Wimbledon

I blame Sampras, then Federer, for the game losing its character in the '90s.

There have been some very exciting matches this year though - with flare, character and loads of unexpected results.

You just wanted to watch Eastenders, didn't you adoubletap?

Flare and character?

Impossible.

Maybe for you ;)

Or....I need to get out more.

Or....I need to get out more.

Clearly.

You mean flair.

https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism/status/353537169354276865/photo/1

Bartoli's victory earlier got the clever brigade out in force. Named and shamed, except the ignorant don't understand how that might feel. It's some of the most miserable stuff I've read.

That Djokovic game was nucking futs in a bad way.

What amazes me about tennis is the ratio of games I've seen and those that are memorable is very high.

Compare it with football, in my experience. I've sat through any number of matches and many have been thoroughly boring. Somehow it remains my favourite sport, I think.

I don't like rugby but the few times I've watched it I've always been entertained, no doubt partly through curiosity.

Yesterday's Djokovic - Del Potro game was beyond description, as was a Federer - Nadal final a few years ago, where Rafa beat him in the fifth. There's a brutality to tennis I really enjoy, in amongst all the deftness and tactics. What Del Potro threw at his opponent could only be overcome with a mixture of talents you can't help but admire, but be emotionally exhausted by.

I love the way you've described it TS ^

I think there's something to be said for the atmosphere on court too - the silence that ensues when a game starts, the fact you can literally hear the balls hit the ground and the racquets cutting through the air.

There's also a dichotomy between the game's old-fashioned sounding points system, its formality, stiffness, starched whites, the use of balls boys and girls etc. and that single-minded, bullish determination, tactical game play, stamina and strength required to win.

What amazes me most though is how these players can play so well under so much pressure (either as the foreign underdog or the home hero), with no team mates to fall back on.

If anyone is on Twitter, Irvine Welsh's live tweeting about Wimbledon is fantastic.

Actually, John Niven is having a go too:

https://twitter.com/NivenJ1

Niven seems to be tweeting in Scoblish...

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FINISH HIM BEFORE THE GUSSET OF MY PANTS LOOKS LIKE A TRUCKLOAD OF CHOCOLATE PAINT CRASHED INTO ABBATOIR"

Is this the year?

2 sets up

Is he gonna do it or shit the bed??

#sweatybottler

#finishhim

rooting for djokovic

Racist

#sweatybottler

It's starting...

This ^

You typical cunts. He's doing great, stfu.

#chopsyginger

blah blah blah wank blah blah what a cunt blah blah mockney rhyming slang blah blah blah...

Come on Andy!

#sweatycomeback

Tell ya what though...gripping stuff!

Two sort-of Championship points!

What a racket!