[Andy B]

Mmmmm Annabel Croft......someone post a pic of her...to lazy to do it myself....

[Munki Bhoy]

Mmmmm Annabel Croft......someone post a pic of her...to lazy to do it myself....

Oh for the days of Treasure Hunt when it wasn't Annika Rice...

[Andy B]

Or Interceptor, don't forget that either!

[timp]

I'm looking forward to the men's final, I don't think I'm even gonna watch the women's.

[MK Chris]

I wonder if her final will get covered? I wouldn't be surprised, I don't think we've had a junior in a final for aaaaaaaaages - have we?

My brother tells me it will be and it's the second match on Court Number 1 tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the men's final, I don't think I'm even gonna watch the women's.

I may do, but I think Serena will win. It'll be pre-determined. Elena Dementieva may well not have meant that in her interview (it didn't come across as though she did), but it's clear as day.

I hope the men's final isn't marred by lots of rain, as looks likely.

[Yudster]

If you've ever watch a Williams Sisters final with any understanding of competitive tennis it is totally clear that they don't compete. They play an excellent exhibition match which everyone will enjoy - if you're happy with that, that's fine. Personally I like to see a competition.

Shame about Jamie Murray. I'm developing a wee bit of a crush on him, since he cut his hair.......

[Yudster]

Sorry for the double post, but the front page of the Daily Express today has a picture of Laura Robson and the headline is "At last, a Brit in Wimbledon final".

Bearing in mind that Jamie Murray won a title there just last year, I think this is terrible! And if I was Scotchish, I think I'd be daubing on the blue paint and mustering an invading force.

[MK Chris]

Haha, I remember a big thing about him and Jelena last year.. pretty much concocted by the press, as I remember, but amusing nonetheless.

Incidentally, I saw the tail end of Laura Robson's match against Tabakova (I think that was her name) this morning on the iPlayer. She does look impressive for a 14 year-old (but then, it's not so much your age as the length of time you've been playing that counts.) I hope she can fulfull her potential.. a win today would hand her a wildcard for next year's seniors, which (if she gets it) she should count as invaluable experience. I also saw an interview with her and she seemed very level-headed, very down to earth and completely normal (OK she has a crush on a man 14 years her senior, but that's normal for 14 year old girls, right? The only difference is that she will probably get to meet her crush, Marat Safin.) Anyway, she seemed a pleasant girl.. which is more than can be said for her opponent, who, as has been widely reported, employed a number of unsporting tactics in an unsuccessful attempt to unsettle her.

[Yudster]

Tabakova was resorting to some really desperate stuff - but as Laura Robson said, that would boost her confidence really, it's a compliment. Tabakova has a very fast serve for a junior girl, and if I was her coach I'd have been pleased with her intelligence on court - she was there to win, and all the stuff thats being written about was completely legitimate in that attempt - but she needs to work on her execution. It''s great to resort to slice when you're in a tight spot, but you need to actually be able to DO it!

[MK Chris]

Yes, totally legitimate.. but not very sporting. I know seniors do it as well, but you rarely see someone in a Grand Slam (junior or not) serving underarm. But as you say, Robson took it the right way, as a compliment.

[Bonanzoid]

Well, there we have it. Venus won it straight sets. I think Serena was shitting a brick or 5.

[MK Chris]

* the ladies final (which I couldn't be bothered to watch, I watched Mansour Bahrami and Henri Leconte's senior doubles match; Bahrami is always extremely entertaining and funny to watch), what about the junior girls final!

A few things to take from this.. firstly, having watched Laura Robson play a full match (and brief clips from other matches), I'm very surprised she was only in as a wildcard.. personally I thought she looked like she should have got in on ranking. Secondly, seeing her walk out on court and realising she was about to play to a pretty much packed out Number 1 Court was amusing.. her mouth hit the floor! Thirdly, if the LTA are both careful and lucky, we could have a future ladies champion on our hands.

Loved watching that match.

[Yudster]

Well, there we have it. Venus won it straight sets. I think Serena was shitting a brick or 5.

Some absolutely brilliant tennis, and it had every possible scenario you could imagine, including twist after twist after twist - BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXHIBITION MATCH AND THATS WHAT THEY DO IN EXHIBITIONS!!!!!

*Breathes*

[MK Chris]

To add to what I said (because I forgot this bit), I thought the Thai girl (don't ask me to type her name) conducted herself extremely well and it can't have been easy for her.. when you're used to crowds of one man and his dog (as they both will be), going on to a court packed with thousands of people rooting for your opponent, when you are 16 years of age must be very difficult. And British sporting crowds, particularly tennis fans supporting Brits, can be very partisan.

[Yudster]

Topher, if I ever say Federer and Nadal are dull, or dreary, or boring EVER again - shoot me, will you?

I need to lie down.

[MK Chris]

Well, what a cracker that was.. that was the most nerve-wracking sporting even I've ever watched that didn't involve a Brit. Personally, as much as it takes more than one match to make a great rivalry, this particular rivalry is getting to be a great one.

As I said to Yudster, I'm pleased that it was a classic final, because they are rare and only seem to have happened before my time.

[Bonanzoid]

That final was awesome. I was at work for most of it, but managed to catch alot of the final moments as folk left the restaurant and I wandered through to the bar. I saw Nadal's winning point and the proceeds after. Felt for Federer, he looked crushed but I can see Nadal dominating the sport for a few years now.

Brilliant, brilliant match.

[Munki Bhoy]

Seven years ago I got carpet burns on my knees after watching Ivanicevic win the final. Seriously, I did a power slide in celebration. It was a cracking final and I was absolutely delighted for Goran. He had been my favourite player for years but he'd never won anything. Finally he had. I never thought I'd get so worked up about a Wimbledon final again.

Until yesterday. I think by half 9 yesterday even I was knackered. That was one of the best matches I've ever had the good fortune to watch. Two cracking players at the top of their game. Twists, turns, amazing points where you wonder how they even got there let alone play the shot they did. Then, ultimately, the guy I really wanted to win, did.

Ivanicevic, Nadal... Its cos I'm a lefty myself, must be.

[MK Chris]

Nadal isn't a lefty, he only plays tennis with his left hand. His uncle Toni (and coach) got him to change to his left hand when he was very young because he thought it'd benefit him. He knew what he was talking about; Nadal effectively has two forehands as a result.

I've just been to collect my winnings from the bookies.. only just over a fiver, but I don't care about the money as much as I care about being right. Only just, but I was right.

[Ballbag]

Topher....as a ping pong player ... do you consider tennis to be "the big boy's sport".

[MK Chris]

Haha, no.. it's an entirely different sport. Having said that, some people have gone from being top table tennis players to top tennis players.. though it's never (that I know of) happened the other way round.

Fred Perry, prior to his tennis success, was World Table Tennis Champion and Ann Haydon-Jones (who presented the trophy to Laura Robson), was a World Number 1 table tennis player (though never world champion, she was in the final a few times.) It's easier to go from the small to the big than it is to go from the big to the small.

[Sunny So Cal]

It's easier to go from the small to the big than it is to go from the big to the small.

Isn't that the truth!!!

[MK Chris]

Ha, I'm talking about tennis and table tennis, don't make innuendo out of me(!)

Seriously though, anyone who is at least county standard at table tennis (not me) should be able to play at a reasonable level in tennis.

[Sunny So Cal]

Ha, I'm talking about tennis and table tennis

Sure. Sure you are. I was, too.