It's time for the highlight of the grass season in tennis, with the historic and memorable Wimbledon tournament set for another two week run. With the British weather continuing its crazy patterns this year, we may see a lot of roof action allowing play on Centre Court to go on unhindered. Roger Federer and Serena Williams will be out on court trying to defend their championships, whilst Maria Sharapova hopes to end her rival's successful run, and Andy Murray hopes to take some plaudits in the much-cherished UK tournament. This first week is all about shock results, easy paths through the order, and lots and lots of matches. Enjoy!
Wimbledon, Week 1
Published by Christine Blachford on
I always forget how many tennis accounts I follow until Wimbledon starts and my Twitter feed explodes.
My brain is still trying to get around the thumb-nail of these: http://twitter.com/purespa/status/349103791913705472/photo/1
Ten minutes in, I'm already sick of the Beeb's Murray obsession!
It's ten years since Federer's first Wimbledon title. Jeepers.
cant think of anything worse than the bbc murray obsession, gald we don't have that. ours are aussie centric but that is pretty much over in the second round.....#allspuds.
we have 2 channels here showing the tennis for a while, currently watching ivanovic v razzano, looks like being a quick match at this stage. already 3-0
Ooh, good thinking. I have found an actual match instead of all their waffling. :)
Right, I've got Baltacha losing to Pennetta on. Judy Murray watching on.
They've got some rather colourful towels this year.
first upset of the tournament, didn't take long, number 5 seed errani down a set and 3-0 in the second.
the ivanovic match In a first set tie break so not quite the quick match it was looking like being early on.
Baltacha lost, that was not a surprise.
Have found Federer's match now.
woah Victoria azarenka in all sorts, taken a fall and looks like has done a pretty bad injury to her knee, doesn't look good.
Just switched to take a peek, she's limping back to her seat.
Strapping going on now.
Crazy Redfoo man watching on anxiously.
not sure if she will last that long though, it looked pretty bad, she was in allsorts of pain when it first happened, she looks ok though now she has got up.
Come on Tim!
didn't take Federer long
Popped away, Azarenka still managed to win then.
Now watching Sharapova play Mladenovic (who?) On serve though.
yeah watching that match too, close game.
azarenka got up but she might struggle later in the tourney.
happy cornet and cirstea won their first round matches.
Maria squeaks the first set. A lot closer than expected!
Murray o'clock.
woah just noticed nadal lost the first set and is 4-4 in the second.
What's going on in the Nadal match?!
Ooh, what is going on?
Nadal almost 2 sets down
And now IS 2 sets down. Wow.
look out nadal 2 sets down..... unbelievable
7-6 7-6 so far to Darcis.
Nadal limping.
Found the Nadal match now, it's not looking good for him!
they always do when they start losing
down a break in the third
Like this picture, small fan tall player http://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/349203454947905536/photo/1
Just switched on tennis and I have a technical question.
Is Nadal not meant to be winning?
OMG. Nadal out in the first round.
I don't belieeeeve it
well I didn't see that coming
I am not clued up on tennis. Is the player who beat him any good. Never heard of him before
just looked, he is 29 and ranked 110 in the world.
Bit of a shock then
I read somewhere it's Nadal's first defeat in the first round of an Open? I can't see how that's possible unless he was born a champion.
@Wimbledon: #Rafa has never lost in the first round at a Grand Slam before. #Nadal #Wimbledon #Darcis
Boggles my marbles that does.
Never loses as a beginner and loses when he is about the best player in the world to someone who is not in the top hundred. Your marbles deserve to be boggled
Murray wins in straight sets
woah next minute its 3am.....
lleyton hewitt up 4-0 over warwinka, might record the rest and watchit tomorrow.
cheers.
Night John
Hewitt doesn't have a cap on.
Just got home to see the rafa result. Crazy stuff.
Hewitt doing the job against stan the man.
Just looked up in time to see Hewitt stumbling to his knees twice. Oops.
He won it.
stan the man didn't have a master plan.
Those Aus fans very happy!
I really want to go to wimbledon one day. I feel like it's too much hassle though..
If anyone wants to follow the guy who beat nadal his twitter account via Kim Clijsters is @stevedarcishark
The trouble with catching up at lunch is the big guns haven't started playing yet. BBC's live text focused on Heather Watson losing her first set.
