Nicolas Mahut, Pogo Mini

I belong to the game site,POGO.They have avatars called minis.I made this one last year to salute the effort of Nicolas Mahut after the amazing match he and John Isner played.And I really couldn't make one to look like Isner.But that hair works for Mahut.The background is a London cab.They don't have a tennis court that looks right.

Update - Isner def Mahut 7-6 6-2 7-6
2011 1st round.Oh well.

The Giant Blancmange from outer space "They mean to win Wimbledon"!

I remembered this crazy episode of Monty Python were Blancmange from outer space come to earth to win Wimbledon.Naturally the first thing they do is to set about turning everyone into Scotsman.Because,at least back in the seventies,Scotland was the worst tennis playing nation in the world.
So here in honor of Andy Murray is the episode.

It entertains.It amuses.It answers the important question; "How do you play doubles with five people"?
Be of strong heart,Angus Podgorny.

Tomas Berdych,Ivan Lendl and the Wimbledon Final

Tomas Berdych def Novak Djokovic





Ivan Lendl was already living in the United States by the time he made it to the Wimbledon final.He played the final twice in 86,and 87.Lost both of course.
But it's amazing he made it that far in the first place.He was far better on slower courts,and this was the age of the serve and volley grass court attacker.He worked like hell to give himself a chance at it.You can't fault him for effort.I wish he had defeated Pat Cash,but that was not going to happen.
I wonder if he will watch the final with Tomas Berdych.

Berdych does remind me of him.Tall,with Slavic cheekbones.Strong with big strokes.A high toss on the serve,and a big forehand.And of course the accent.I have an affection for those clunky Czech accents.It sounds like they are trying to give their tongue a good beating.
He doesn't have Lendl's willful personality.But I do think he's turning the corner on his career.He has a chance against Nadal.Not a great one,but a chance.



Ivan Lendl;Back in the day when men were men,and they wore shorts.

Roger Federer - Wimbledon 2010 loss in Quarters

As a Federer fan,that was a shame.He has such a special place in Wimbledon history.Breakfast at Wimbledon without him.That hasn't happened in long time.
He acknowledged he was slightly injured since Halle.I think he was just being honest,Not making excuses.I don't blame players for telling the truth.
There was some talk on the web about him being cranky in the press conference.That wouldn't be hard to understand.He did say some things about the other players at the end of it that were taken to be bad mouthing them.Jon Wertheim of SI stated he was being sarcastic,and those statements should not be held against him.
I read the transcript,and it seemed out of character.You do really have to see video to get tone of voice,facial expessions etc..
I think Roger tends to take things pretty well for a man who can be emotional.

Stat of the match Break points converted:
Federer 1/8
Berdych 4/6

Points were;Berdych 127,Federer 118.
That close.

I'm really still trying to digest this.Federer is clearly passing his best.He said he is going to rest for awhile.Best thing for him.I hope he can gear up for the hard court season,and US Open.

He did lose to a thumping big player.Tomas Berdych has been long predicted to step up and contend for majors.He has disapointed those predictors for years.Semi at the French,and now Wimbldon.Maybe more.He woke up.

Best nickname for him T - Berd,Berdman,Berddog.
I like Berddog.

So who's going to win?
Amazing if Murray.

Isner vs Mahut - Wimbledon June 23,2010

The match between John Isner,and Nicholas Mahut has been called due to darkness for the second evening in a row.Tied at 59 games in the fifth set.
118 games played in the fifth set blows a tennis match out of its framework.

I don't know how one of ,or both,of the players didn't cramp,or simply collapse.
These two athletes have reserves of endurance,and courage remarkable to behold.
Isner did look wobbly to me.There was one service game among the last few where it seemed he was failing,and I was surprised Mahut didn't step around and attempt to pound the ball for a clean winner.I think he was a step back on those returns.Isner got the game.
They must both be staggering with fatigue.But Mahut looked fresher.
I don't know what will happen tommorow.It may just depend on who feels worse when they crawl out of bed tommorow.Either one could wake up with a horrible stiff back,and be out of luck.Whichever aching carcass can loosen himself up for the resumption of play will probably have it.

It was just madness.So much action,and still locked in place.No resolution.
The fact is that without a break of serve,a tennis match can't end.No break of serve,no two game advantage.No two game advantage,no end to the set.
That's why the tiebreak was invented.And,of course you still need a minibreak.James Van Allen,all credit due.
This made me think that there may be some kind of mathmatical inevitibility about this occurance.Like the idea that whatever is possible must happen sometime.I can't believe that is literally true.But an event,no matter how extraordinary that is possible,has a decent crack at happening sometime.So we have the unbreakable,unending tennis match.
But someone will break.Somethings gotta give!

To put it in perspective.A five set tennis match ending in tiebreaks would be 12 games a set.Plus add a game to represent the tiebreak.That's 65 games.
They are well past that in the last set.

I feel proud of them,and sorry for them at the same time.
Poor guys.

Wimbledon 2010 Close One,Roger

Roger Federer just came within a whisker of a George Bastl job.Ouch,that was close.
I can see the punny headlines;Federer Falla-en,Fed Falla's in the first round.And other strained witticisms.
It was like watching a plumber tearing apart a miss tuned Stadivarius.
He just hasn't been the same this year.At least he still has the pride,if the urgency is failing.
Burned through that last set in a hurry though.
Maybe this will slap him across the face,and wake him up.

Alejandro Falla has to be amazed at the match he played.But when it got tight,he just couldn't close the deal.
How many times have I seen it happen?
Plenty.

The Queen,her father-George VI,and Wimbledon

I read a few days ago that the Queen (of England,yes that one) will attend a day at the upcoming Wimbledon.She hasn't been since Virginia Wade won in 1977.Long time no see,huh?
I guess she figured what could top seeing "our Ginny" win.
I've heard she doesn't care for tennis.As a matter of fact I think she just doesn't like tennis at all.Oh well,as they say there is no accounting for taste.
But her father did like tennis.I knew I could recall that he played the Wimbledon doubles.
Her father was Albert,the Duke of York.The second oldest son of King George V,and Queen Mary.Mary loved tennis,and attended Wimbledon regularly.At the time he played he was already a married man of 31.Elizabeth had been born in april of the year.
In "Wimbledon-The Official HIstory of the Championships",on page 64.

"The Championships of 1926 were a Royal occasion in another sense because the Duke of York,later King George VI, competed in the doubles with his equerry,Wing Commander Louis Greig (later sir Louis) who,in 1937,took over from Sir Herbert Wilberforce as Chairman of the Club.It was the only time that a member of the Royal Family has competed at Wimbldon."

There is a picture of him,in classic long pants of course, swinging the racket up with his left hand.He was a natural lefty,but he was taught to write with his right hand.
The doubles event of 1926 was won by Jacques Brugnon/Henri Cochet over Howard Kinsey/Vincent Richards.
I couldn't find any information on how the Windsor/Greig team did.I wonder if they could win a few sets.But I would suspect they lost in the first round.
Unfortunately Wimbledon doesn't have the full records available online.Which they should.Who do they expect to do that for them?

Of course the Duke of York became King George VI when his older brother Edward abdicated to marry American divorcee,Wallis Simpson.
That is why his daughter became Queen.Shame he didn't manage to instill a love of tennis in her.But the tennis players loss was the race horses gain,I suppose.

Really a shame William didn't start playing.With his height,and reach he may have been a fine player.

One final note.The truth is tennis was played by a great many Royals.Henry VIII among them.
But that was the old form of tennis.Now known as Real,or Court tennis.And that is another subject.