Tennis

[Lat-Literal]

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.

Completely agree.

[Lat-Literal]

"It's" back and we are already on Day 3.

Well done to GB's Konta today. Sadly Kvitova is struggling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/40511268

I'm supporting Federer - if he gets beyond the Sampras record this time as would be just I can then start choosing someone else : possibly Murray - and in the women's if not Kvitova for the reasons outlined then Garbine Muguruza.

[Richard Tarleton]

That's a very poor court they're making her play on....

Well done Konta as you say - both players going at it hammer and tongs, a fine match. Her opponent comes from Osijek in Eastern Croatia, a town much battered during war with Serbia. We stayed there in 2007, to visit the amazing http://pp-kopacki-rit.hr/index-en.html nature reserve on the Danube. Sam Smith said it was near the Slovenian border, it's in fact just near the Hungarian and Serbian borders - amazing area.

I hope that yesterday somebody will have had a sharp word with Ms Wozniaki, who was upsetting weeks of ball-boy and ball-girl training by requiring them to do something different to suit her - the opposite of what her opponent wanted, as it happened....

[Lat-Literal]

That's a very poor court they're making her play on....

Well done Konta as you say - both players going at it hammer and tongs, a fine match. Her opponent comes from Osijek in Eastern Croatia, a town much battered during war with Serbia. We stayed there in 2007, to visit the amazing http://pp-kopacki-rit.hr/index-en.html nature reserve on the Danube. Sam Smith said it was near the Slovenian border, it's in fact just near the Hungarian and Serbian borders - amazing area.

I hope that yesterday somebody will have had a sharp word with Ms Wozniaki, who was upsetting weeks of ball-boy and ball-girl training by requiring them to do something different to suit her - the opposite of what her opponent wanted, as it happened....

Thank you, RT, interesting and on the latter point I especially agree!!

[Lat-Literal]

........I have no idea whether Becker's financial problems are self-induced or bad luck but I like him a lot and it is good to hear his voice. What I really like about the BBC Wimbledon coverage is that it is as cosy as a warm pair of slippers where all of the high achievers worth a mint seem like mates because we loved their tennis and like their characters whatever their faults. Thought I might have a go at listing the names, historically, that mean a lot to me. In many but not all respects they will be the same as many other people's. The list starts with Dan Maskell, Max Robertson, the Duchess of Kent and Kitty Godfree and continues as follows. I would welcome others' "meaningful" players, some of whom I may have forgotten:

Lenglen, Bueno, Gibson, Truman-Janes, King, Goolagong-Cawley, Evert-Lloyd, Wade, Navratilova, Barker, Austin, Kvitova, Muguruza
Perry, Connors, Ashe, Borg, Tanner, Gerulaitis, Amritraj Brothers, McEnroe, McNamara 'n' McNamee, Becker, Leconte, Noah, Federer

(I could admit that I have deliberately left obvious gaps to encourage some sort of discussion)

[Lat-Literal]

Aw, Kvitova is out but that won't be the last given Birmingham. So it's now unequivocally by preference if not prediction the Spanish-Venezuelan. Fair enough in my humble opinion.

[johncorrigan]

........I have no idea whether Becker's financial problems are self-induced or bad luck but I like him a lot and it is good to hear his voice. What I really like about the BBC Wimbledon coverage is that it is as cosy as a warm pair of slippers where all of the high achievers worth a mint seem like mates because we loved their tennis and like their characters whatever their faults. Thought I might have a go at listing the names, historically, that mean a lot to me. In many but not all respects they will be the same as many other people's. The list starts with Dan Maskell, Max Robertson, the Duchess of Kent and Kitty Godfree and continues as follows. I would welcome others' "meaningful" players, some of whom I may have forgotten:

Lenglen, Bueno, Gibson, Truman-Janes, King, Goolagong-Cawley, Evert-Lloyd, Wade, Navratilova, Barker, Austin, Kvitova, Muguruza
Perry, Connors, Ashe, Borg, Tanner, Gerulaitis, Amritraj Brothers, McEnroe, McNamara 'n' McNamee, Becker, Leconte, Noah, Federer

(I could admit that I have deliberately left obvious gaps to encourage some sort of discussion)

Pancho Gonzalez, Lat. By the time they opened up Wimblers to pros he was too old to win it, but I used to love to watch the old maestro. I remember him in an epic 5-setter v Charlie Pasarel that I think went over two days which he eventually won 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9...epic! In his 40s by that time.