And also that Date-Krumm won her straight sets match in 44 minutes. That's barely enough time to break a sweat!
44 minutes, that's nearly her age... shes nearly 43.
7000 #wimbledon tweets per minute during the nadal v darcis match last night / yesterday.
go aussie laura
I have missed so much tennis in the last few days, it makes me really sad. However, tomorrow, my day consists of sofa, tea, and tennis. perfection.
I missed a lot today, hoping to catch up with more tomorrow!
wooo! Gonna be a good day tomorrow!! Tsonga, Federer, Muzza, Isner, and some doubles with Jonathan Murray and Colin Fleming! Can.not.wait!
big john isner retired early in the match with a knee injury, no 70-68 scoreline this year..
currently watching lleyton Hewitt taking on some dustin brown bloke ive never heard of, plays abit like monfils from what ive seen, might be a tricky match for Hewitt.
also streaming one of my top three cornet playing hsieh on my laptop, come on alize.......
so lleyton loses the first set..... and now we have a new prime minister.
i bloomin love the internet, tennis everywhere!
hey john.
hi mr c.
happy the alize won the first set. #bigfan
aww, but if lleyton goes out i won't be able to spot the woman from home and away any more :(
yep I think she is called a professional hanger on these days.
it's a tough life!
It's so dumb roger isn't allowed orange on his soles but Serena is allowed orange shorts
I didn't realise there was a rule that the players had to have white soles on their shoes until I saw it tweeted earlier.
now I read that the nadal slayer darcis has pulled out of his second round match with a shoulder injury....
odd.
get organised enough to enter the ballot. If you're successful it couldn't be any less hassle #saynotocamping
although he does seem like a lot of fun.
gutted!
alize cornet, French player she is about to win....
this dustin brown bloke reminds me of monfils the way he plays, not sure where her has been he looks a pretty good player.
must have been big celebrations
ooh, assumed it was some nickname you had for this guy (whose first name i don't actually know).
he needs to date someone who used to be famous :)
come on lleyton, this bloke is on fire, hitting winners everywhere
woah now azarenka has withdrawn from her match due to that knee injury.
another retirement... stepanek now retiring through injury.
something in the water there in London town
is it too late to put my name in the hat?
#sparecourts
I bruised my foot this morning so I too am unfortunately unable to carry on participating at Wimbledon.
(...is what i'd be saying if they allowed me to run onto the courts)
do you have a note from your mum?
No, I bet they'd still make me play in a vest and pants.
:)
awesome tie-break set win for lleyton. great match.
i want them both to win now :)
lleyton might step it up now. brown cant keep hitting the winners that he has.
sure he can :) :)
brown's second serve is lethal!
look out this looks like its all over, brown is way too good today. I don't understand he is 28, he has all the tricks but he is ranked 189 and where has he been,
first time i've ever seen/heard of him i think.
job done. impressive.
he lives in a camper van?
too good, got pretty emotional after the win too.
geez, is that right.
brown 72 winners, 24 unforced errors, unbelievable match
ahh, not any more. once though: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Dustin-Brown.aspx
another one pulled out before their match. cilic now pulled out with a knee injury
wha?
NOOOOO Tsonga retires from Wimbles :'(
not another injury surely? there'll be no-one left.
maria down a set and just been broken.
his knee i think, he was playing okay in the first 2 sets, and then in the 3rd he looked pained, and has had to retire. :( Good news for Muzza tho, seeing as Cilic and Tsonga are out. Sad times for Tsgona fans tho :(
angry sharipova.
interesting. maria arguing the grass isn't good enough.
commentators are saying with so many retirements she has a good case.
not quite sure how you wimbledon can bugger up the grass this season, when it managed last years + the olympics no problem.
the commentators for Tsonga's match suggested it is an exaggeration of the usual slippery conditions of the grass for the first few days. I don't remember it ever being this bad tho.
maria about to go out of wimbledon?
big week for the top players this week!
amazing tennis.
another save.
Just in time for the good stuff!
don't blink
rage :)
5th match point
game over!!!!!
maria's out of wimbledon too. shocka.
i don't know anyone left in it :)
131st in the world. Amazing.
This is the weirdest tournament ever.
#truth
blimey! It's all going on this week!
that's gotta hurt.
may as well give the trophy to williams now, who's gonna challenge?
At this rate, she might retire early. Seems to be the fashion right now.
