feather_ghyll

So, women are back playing competitively at Queen’s club for the first time in 52 years, so whoever wins will be a trailblazer, in a way. Apparently they will be getting less in prize money than the men next week – boo! And I say that as someone who doesn’t believe in equal prize money at the slams, because I think there should be some fractional recognition that the men’s singles are five sets, even if women were probably barred from playing five because of past sexism. Oh, sorry, ‘the schedule’. (Do they run a shorter distance in a marathon?) But here, what’s the excuse? All the matches will be best of three! Wanting women to prove themselves? The ticket sales have been good, (and the attendance and support will be a boost after the issues at the French.) I wonder what state the courts will be at the end of the week, and if that will throw the men - oh well, they'll be financially compensated for it, won't they?

Is it a bit rough that a 500 event is being held straight after a grand slam? Admittedly, the turnaround between surfaces is notoriously quick at this time of the year, and so it looks as though they’ve had a strong field, because players want time on the grass, and Queen’s will be less windy than Eastbourne.

They’ve renamed the centre court Andy Murray arena. First on it were ( Read more... )

The top four seeds had byes in the first round and will appear today.

I’m glad ‘Roland Garros’ put Rafael Nadal’s goodbye on YouTube. ( Read more... )

As for the tennis, (I caught up via news reports, live radio and highlights), ( Read more... )

Before it is entirely too late... In Miami, ( Read more... )

This is all from a distance, following liveblogs, the Quick Served recaps and occasionally listening on Five Live.

For what it’s worth, before it started, I thought that the favourites to win were ( Read more... )

I was reminded that the Davis Cup was on and the British matches were on iPlayer, so I caught up on Friday’s singles, ( GB v. Argentina )

On Sunday, ( GB v Canada ) I think I know seven of the eight countries that made it through. Apparently the format will be rejigged next year.

Day eight: ( Read more... )

Day nine: ( Read more... )

Day ten: ( Read more... )

Final day: ( Read more... )

The closing ceremony ( Read more... )

My Olympics were very selective, ( tennis, artistic gymnastics and athletics )

Day six: ( Read more... )

Day seven: ( Read more... )

I got Discovery+ (grumbling at the greed of the IOC) to be sure I got to see the tennis, basically. But I watched the opening ceremony on the BBC. ( Read more... )

But to the tennis:

Day one: ( Read more... )

Day two: ( Read more... )

Day thirteen

First of all, if Medvedev said what he was reported to have said (my source is Andy Roddick’s podcast Served), then they should have defaulted him or why have the rule about being abusive of umpires? It won’t be fair to apply it to a lower ranked player being equally abusive of an umpire during a less high-profile match. I couldn’t hear what was said when I watched it.

Women’s final – ( Read more... )