Wimbledon

[Richard Tarleton]

Mme v in deep mourning - no Nadal, no Dustin Brown, and now - worst of all - no Federer.

Dustin Brown's balletic bamboozling of Nadal last year was wonderful to behold, the high point of the tournament. Sadly his quixotic style is in a minority these days, with the overwhelmingly baseline game, like cavalry against tanks. Compare the wear and tear on the courts from the 1970s to that today - hardly any around the forward volleying positions today.

University Challenge (or pub quiz ) question - Starter for ten: in which John Le Carré novel do the characters attend a Federer final at Roland Garros? Bonus questions: what was the year, who was his opponent, and what colour was Federer's shirt?

And we shall probably have to endure the inelegant Murray...

His game has improved immeasurably - his delicate drop shots are things of beauty. I'm sure growing up in public must be a challenge, but he's not world no 2 for nothing.

This text box in the Radio Times made me smile: "If the Wimbledon women's singles final overruns, subsequent programmes may run late or change". Perhaps they've only allowed 40 minutes for it

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A great tournament this year, but I always feel sorry for the players - winners and losers - as they are subjected to infantile interviews by the BBC presenters after matches.

[LMcD]

A great tournament this year, but I always feel sorry for the players - winners and losers - as they are subjected to infantile interviews by the BBC presenters after matches.

Sadly, that still seems to be the case this year.
Yesterday's matches - well, the two that I watched - were utterly enthralling.

[gurnemanz]

Sadly, that still seems to be the case this year.
Yesterday's matches - well, the two that I watched - were utterly enthralling.

The last set of Nadal/del Potro was a classic. I missed some of the England-Croatia to stay with it.

[Lat-Literal]

It is disappointing that Wimbledon and the World Cup take place at the same time.

I have missed most of this year's Wimbledon.

Thought that it would now be the time to give it more attention but Muguruza went out early and now Federer has gone.

There is no one left who I want to win although of those remaining I have a strong preference for the lesser known.

[Padraig]

The last set of Nadal/del Potro was a classic.

I think Rod Laver would agree too.

[Stanfordian]

Serena Williams is in a league of her own. I've just watched her demolish her opponent. If it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped!

[LMcD]

I think Rod Laver would agree too.

I'm so pleased that he's still up to the journey to the UK. One can't help wondering what even greater heights he might have achieved had he had access to today's hi-tech rackets - not to mention the longer breaks every other game. A couple of years ago, when it was raining in SW19, the BBC showed a clip from a match in the late 1960s(?). The break comprised the two players standing by the umpire's chair drinking what was probably Robertson's barley water and then walking to the respective other end and getting on with the match.

[Richard Tarleton]

Serena Williams is in a league of her own. I've just watched her demolish her opponent. If it had been a boxing match it would have been stopped!

Not sure I wanted to know about compression tights though

[LMcD]

Not sure I wanted to know about compression tights though

Cellulite is no respecter of reputation.

[Stanfordian]

Not sure I wanted to know about compression tights though

Not guilty. I never told you about them!

They are dancer's fishnets aren't they?

Just imagine wearing them on a boiling hot day and playing tennis. Buckets of water required!

[Richard Tarleton]

Not guilty. I never told you about them!

Indeed. It came up in the commentary, reference Serena's challenges during and post childbirth....

[Nick Armstrong]

The last set of Nadal/del Potro was a classic.

Yes, what a final set ! I watched it today, unfortunately knowing the result, but still.... The break point that Nadal won was incredible - and the nice moment where he exited stage right and ended up among the front row of the crowd using their shoulders to stop himself and almost ending up in the lap of a delighted-looking little old lady!

Just breathtaking stuff.

[Lat-Literal]

Well, this is all very difficult because (a) the famous names have the finesse but we can't have them being more successful than Federer in future books on the history and (b) the other two are more bang, crash, wallop. But I don't think I want Djokovic winning it because he has a few more years to catch up and there was an, erm, enhancement question at one time.

[Richard Tarleton]

Well, this is all very difficult because (a) the famous names have the finesse but we can't have them being more successful than Federer in future books on the history and (b) the other two are more bang, crash, wallop. But I don't think I want Djokovic winning it because he has a few more years to catch up and there was an, erm, enhancement question at one time.

I don't know about that, Lat, Djokovic is one of the good guys in my book - and at 31 I don't think you can be sure he has that many years left. Catch up? He is one of the greats, one of only 2 (I think) to hold all 4 grand slams in a year.....I'm quite torn between him and Nadal.

Can't be bothered with this exchange of heavy artillery that's going on at the moment. Give me finesse!