I wonder if the ridiculous humidity we have this year is affecting the grass?
At this rate they are going to reach a point where a whole round gets cancelled so that everyone left doesn't just get a bye. They could lose a whole day's tennis. Wonder if they are open to a sidepodcast one day tournament to fill in
maybe. ythey need more roofs.
:)
:D
Just stick Bahrami on court all day, that will keep everyone entertained :)
i demand more michael mcintyre.
Not on his own. He needs someone else on the other side of the net so that he can make them look stupid.
:D
More Lendl too :)
(it's nice to see you in the comments again Mr C, yay for Tennis Love :) )
am watching javanofski vs someone because it's playing even though i turned off the ipad.
#destiny
there's no DRS in tennis ;)
I thought you would be watching Claire Williams
:)
on what?
'withdrawl wednesday'
good one sue :)
http://www.fota.co/2013/06/25/fota-uk-fans-forum/
oh yikes. i had no idea. back later then :)
I seem to have driven Mr C back out of the comments.
Sorry Lou
plenty more exciting tennis to come i'm sure he wont be able to keep away for long ;)
Wooo! Muzza wins in straight sets :)
heeeh!
wait, i've heard of him
;) how about Federer, he's playing at the moment :)
Some really tall guy just did the splits and looked in a lot of pain
ohh he bet Fed in the second set!
This is crazy! Sergy serving for the set and the lead!
:O Sergy 2 sets to 1 up against Fed! Maybe today's upsets aren't over yet!
Federer broke him just when he had to. We could be in for a comeback
...he's losing at the moment :)
he's on a comeback.. did you see him nearly hit Sergy?
Nope, I'm just back in front of a screen now. Hit him with a ball, a racquet, his fist, what?
All 3 then he headbutted him
the ball, poor Sergy had to duck. it was going around 95mph, that would have hurt!
You'd think there would be a penalty point for that kind of thing :)
Well really he just drove the ball straight at him at 96mph according to the commentator
They are reviewing it after the match
10 second stop/go?
1 game penalty in the next match
Ooh, that would be great to see. Need some good comeback skills for that.
More slipping and sliding. You'd think Bernie had got his sprinklers out.
Maybe they should wear football boots.
don't they have spikes on? Wimbles would have a field day i'm sure.
Football studs could do some damage but they should be able to wear short spikes or the like to get some grip
Well that's the point. If Wimbledon can't provide grippy grass, let the boots do the talking!
:D
Cor, tiebreaks are nervewracking.
OH MY GOD!
This is ridiculous
What a shot
This is too much!
UN.
BE.
LIEVABLE.
Wowsers!
:O :O :O
MUZZA THIS IS YOUR YEAR!!!!!!!
I can't believe Nadal and Fed are out after just 3 days
*tries to control excitement that it's Muzza's best chance*
If they keep having shocks at this rate we will end up with players being banned from wearing white
Is it though? The top seeds are dropping like flies!
They're all wearing red really, everyone's just white in shock
If Djokovic gets beaten in his next match the pressure is going to pile on Murray
I think this is Tim Henman's year
Federer, Tsonga, Nadal, Isner, Cillic, Hewitt, Mahut...
big day for Wimbles today. big big day.
He did so well today, lots of little steps, no large dangerous steps.../ slides.
Tsonga was always gonna slip if the conditions were bad, he slides around when the court is fine!
I'm jumping ahead of myself, but Muzza loves grass.. and i fancy me another Muzza final :)
i think that's gonna be muzza's biggest hurdle. The mounting pressure. Hopefully Lendl will help him through it!
This guy was great in Rataouille
You'll have to speak up comments, I can't hear you over the Sharapova match
Hehehe, in the long rallies, it's just ridiculous.
It's like a terrible episode of Eastenders with all this wailing
Lots of pondering about the courts...
Maybe all the players are just overworked.
It's the blue grass, it's distracting.
Interesting what Wozniaki said. The courts are more like they were for the Olympics last year than for Wimbledon.
We know who won the Olympics so I wonder if the courts were deliberately prepared like they were for the Olympics
Heh, I like this thought.
"The flamboyant German-Jamaican..."
There's a sentence I didn't expect to hear at wimbledon.
This guy is awesome. He plays tennis like Phoebe runs.
haha! exhausted courts with emergency court patch ups aren't exactly what i'd imagine they'd purposefully go for, but i get your point.
