Credit: Lukeh
As Noddy Holder once famously sang, 'So here it is Merry Wimbledon, Everybody's having fun, Look to the future now, It's only just begun'. I believe that's what he really meant anyways as we're into Day 2 of the 2 week Wimbledon fun times with plenty to look forward to as well as plenty to look back already from the one day we've had of this fine little tennis tournament that has a bit of heritage. I mean, I only found out the other day that Wimbledon has been going on since 1877! That is all kinds of crazy, and as Lou mentioned in Day 1 that makes this year the 125th anniversary, woohoo! We do like an anniversary don't we?
So Day 1, not a bad day to kick off Wimbledon with reigning champion and all round very-good-at-tennis guy Rafael Nadal overcame Michael Russell to start on a high with a pretty easy victory in the end. On the plus side Russell did some pretty cool dives that footballers would be proud of and he definitely deserves some credit for his effort. Of course, it wasn't just Nadal with the big names who succeeded - you may have heard of this chap known as Andy Murray, he's quite good and after a nervy start against Daniel Gimeno-Traver he came back and beat him 6-0 about 14 times in a row or something. In all seriousness, after the initial first set victory he kind of demolished him. In fact Andy won 13 games in a row at the end which is damn impressive.
Elsewhere in the wonderful world of Wimbledon Fran Schiavone (Everyone seems to pronounce it Sckee-a-vone and I pronounce it Shi-voh-nee) beat Jelena Dokic to progress, along with second seed Vera Zvonareva and the returning Venus Williams who beat the marvellously named Akgul Amanmuradova to win. Womens tennis players have such complicated names don't they? There's Wozzizonachie and there's Amananadamanrof and there's Shalaralapalova and of course, Na Li. Which is just the most difficult to spell out of all the names. But plenty of big names through yesterday - literally.
And this takes us nicely onto today's day of Tennis action and another day ahead of awesomeness. If you want to see who's on and when then give today's schedule of play a proper good gander and take in it's organised advice as to what to see and when. Lots to watch out for today, including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Robin Soderling, James Ward too after impressing at Queens and of course Isner vs Mahut on Court 3, which was officially opened yesterday. Do you remember their epic epic last year? It was so epic it's defined as a double epic to me. It was the longest match IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. OK, so we won't see that again unless they're taking the mickey but it's a fantastic memory! And it made them good buddies so it's all not so bad!
Do any of you guys play any tennis games to pass the time? Over the past few months the more recent releases have been 2K Games' Top Spin 4 and SEGA's Virtua Tennis 4, and both have had plenty of playtime on my Xbox. What I like about them is they offer for vastly different tennis audiences - Virtua Tennis accomodates those who want a faster, pick up and play and have a bit of fun experience whereas Top Spin is very much focused on realistic, lengthy matches that you'd see in real life and that's what edges it out for me, I prefer the more realistic type of gameplay. Both are very good though and highly recommended if you want some up to date tennis gaming in your life. Although nothing quite beats Mario Tennis that I used to have on my Gameboy Advance. Best tennis game ever.
And that's Day 2 all ready for you to comment in and enjoy. Before I go, make sure you check out this brilliant clip of Alex Bologomov Jr getting a little bit frustrated and throwing his racket at the floor only for it to bounce out of the court... as you would totally expect. It's slightly bizarre but oh so brilliant. There's plenty to watch today though down at SW19 with play beginning at 12 noon so I hope you enjoy Day 2 of Wimbledon!
I love that clip of the bouncing racquet. Embarrassing!
Great post, Lukeh :)
I like rule 7
Lots of rain forecast for this week. Boo.
I like that Isner and Mahut are BFFs now.
Two British ladies against each other today. At least we know one will go through!
Mmm, Serena's cardigan looks cosy warm.
How does she play with those killer nails?
did she make it herself?
I suspect nee-kay might have had a hand in it.
Diana Ross!
