Weeks 27 & 28 - Wimbledon (grass) - men's singles

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Weeks 27 & 28 - Wimbledon (grass) - men's singles

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Stircrazy wrote:
seagull wrote:
I'm not really sure why they had to stop showing a live match for highlights though. Why can't they show highlights later or on red button?
I've never understood why Today at Wimbledon was moved from its sensible later slot (22.00/22.30) to 20.30. These days, I watch it only if it doesn't clash with a live match that I want to see.

I totally agree, maybe that's something we should tell the Beeb en masse too.

JonH · All-time great

7 out of 64 matches in round one mens had a withdrawal - over ten percent. Is that a record? Must be pretty close. Centre Court will have felt very shortchanged today.

Rich · Lower Club Player

Back home after a fantastic day one at Wimbledon. Me and the wife had tickets for Court 2 and we watched the Cameron/Tsonga match. I saw Cam play live the other week at Nottingham and there is no doubt he is a decent player with talent who given time will rise up the rankings. This match did what I expected it would. Tsonga showed him how the big boys play at the top of the game. The first games seemed fairly even. But then Tsonga clearly started to get into a groove and found his range. I can't say if he was playing at his best but he was able to go to a level that Cameron no matter how hard he tried could not get to. That was the difference. Time and again Cam would shake his head in either bewilderment or despair at how fast Tsonga's serve came at him. It never seemed likely at any point that cam would break serve unless Tsonga dropped in a couple of double faults. So the result was as expected but still entertaining to watch and I still feel this is just the beginning of a good future for Cam.

Didn't see Aljaz live but the noise coming from the court was electric. You could hear the crowd all over.

I know this is the men's section but also saw Heather's match. She played very well but in typical Heather style she dragged the 2nd set out with nerves on edge until she clinched victory. But you can't help but love her. Such a delightful young lady and always has a big smile.

Spectator · All-time great

How lovely to find out that it was Alex Ward's mother's 60th birthday yesterday. While a Ward win would have made it even better, it must still have been (or may be in retrospect - once the tension of the match has gone!) quite something to watch a child who has worked so hard play with an earned spot at the pinnacle of his sport. I was also struck by the way her comments indicate he does things himself, without asking the family for support. No shock there - but just another bit to add to the reasons for liking the way he does things.

No one likes to lose, and he won't be happy about the third and fourth sets. But it was a respectable scoreline, suggestive of someone who'd earned a place, not been gifted it. And a few not-so-great sets can happen to anyone. And for those of us who admire his talent, work ethic, general sense of being a good egg, and love of the game he plays, it was really wonderful to be able to watch him (whether live or on a little screen) at Wimbledon ... a huge pleasure. Wouldn't mind doing so a few more times, either.

Congratulations to Mr Edmund, too.

Jimmy09 · Intermediate Club Player

Hopefully onwards and upwards for Mr Ward, Alex that is! Great ball striker and a terrific work ethic, deserved his place at wimbledon and will now hopefully leave the injuries behind him and push on up the rankings.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

When I sopke to Alex's coach (he had one at that time) in Madrid earlier this year, he told me that in his opinion, Alex was a fantastic ball striker with the ability to go much higher in the rankings. He said "when he is playing well, he is terrific, but he needs to learn to win on the days he is not playing so well", or words to that effect. Sounds a bit like Kyle in that regard.

Jimmy09 · Intermediate Club Player

very true bob. Always classed his as a great ball striker. Its just grinding out results when playing poorly and obviously the major injuries that have held up his progress. Good luck to him. Be a big year for him and hope to see him back in the first round next year either through ranking, which would be amazing or by WC.. If ever you could argue that someone needed the first round prize money surely its Alex.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
When I sopke to Alex's coach (he had one at that time) in Madrid earlier this year, he told me that in his opinion, Alex was a fantastic ball striker with the ability to go much higher in the rankings. He said "when he is playing well, he is terrific, but he needs to learn to win on the days he is not playing so well", or words to that effect. Sounds a bit like Kyle in that regard.

Interesting, Bob. That comment from the coach is certainly (from a spectator's point of view) what seemed to happen yesterday - he didn't know what to do when his A game (which had been on show all the week up to now) suddenly went slightly AWOL - he looked rather lost.

(Not to bang on, but a formation based on team tennis is brilliant for that side of things - you have to learn how to 'win ugly' and you get a captain to teach you, in live time).

JonH · All-time great

First set 6-3 to Aljaz!

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

L64: Aljaz Bedene WR 58 defeated Damir Dzumhur (BIH) WR 83 by 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3 smile

*****

L32: Aljaz Bedene WR 58 vs (16) Gilles Müller (LUX) WR 26 (= CH)

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Brilliant !

Strongbow · All-time great

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Aljaz Bedene, speaking on BBC Two after beating Damir Dzumhur: "I was playing quite solid tennis, he gave me a few easy games which helped, so I'm happy.

"I played my first round match on court three too and this crowd is amazing - without them I couldn't have won that first match and this one.

"I played [third round opponent] Gilles Muller a few weeks ago - he loves grass and is a left-hander with a big serve, so he's never easy to face, but I'll fight and see what happens."

Rich · Lower Club Player

Aljaz, Hev and Jo and now Andy to come.

Don't spoil the day now Andy.