[Dave2002]

(I could admit that I have deliberately left obvious gaps to encourage some sort of discussion)

Rod Laver, perhaps!

[Lat-Literal]

Pancho Gonzalez, Lat. By the time they opened up Wimblers to pros he was too old to win it, but I used to love to watch the old maestro. I remember him in an epic 5-setter v Charlie Pasarel that I think went over two days which he eventually won 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9...epic! In his 40s by that time.

Rod Laver, perhaps!

These are excellent suggestions for which many thanks. I remember having a little green book which mentioned the Gonzalez and Pasarel score. Sadly I don't seem to have it anymore.

Four Britons into Round 3 - the first time in 20 years!

[Richard Tarleton]

I remember watching the Gonzalez-Pasarell match - at least the evening session, not sure if I saw the 3 sets played the following day. Gonzalez was very angry at having to play in the dark, but obviously managed to compose himself overnight. Didn't that match help to bring on the tie-break?

Things were - er - different then. Wooden rackets, serve-and-volley, Newcombe and co going out for a few beers the night before the men's final....

[Lat-Literal]

I remember watching the Gonzalez-Pasarell match - at least the evening session, not sure if I saw the 3 sets played the following day. Gonzalez was very angry at having to play in the dark, but obviously managed to compose himself overnight. Didn't that match help to bring on the tie-break?

Things were - er - different then. Wooden rackets, serve-and-volley, Newcombe and co going out for a few beers the night before the men's final....

As with other sports.

Then in came the gurus (including Mr Wenger) with strict instructions about creatine yogurts.

Nice to see Billie Jean talking a lot of sense and Tracy Austin with Sue Barker earlier.

Tracy was born in the same week as me so I am always interested to see how she is shaping up.

I'd say that she is doing somewhat better in appearance than I am - I must try harder.

[pastoralguy]

Tracy was born in the same week as me so I am always interested to see how she is shaping up.

:

Ánne-Sophie Mutter and I were born on the same day. Guess she was at the front of the queue when talent was being handed out...

[Lat-Literal]

Ánne-Sophie Mutter and I were born on the same day. Guess she was at the front of the queue when talent was being handed out...

Oh, if you are talking about being born on the same day of the same year, I too have a musical twin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCqcd8IlNlo

Deuce!

(Have to say he looks a helluva lot younger but that's what "singing" does for people)

[P. G. Tipps]

The Ladies' game has improved immeasurably in recent years though I was perturbed today to see one competitor's arm covered in horrid tattoos. Absolutely terrifying ...

Okay, okay, I know, I'm frightfully old-fashioned but I was brought up to believe that the Ladies are generally more sensible, better-behaved and considerably more tasteful than we Gentlemen and I have never quite rid myself of that belief even into my current relative maturity.

So I do not agree with Mr John McEnroe when he says that the Ladies should compete with the Gentlemen if they wish to enjoy the same rewards of success.

What an absolute bounder ... the Ladies should never demean themselves by doing such a dreadful thing!

[MrGongGong]

The Ladies' game has improved immeasurably in recent years though I was perturbed today to see one competitor's arm covered in horrid tattoos. Absolutely terrifying ...

Okay, okay, I know, I'm frightfully old-fashioned but I was brought up to believe that the Ladies are generally more sensible, better-behaved and considerably more tasteful than we Gentlemen and I have never quite rid myself of that belief even into my current relative maturity.

So I do not agree with Mr John McEnroe when he says that the Ladies should compete with the Gentlemen if they wish to enjoy the same rewards of success.

What an absolute bounder ... the Ladies should never demean themselves by doing such a dreadful thing!

Back from Pride a bit early aren't you Tippster