Welcome to the second day of the championships at SW19. It was an epic first day yesterday, with loads of the seeds struggling with their form. Roger Federer went down two sets to Falla, before gradually snatching back a victory against all the odds. Hewitt needed four sets, whilst Djokovic was also making life hard for himself. He played until the very bitter end, under the roof and floodlights, and just managed to scrape through. In better news, returning Belgians, Clijsters and Henin, both came through their first round matches relatively easily, and Roddick has also secured himself a place in round 2.
Credit: Kol Tregaskes / Flickr
The crowds mingle during the Wimbledon Championships in 2007
On Centre Court today, we see number 1 seed Serena Williams taking on Michelle Larcher De Brito. I'm half rooting for de Brito, because that is a fantastic name. It's never going to happen though. One or other of the Williams sisters is bound to win the title in 2010. Rafael Nadal will follow the ladies onto Centre Court, whilst Brit favourite Andy Murray is second on court one.
Other notable names include Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova and James Blake. I say these are notable names, but in actual fact, these are tennis players I've heard of. If you want to know what kind of form they are on, or whether they are nice or not, Amy is the one to ask. Yesterday, I did manage to finally grasp the tie break rules, and I recognised the umpire on Centre Court, so I'm pretty happy with myself.
If you're supporting the Brits and Andy Murray is not enough for you, Anne Keothavong and Jamie Baker are both in action on Court 12. Heather Watson makes an appearance on Court 18. I shouldn't imagine many of those are going to make it to the next round, but we can cross our fingers, can't we?
Let us know who you'll be cheering for today, and more importantly, if you've printed yourself a copy of the draw and are filling it in day by day. I keep thinking I should do that and then forget and by the time I remember, it's the semi finals and I can keep track of who is in those! See you in the comments.
[Image licensed under a Creative Commons 2.0 license]
I have changed my mind about de Brito cos the BBC live blog says:
...the talented Portuguese most famous, so far, for her decibel level.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8752740.stm
Boo for screechy players.
Some good pictures from yesterday too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8751778.stm
oh lord, there was so much scandal over her screeching last year when she played her first slam. It was RIDICULOUS.
And this is a very nice post Christine :D
I like this one of Lou + I.
Caroline Wozniacki FTW!
*is watching Sam Querrey*
it's so hard to stay mad at him for being a plonker at the French Open because I heart him.
Larcher de Brito has definitely toned down her EEEEEEEEEEEEEing
I'm not used to seeing Serena not in a Roger/Rafa like Nike bandana
It's okay though, we know you are fickle :)
Hehehe.
ooh Serena is playing doubles today too, no wonder she's trying to wrap this up quickly.
Two matches in one day!
she does that a lot but still seems to always manage to win both. Her and Venus currently hold every slam in doubles!
They are actual robots, aren't they?
hah!!
i love the post christine :)
am liking that wimbledon gets daily post too :)
I think so!
heres a fact from my TV: Serena has only twice lost to players ranked outside the top 100 since her career began in 1995.
that's a scary fact.
I was going to say it's so nice of Wimbledon to have Sunday off so we can watch the Grand Prix with no distractions. Then I remembered it's Valencia, boo.
My favourite thing about Wimbledon (and the World Cup as it happens) is that it all kicks off in the afternoon. Yay for not having to think early in the morning.
#sorryAmy
heheh I would love these hours, if I didn't have early work shifts :D
i'm looking forward to Valencia... kinda...
my TV has left Serena behind to go to Stosur.
Murray has eaten lunch
'Solid chicken and pasta for lunch. Thanks for all the support and see u out there!
Solid chicken doesn't sound nice..
My favourite thing about Wimbledon so far is the BBC live text commentary http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8752740.stm. The people doing it seem to be able to express their own ideas rather than having to be all BBC formal. I also like the symbols they use. It took me a while to work out the bagel though !
The broken racquet is a good one :)
I like that and I also like the handshake as you can scroll up to check results easily if you've been away from the screen for a while.
I also really like this video from a few years back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEeLh5ItQcY
Talking of which:
Keothavong saves a break point and Rodionova is sent sprawling, smacking the turf and complaining about something. The Aussie then has a moan about another line call, not knowing the replay shows it was well out. "It's not fair," she says. I'm tempted to do what my dad used to in this situation and say, "Well, life's not fair." But I won't.
Hehehe.
Sam Stosur has won more matches (35) than any other woman on tour this year. #TV fact
"notable player" James Blake has lost his first set :D
Oops :)
I like him simply because his was the first book I ever got for Kindle. And it's called "Breaking Back" so it fits right in with the rule that if you are a tennis player, your autobiography title must be a bad tennis pun.
where is the pride and prejudice commentary today?
