It's started. As usual, I'm going to get behind Andy 'Chuckles' Murray until he gets dumped out in the quarter finals.
The good news is that the Centre Court now has a roof, so Cliff Richard can stay at home.
Anyone else looking forward to this year's championship?
If I get into, I really get into it. I prefer playing tennis to watching, but these days it's only on the Wii.
I've only been to Wimbledon once. It was a school trip in the 80s. On the plus side I saw Becker play centre court. On the downside we had to wear school uniform and find places to smoke away from the teachers.
Btw I saw Nadal practicing last week.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ June 22 2009, 1:44 PM BSTI prefer playing tennis to watching, but these days it's only on the Wii.
It always cracks me up this time of year in London, for 50 weeks of the year, the tennis courts in the parks are never even looked at, but suddenly every man and his dog are on the courts 24-7 for the next 14 days.
Maria Sharpova is losing at the moment, so I'm personally gutted. I know I should be oogling British, but our entry is only 15 and that's creepy.
I wonder how Clement has been playing lately? He has good grass pedigree. Haven't seen many of his matches this year, but I think if playing well he could provide the big upset of round 1. Del Potro is a tough ask for anyone on current form if he progresses, though and could be a real threat in the later stages of the tournament. Tursunov won in Eastborne and played some good stuff along the way, he looks to be well placed to progress from that section of the draw.
I got these guys as the best sleeper choices this year...
Feliciano Lopez
Haas
Ancic
Cilic
Karlovic
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ June 22 2009, 1:59 PM BSTIt always cracks me up this time of year in London, for 50 weeks of the year, the tennis courts in the parks are never even looked at, but suddenly every man and his dog are on the courts 24-7 for the next 14 days.
Not me, I'm a massive tennis fan, follow the sport all year round and played comeptitively on a pretty regular basis (at least up until a few years ago)
Quote: Jackson Neil @ June 22 2009, 2:11 PM BSTNot me, I'm a massive tennis fan, follow the sport all year round and played comeptitively on a pretty regular basis (at least up until a few years ago)
I think your above post proves that point Jackson. I'm more a casual viewer with a tendency to watch the British hopefuls, the fit female players and the finals of course.
The first week is always a bit of a damp squib as the wheat and chaff are seperated. Will be watching it much more avidly next week.
I live right by Wimbledon, so it means 2 weeks of not getting on buses and crowded tubes.
I tend to go out in Wimbledon a lot, but not during these two weeks. Queuing at the bar for twenty minutes at a time isn't my idea of fun.
^ What those two said.
but I shall add that Wimbledon fortnight is always fun for the amount of stupid tourists who ignore the signs at Wimbledon station saying "DO NOT GET OFF HERE FOR THE TENNIS - GO TO SOUTHFIELDS" and also ignore the signs at Southfields saying "GET OFF HERE FOR THE TENNIS".
It's especialy fun when they all wander into the shopping centre next to Wimbledon station looking for the tennis, just because it is called Centre Court.
Why isn't there an emoticon for yawning?
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ June 22 2009, 1:35 PM BSTIt's started. As usual, I'm going to get behind Andy 'Chuckles' Murray until he gets dumped out in the quarter finals.
The good news is that the Centre Court now has a roof, so Cliff Richard can stay at home.
Anyone else looking forward to this year's championship?
No. Wimbledon should f**k off and die. It brings sport to a whole new level of tedium.
Anyone but Murray.
I was trying to polite in my opinion of tennis when I was looking for the yawn emoticon. 
Quote: Afinkawan @ June 22 2009, 3:31 PM BSTbut I shall add that Wimbledon fortnight is always fun for the amount of stupid tourists who ignore the signs at Wimbledon station saying "DO NOT GET OFF HERE FOR THE TENNIS - GO TO SOUTHFIELDS" and also ignore the signs at Southfields saying "GET OFF HERE FOR THE TENNIS".
The tube conductor even says "get off here for Wimbledon Tennis" at Southfields, and there's a massive billboard as you arrive in the station with tennis pictures on. I get off at East Putney and walk instead of facing the crowds and the crazy men in green.
You do realise there's going to be a crowd of stalkers hanging around East Putney tube station waiting to follow you around now Ellie? 
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ June 22 2009, 3:56 PM BSTYou do realise there's going to be a crowd of stalkers hanging around East Putney tube station waiting to follow you around now Ellie?
Ha - I don't look like my avatar anyway. Good luck.
And when you say "crowd of stalkers"... do you really mean you?
Quote: EllieJP @ June 22 2009, 3:57 PM BSTAnd when you say "crowd of stalkers"... do you really mean you?
I think Chip would be there...