, though initially Rafa appeared disappointed, as I'm sure he was. Rafa will probably win a few more though - if he keeps on playing like that, and on clay as at the French Open he must be rated a very serious contender.

Roger could still do well at Wimbledon or in NY later in the year, though there are others who could still put up a fight too.