Maybe they're waiting for Andy Murray to start playing to unleash the flowery prose ;)
Here's one from earlier: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8753818.stm
...but she flays it into the net and sinks to her knees in horror. Oh, splendid forehand pass...
You've got to look for the live texts that are so-and-so vs. so-and-so. The general Wimbledon live commentary is a bit more normal :)
better.
Those French Open finalists ain't doing too well, with Schiavone out yesterday and Stosur being a bit fail today.
French Open lady is out??? Boo.
come on Nadal, quick match please... i wanna watch murray's victory too :)
I think he was listening: Delicious return by Nadal on break point and and he's about to serve for the first set with a 5-2 lead.
Rafa always plays at his own speed - slowly. ;)
hehe i love the bbc tennis commentators :D
Murray might be forever away anyway, theres no sign the Tsonga match will end anytime soon :D
Come on Jo-Wil!!!
:D ehhe well as long as i get to watch the both matches :D
Stosur loses 4-6 4-6. Fail.
I was not a fan of his until I saw him in person and then I fell in love.
We're going to need a list soon, I think.
of who I like? It'll be a long one :D
Who you do and don't like and why.
oh. I don't have reasons for lots of ones I like. Some it's because they're pretty. Some I just honestly don't know why :D
His personality and celebrations are awesome. :D
centre court looks very un-grassy already
Jo-Wil WINS! Yay! :D
woohoo!
"Nishikori has a watch too. What does that one go for, $29.95?"
Finally! Rafa breaks in the 2nd set.
britwatch - baker loses his first set
We are so good.
keothavong almost won. almost.
Andy is now on court. SHOW ME THE JUDY.
Rafa's 2 sets up! :D
ew, super super super close up of the scar on Rafa's back.
For Mr C: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8754255.stm
tom's back!
YAY JUDY
I'll be expecting some swashbuckling quotes later then.
Murray, unusually, is wearing one red wristband and one white. Not sure what to read into that.
Oh dear.
clearly it's a secret shoutout to roger.
am trying to balance watching both nadal and murray...
Am listening to Nadal's match rather than murray's just cause i prefer the commentators..
Is Henman doing it today? When I tuned in briefly yesterday evening, he was talking about a match with no one I'd heard in it. Boo.
me too. Can't stand the Murraylovein that his games always turn into :D
Muzz is broken.
M-andy is broken. o.O
Hanman is doing Murray's match, but McEnroe and another guy are doing Nadal's.
Ahh, I likes McEnroe.
I started reading his book too but it was written a couple of years ago so it starts off 'Sampras was so great, no one will ever get as many slams as Sampras" and it kind of puts me off when the info is that out of date already.
me too, both of the guys in the box have great chemistry together, there conversations are always much more interesting than Henman's.
I suppose the good thing about having Henman in on Murray's match is he knows exactly what the guy is going through pressure-wise.
this Hajek fellow is doing quite well. That was a lovely rally.
yeah, he does have some good insights, and is no where near legard in terms of my dislike for commentators :) but everytime i hear his voice i think that Jack Dee is in the box. :D
Hehe!
Murray has a glimmer as Hajek goes long with two lusty forehands
Ooh. Lusty.
oohh Nadal just fell over.. he slipped and accidentally threw his racquet in the air.. seeing him rolling out of the way of the falling racquet was kinda funny...
Did Rafa just get broken back? :(
Oooh. It's good that when they fall over at Wimbledon they don't end up orange.
yeah, i'm not a fan of them turning orange at the end of the match :)
I have a .gif for that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/slappysquirrell/tennisgifs/nadal3.gif
:D
eeeek. *pouts*
I shall balance that with happy Rafa
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/slappysquirrell/tennisgifs/rafavamos.gif
:D ROCK STAR!
And Rafa breaks Nishikori again! yay :D
oh hajek, you ain't meant to get broken back
Marcos loses first set but leading 5-1 in the second. I love him.
Rafa WINS too! Happy day. :D
I think you mean Unknown First Name.
must be time to mute some sharapova.
M-Andy takes the 1st set!
Maria is zooming through her match. 19 minutes and she is 5-0 up. :D
I like her dress more on her than I did in the nike-photoshops.
I think I might head to bed though because the only other matches I really care about today (see: Verdasco) are on too late.
ooh, do we get to compare what the players are wearing? ace.
what does isa think about it?
Token resistance to a now cruising Murray, the home favourite's serve impregnable, his groundstrokes full of spit and slice, his volleys sans wobblies I think Tom Fordyce is my favourite BBC live comment person :)
Hajek takes a 3min medical break.