That's like Irish-Eskimo or icelandic-Indian
:)
heh, german jamaican is fantastic though.
Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, go Dustin Brown, straight from the Rhine
Really like this Dustin chap!
It's hard to think of two more different cultures. I guess the German Jamaican version of Cool Runnings would be 13.27°C Runnings
Tears :)
He seems good fun
Ooh, a French round-up. This is my bit.
which reminds me, with your love of french men i thought you'd be a bigger Tsonga fan ;)
I like Tsonga, he has a dance and stuff. Hadn't seen any of him this week though.
yay! his dance is very cute. :) He's very smiley too. I missed him on monday and only got to see a bit of him today, very sad i missed him. Hopefully i'll see him at WTFs again. (you should really come to the WTFs)
Hehe, maybe. It's blue courts, isn't it? They set my teeth on edge. I do have plenty of earplugs, though.
yeah it's a bit squeaky, but it's not as bad as it sounds on TV. bring ear plugs and enjoy the atmosphere, lack of rain, and all the fun practice courts too :)
well........ whats going on, went to sleep pretty early last night and when I awoke there was no Federer no sharapova, even more injuries and retirements, geez lleyons out, weve got a new dodgy prime minister, mark webbers retired, the worlds gone mad.
at least stosur won... and lisicki
williams is walking it too.
as long as she doesn't slip over, she has it won, way too good and really too powerful for the rest.
bonus sharpiova lurking (not sure why?)
I thought I'd have time to watch yesterday but didn't. Have a bit more time today and it's raining. You gots to love Wimbledon.
Boyfriend.
Still, god bless the roof so there's at least one match to enjoy. Djokovic breaks in the second set.
crushed.
Djokovic has second set too. Feel sorry for the Reynolds guy. He just looks beat.
Easy win for Djokovic there.
And some great half-hearted fist-bumping from his family/coaches/whoever.
Really impressed that he took time to sign every single thing that anyone was holding out there. He coulda been there hours.
wohoo 'aussie' laura wins the first set.
robson wins in straight sets,
now im watching the best name in tennis, jimmy wang, getting beaten by haas
Managed to take sneaky peeks at the BBC's live text through the day, but home just in time to see Murray warming up.
Murray up a break. Robredo seems to be hitting the ball harder than humanly possible.
Two sets to Murray.
So Murray won, I missed the end, but it looked pretty easy for him.
Time for the tennis now. Robson loses the first set quite comprehensively.
come on laura.
big day for the aussies, tomic up a set on gasquet, stosur up next on centre court, not to mention the battle of the anzacs
Commentator says "Hawkeye is favouring Robson at the moment."
Dude, don't start conspiracies like that.
gasquet wins the second, looks like he is getting on top of tomic now, although its a pretty close match.
wohoo
Interesting that Erakovic has slipped twice since I've been watching and she's not belly-aching about it being dangerous.
Erakovic has a cracking serve but it's absolutely deserted her and Robson gets a set back!
wohooooooo.....
tomic up 2 sets to 1
wohooo again
laura up 3-0 in the third.
Third slip for Erakovic
Robson wins. A big hug at the net. Love it when they're nice to each other.
what a comeback it was all over in the second set.
What a choke from Erakovic. Way too tight when serving for the match.
I came to watch at a friends house and was too scared to face the last trains by myself so I'm sleeping on the couch. I'm going to regret this when I wake up in my clothes with no toothbrush :-(
No toothbrush versus scary trains. I think you made the right choice!
Robson didn't really win it, it was gifted to her.
at the end of the second the commentators said something like "oh laura really went for that last game"
No,Marina forgot how to play
yes tomic wins v gasquet, big win, hes so much better when his head butting dad isn't around.
Ooh yay, Lisicki. The scared-of-lightning lady.
no, stosur is out... but I like lisicki and she might be the only one who can match serenas power so that should be an interesting match in the next round.
eh?
She got scared by the lightning under the roof and everyone laughed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXd8jUhE5gY
cute.
I can't believe Djokovic made an unforced error. And I can't believe Andrew Castle went on and on and on about the fact he hadn't made one until he did.
Who knew Kimiko Date had married Michael Krumm? A motor racing connection at Wimbledon
Just find a motor racing connection and she gets steam rollered by Serena
points for that, chap.