Blimey. Serena is good at what she does. Even with an irritating siren going off.
Although she's dropped a break already. The first game of the match and it lasts ten minutes. We could be here a while.
huh?
There was a fire alarm or something. It was going off for a few minutes, but they carried on. It just stopped and the crowd all cheered, so the umpire had to tell them to hush up. Can't get away with nuthin.
hehehe
first le mans and now tennis. fire alarms are the new cool.
Serena not doing so well now.
can we blame the cardigan?
Leave the cardigan alone!
can we blame the cardigans then? always been suspicious of that nina.
Blaming The Cardigans is my favourite game.
Hahaha, I did a music joke.
:)
Federer warming up now.
So far, I have yet to see a match finish. Watched Anne Keothavang, which then switched to Serena, which then switched to Roddick, and now to Federer. #fickle
you have a tv and a laptop and an ipad. can't you watch three at once?
Yes, I could. But then I couldn't do the other three things I am trying to do at once.
so you need more screens, or more arms?
More eyes, I think.
Looks proper windy out there. Glad I'm not playing tennis. Or outside at all really.
Federer is well on his way to a win here. This Kukushkin chap seems to have put up a good(ish) fight though.
Hello tennis fans!
Novak seems to be doing quite well.
Pretty good so far!
I'm so psychic I said to someone in work I bet you Novak Djokovic is winning by the time I get home.
because it was totally unexpected.
You are so Nostradamus.
As exclusively predicted by himself. :)
Hehehe. I liked that shot.
Someone called Monaco just lost. That's a shame. Monaco should always win!
at least by name they're the pineapple of tennis glamour.
Isner vs Mahut!
Bless them. They were interviewed earlier and Mahut said: "I know everyone expects a lot, but we're not going to do what we did last year."
His face was like: "Nu uh, no way, I'd rather die first." :)
I love how they're bestest buddies now. That's kind of sweet :)
Knowing everything though it'll be a bog standard straight set victory now done in no time!
This is all a liiiiiiiittle too bit easy for Novak.
Easy peasy.
Easy peasy!
#sameperson
:)
Oooooh those 3d graphics are snazzy. Wonder if they got the same people who do the 3D F1 grids.
Wonder how this must feel for anyone who may have gone into a coma during last years match and has just woken up
Ha, that would be weird. It's like time travel.
Have they roped in the same commentator as well? The guy that was making his debut last year. He must be dreading this!
I've booked the next 4 weeks off word in advance
There's a free ball for Court No. 10 or something :)
I love how this is just back and forth in the games already
Hi, tennisfans :)
I don't usually follow this sport, but I've heard that three catalan players lost today :(
Oh nooo, James Ward out in straight sets. Shame :(
Mahut has headed off court?
Seems to be going well for Isner. Much easier for him that set.
sharipova's other half, appears to be fernando alonso, only without the beard.
I went to cook dinner, and came back to find two sets have disappeared. So far so good with this match :)
First set was just back and forth constantly but the second set went wayyyy too smoothly for an isner-Mahut match at wimbledon :)
Mahut seems ready to stop that!
He's come back to life, it's great! :)
I think I may need to invest in a second tv... I want to watch more than one match! Why must I choose!
Hello tennis fans :)
Bye everyone. See you :)
Bye Marti, Hi Lou :)
see ya!
I like how over the progress of the isner mahut match I've seen the scoreboard shadow go from a normal shadow to a giant scoreboard to completely gone :)
I think I want Mahut to win now because he's having a little bit of a comeback. Woohoo-t!
You just want a fifth set :)
noooo! Gooo isner! :)
Tiebreak!
I'm not sure we'll get there within the next week with all these tie breaks but it is fun when a match goes all 5 sets :)
A match point already!
The commentators confirmed my suspicions of a few boos here and there. Boo to the booers.
Its too early!
heheheh. Phew!
Oh no! Isner! :( come onnnnn
Match poinnnttt!