Yaay for murray and soderling winning their games! :) although the little White butterfly on the base line near soderling was really cute :)
Fernando is 2 sets down! What happened? :(
compared to Soderling, Verdasco is taking an age to win this... come on! last game...
Finally he wins a set! Fernando going the Federer/Djokovic way it seems. :(
well i suppose i was very upset i had nothing to watch this evening cause football is everywhere, now i can watch his. Fernando seems to be really down... i want him to win but he keeps throwing points away!
He is making almost the same amount of unforced errors as winners. Which cancels his forehand advantage out. :(
after watching soderlings storm to victory in straight sets this match seems very slow..
NOOOOO! Fernando is out. :(
Who is Fernando?
Fernando Verdasco, Spanish left-hander and provider of prettiness to Amy in tennis.
He was the 1st tennis player I ever watched play.
nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! i go have tea and he looses!! gah!
I know. I even missed the S. Korean goal just to hopefully see him through his tough 4th set. But he lost it. :(
i blame Amy.. she should have been awake ;)
Have we signed anyone up for tomorrow's post?
i'll do it.
♥
Can I do thursdays Wimbledon thingy?
♥
if i want a pic in my post (not sure if i do yet..)... what do i do?...
easiest thing is to search flickr for creative commons licensed images. then ping them too us (either drop.io or email), i think.
Marcos :( Fernando :( worst first round ever!
okay, will do.
Fernando was all grumpy today.. and took aagggess to win a set :(
Who is marcos and fernando?
I can assume you do not mean Alonso. I fear for thursdays Wimbledon thread
Fernando Verdasco, and Marcos Daniel (i think that's who Amy means - never heard of him :( )
I see...
if it helps I've never heard of either of them. Is goran ivensevic still around?
Fernando is awesome, Marcos.. i've no idea... but since Amy is my tennis guru and is sad he is out, i am also sad he is out.
as for goran ivensevic... i just had to google him..and i learnt that no he isn't still around. :)
Boo :(
Boooooooo :( He was awesome. He beat Tin Henman.
Not that the latter was an achievement really
lots of people beat Tim Henman.. ;)
:)
nice typo tho ;)
Oops *Tin
Gah. :(
s'ok, the comments have renamed him.. happens all the time ;) we can't have 2 Tim's anyway, so he'll have to be called Tin.
Very true!
I have another tennis question - do you always have to hit it overarm when you serve? Can't you just run up to the net and dink it over?
you saying he doesn't have a heart?
noooo... although, maybe based on his voice we can call him Jack?..
Well he doesn't have a grand slam cup.
Him Ten(nis)man
meanie! he greg whatshisname
erm... no. You're not allowed to step over the base line.
(i really hope my tennis guru will correct me when i'm wrong..)
He has a crazy passport so it's ok :)
fair play
Is the base line the line where you stand at the back of the lines?
(just tell me to shush, I geniunely have no idea of the terminology)
The back of the court, I mean
am looking forward to thursday.
baseline is the line at the back of the court were they serve...
the service line is the line in the middle of the court..not to get you confused.
I'm trying!
You shouldve seen the tennis court at hampton court that Henry VIII had - it was like Extreme Tennis. It looked mental!
yeah that was odd..
Not a good pic but
http://www.hickoksports.com/images/hampton_court.jpg
lines everywhere. Also, numbers on the wall.
@Lukeh to try and help you..
http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wings.avkids.com/Curriculums/Tennis/Images/court_a.gif
called real tennis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_tennis
Oh my god it's like my Maths GCSE
but! I think I get it!
which must make wimbledon, fake tennis?
14th century soccer vs football argument?
If the ball's moving at 102mph and you run backwards at a 43 degree angle, how badly will you lose?
I like how it labelled the net post :)
no worse than tin did.
You could always rely on Tin.
kinda, although that was rugby wasn't it?
Jamie's tweets are nothing like his brother's
'@jamie_murray
You may only be someone in the world, but to someone else, you may be the world.'
aww
Probably. Sport does cause a right old kerfuffle!
Nooo marcos baghdatis :( and yes you can't go over the baseline on a serve or its a foot fault. You can serve underarm though but no one does as a good serve is a fast serve. You can't get that speed underarm.
ahhhh baghdatit i've heard of!! :)
I always used to but that's because rubbish or not, it's better than double faults all the time :P
But it looks more friendly under arm! It looks like they're shooting them with a super bullet over arm, I'd be terrified
baghdatis is the smiley one, thats why i like him