Wimbledon Tennis

[destresserai]

I think the good thing about tennis is ultimately it becomes about the player and not the nationality.

I do not have any worries about Andy Murray and the pressure because he courts this and indeed I believe his arrogance will always pull him through. I have to say my sister-in-law and I met him last year and he was one of the most disagreeable people I have ever met!

The comments about Nadal are unfounded. He is a better clay player than grass and therefore will always be more challenged by it. In addition, I know from Spanish friends that their press is just as bad on Nadal as ours is on Murray. No-one has an unfair advantage on surface or age - it is just how they deal with it themselves.

I, for one, was glad that Murray did not get to the final - I believe it would have been a lot more one sided to Federer and hopefully Murray's attitude may well have time to improve.

[Cortone]

Destresserai - your comments about Murray are interesting, and largely fit with an article about his behaviour in the Times on 3 July.

My dad was in professional sports at the top level (nationally and internationally) and for many years. He often commented that very few 'real' winners were really nice people while they were still competing, and especially in 'individual' sports. The selfishness and focus required for success at the top level could not be switched on and off, and many of them - while appearing confident (arrogant?) - were well aware of their limitations. (The same can apply to some managers too...) They recognise that ultimately they have to take responsibility for their performance, even if things go against them (whatever the reasons). And clearly, they do not like it when things do not go to plan.

Having said that, many of them (but not all of them!) are/were very nice after their serious playing days were over. McEnroe in his playing days seemed very aggressive and arrogant, but now I think he has a wicked sense of humour! I've no idea what he is like off air - maybe he has not changed!

BTW - my comment about Nadal was really meaning that his biggest success is usually (and I bow to your expertise here) on clay (although I know he won Wimbledon), and Spain is not a Grand Slam tournament venue. And yes - the comments about him are very similar to those being made about Murray, which reflects that he has been totally focused on his fame. However press reports suggest that he has admitted that he is at "rock bottom mentally", and maybe he will appear more human. (But can he win when he feels like that??) (BTW - when in Germany the other week, my German colleagues were scathing about Boris Becker and his behaviour.)

There are other winners who appear to be able to combine top performance and 'being nice', but that may be because we do know 'know' the full story. (I was going to name one I thought was nice - but it turns out there is a book about him, which is a 'warts and all' book.) Maybe it is better that we don't know these details!

[platining]

The comments about Nadal are unfounded. He is a better clay player than grass and therefore will always be more challenged by it. In addition, I know from Spanish friends that their press is just as bad on Nadal as ours is on Murray. No-one has an unfair advantage on surface or age - it is just how they deal with it themselves.

British media do not have much coverage on Spanish media and British mostly don't read in other languages.

[Cortone]

BTW - and this may disappear very soon - Radio 4's book of the week last week was on Fred Perry. Part of this was about how British people did not initially warm to him, then did, and then.... he fell out of favour again (and the author suggested why he never got a knighthood) . One programme was on his business - just as well he heeded professional advice, as he could have got that very wrong!

The first of the five broadcasts has gone from iplayer (it was on Monday last week, but the rest are still there (for now). It was not something I would have watched out for, but the radio was on in the background.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... Greatness/

Scroll down to see the other episodes.

[bubblez]

Yep was gutted for Roddick.

I was cheering for Federer whilst my BF was cheering for Roddick because he was the "underdog" lolz I do like watching Roddick play but I wanted Federer to win the title back!

Glad Pete Sampras came over to watch the match.

I've heard that they've become "mates" lolz

such a poser with all his co-ordinating clothes.

You talking about when he's playing/not playing tennis? I'm sure he has a stylist and at home he probably walks around in his millions of free Nike shorts lolz...I like Federer over Nadal because he's not some show off.

According to the londonpaper today, p.3: "The final was viewed on BBC1 by 11.2million. Murrary's fourth-round epic last Monday attracted an audience of 12.6million".

lolz well I wasn't that 12.6million!

Also, londonpaper says "Federer admitted that he had been distracted, saying: "at 12-all in the fifth set I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry she (Mirka, his wife) has to go through this whole thing". If Mirka had given birth on Centre Court, British Tennis could have had a future star. Federer said: "Bad luck, guys".

imagine Mirka gave birth!