*hides behind a pillow again*
Wohoooo!
Isner wins! Aww. Well done Isner
Yay, BFFs hug.
They continue your demand for happy wimbledon people :)
Next year mahut will be free from isner as the chances of them meeting at this stage 3 years in a row are so tiny.
Now over to Li's match for me
goooooo easy to spell name!
3 break points and match points for li na against kur...dr...st...v.. ....her opponent's serve.
Yay! Right over to ivanovic's match then
6-0 in the first set to Ana.
Must feel quite bleh to lose a set, especially the opening set, so conclusively.
Oh gosh oudin looks like she's gonna cry... 6-0 in the first set to Ana... :( never nice being bagelled in under half an hour.
That was a lot of cameras!
she is quite pretty.. lol
Mr C says: "Are these amateur players or are they just particularly ropey?"
Harsh :)
Hurrah, oudin won a game :)
Ah phew least she may not cry now..
I feel bad for Oudin particularly as I can spell her name and lots of other women players I cant
Aw poor Ana! She's awesome.... oudin.. not so much :(
I think he might be spoilt by only ever watching Centre Court.
Mum just wandered through the room and asked how Ivanesevic is doing. me thinks she may be a decade too late.
Aw no! Christine you need to make sure he watches more unknown matches too! They can be awesome!
Hey, I'm fighting to get him to watch anything, so I'll leave the unknowns for now!
:)
hehe okay, well he can watch centre court tomorrow as Murray and nadal are playing and they are awesome!
Mr c could always volunteer to give them hugs if they have a really bad game, then he can be at the unknown matches if they do a bit rrrrrrrrrrrubbish
Mr C, official hugger. I suspect he might be happy to hug Ivanovic, but I might be wrong :)
They do have some weird camera angles on the outside courts. I don't think that helps the impression of good tennis.
Someone needs to press Pause and change the camera angle on the options
did ana just apologise for being too awesome?
i voluteer.
although, do i have to hug them after the game? them might be a bit sweaty by then.
:D
I'm not sure if the rules allow a hugger to run on mid game
hmm, pre-game hugs only then.
I can imagine hugging someone for losing their upcoming game would go down a storm :)
Ana wont be, she doesn't appear to be finding this very difficult.
:)
Maybe Wimbledon just comes down to whichever Mr C hugs. No tennis at all!
It's the future!
Even watch it from several angles on the red button and hugging analysis from andrew castle.
speaking of Andy Castle.. i miss him, has he been around much? I saw/heard Pat Cash earlier which made me happy, but so far i'm yet to hear from mr castle..
i could be like paul the octopus.
I think Ana might just snatch this one.
*hugs*
ohh i dunno.. it's pretty close... oh.. :)
yay!
That's two totally unpredictable psychic predictions in one day! Move over Nostrodaumous :)
He did loads of commentary at Queens and stuff, I wonder if he's having a week off.
also, i looovvveee solo commentary :)
i know! it was like a week of brilliant commentary! Loved his stuff with Pat Cash.. but he's disappeared :( how dare he have a week off over wimbledon! doesn't he know we need him! :)
Stepanek is awesome! :) He plays with del Potro, they're doubles are fun to watch.
He probably spent all his money on the awesome suit he had on for the Queens final, and can't afford to get to Wimbledon
That or he's still queuing to get in
Ooh, Jankovic went out. That will make Amy happy, right?
Ooooh De La Rosa won today too, I forgot he played.
De la Rosa, even. #tired
Baaahh.
Del Potro :)
I'm glad someone's mind is totally tangled, thanks :)
ohh and Tsonga won today too <3 wonderful stuff.
Murray on court 1 tomorrow.. i predict rain!
I think I'll retire from my mad predicition skills :)
nooooo I like her! It's stupid Ana I don't like. How dare she not go out in the first round like last year. And like the other two slams so far this year. #anasucks