Wimbledon 2010

[lizann]

Andy Murray says he may not bow to the Queen when she attends Wimbledon this week, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

The Queen will attend the championships this Thursday for the first time since 1977, and the Scot has said he will "wait and see" what other players do before deciding whether to bow if he plays in front of her on Centre Court.

"It should be personal preference," said Murray.

"I'll have to wait and see. I don't want to be bowing and the person I'm playing with walk straight past or the other way around."

The custom of players bowing or curtsying before blue-blooded visitors in the Royal Box on Wimbledon's Centre Court was abandoned in 2003.

But an exception was kept in place for days when the Queen or Prince of Wales were in attendance - and the Queen's visit on Thursday will mark the first time either has been to Wimbledon since the rules were changed.

The men's and women's world number ones, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, have confirmed that they will bow and curtsy, with Williams claiming that she is already practising the traditional greeting.

Keen monarchists should not fear for Murray's loyalty to his sovereign, however: the Scot's thoughts on the matter are based on uncertainty rather than any republican sympathies, with the world number four adding that it would be a "great honour" to play in front of her majesty.

"I've never done that before so there would be a little bit of added pressure to play well," he added.

Has Murray a chance of winning this year or will Federer and Nadal spoil his party?

[Siobhan]

This is one sport I never got into.. I never saw the point.

[Chloe O'brien]

I'd love to see Murray win Wimbledon but Fed and Nadal have to be having an off day for him to win. My money's on Fed for a player to come back after 2 sets down and win the match takes some beating. But he's no man he's a machine.

[Katy]

I think Nadal was looking good in his match today, watched the end of the Jancovic Robson match yesterday, Robson played brilliant, when shes a bit older and can play more tournaments a year i think she wil be a brilliant player.

[tammyy2j]

I hope Nadal wins this year

[Abbie]

This game is going on forever!

[Katy]

i cant believe it! is it 59 59 an they have called it a day due to lighting, they must be hurting all over, fair play to them for keeping up.

[Abbie]

I actually enjoyed watching tennis for once

[Abbie]

Isner won! what a game!

[Katy]

its been a good opening, i enjoyed that games, and i really enjoyed the Robson game.

[moonstorm]

Glad Isner won but it was such a shame that someone had to loose after all that effort. What a game, never seen anything like it!

[Perdita]

Exhausted American John Isner, whose epic first-round match broke all tennis records at 11 hours and five minutes, was beaten in just 74 minutes by Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker at Wimbledon.
- 0
More Stories

* BET now on Wimbledon - Bet Now
* Photos from SW19
* Men's drawsheet
* Djokovic powers into second week

Isner held serve 69 consecutive times in the final set of his record-breaking three-day match against Nicolas Mahut which ended on Thursday, but lost his first four service games in his second-round match at the All England Club.

He called a medical timeout for treatment to his neck and shoulders after De Bakker powered to the opener 6-0 and seemed weary and off the pace throughout the encounter.

He consulted with a trainer at most of the changes of ends, and ate bananas and bars to try and boost his energy levels but De Bakker completed a 6-0 6-3 6-2 rout.

Isner sent down a record 112 aces against Mahut. Against De Bakker he served none in a match that turned out to be the shortest men's contest so far at this year's championships.

All seats on Court Five were filled in just three minutes when the public were admitted at 10:30 local time. Fans queued five deep hoping to squeeze in.

The 21-year-old De Bakker, who came through a long five-set first round clash himself, beating Santiago Giraldo 16-14 in the decider, was greeted with a smattering of polite applause. Isner arrived 10 minutes later to huge applause and the clicks of a bevy of photographers.

Isner's mum Karen feared her son would soon "hit a wall" and her worst fears were proved right.

"He's a little beat up, his feet are rotten looking. He has no skin on his toes, he's sort of a mess," she said courtside before play.

Once on court, Isner found his tank running on empty.

Despite yells of "C'mon John" from those who flocked to Court Five to watch iron man Isner in action, the 25-year-old's body would not respond, even if the spirit was willing.

"I was low on fuel out there and didn't really have a chance," said Isner, who spent the morning stretched out on a treatment table after waking up with a stiff neck and blistered feet.

"It wasn't like I was dying out there, I was just tired. Sometimes the adrenaline can take over but that wasn't the case today. I've never been this exhausted before but it still stinks to lose in the second round."

The first set lasted just 16 minutes, with the American spraying forehands and backhands long and wide.

"It was brutal. I mean, things were looking pretty bleak right from the get go," he said.

"When I went out there and hit that first serve and it didn't have much behind it, I knew I was in for some trouble. I was just low on fuel out there really. Didn't really have a chance."

Isner finally held serve at the fifth attempt but it failed to ignite a comeback as De Bakker worked his weary opponent around the court in ruthlessly efficient style.

The game was up after 74 minutes when Isner, who had saved two match points on his serve, put another tired forehand long.

"I'll watch sports. I'll take in the World Cup. I'll go fishing. I'll do whatever. Just anything away from the tennis court," he joked of his unexpected time off.
Reuters

[lizann]

Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters out

[Perdita]

EX-tennis star JENNIFER CAPRIATI was recovering in hospital yesterday after a drugs overdose.
Paramedics found the 34-year-old - once the world's top female player - in a "dazed state" in her hotel room.

The emergency services were alerted after two other people in the room had been unable to wake Capriati following a night of "partying" at the Riviera Beach hotel in Florida.

A spokesman said she was "stable" after an "accidental overdose" of prescribed medication.

But she refused to explain why the star was staying at the hotel, just half a mile from her £1.2million home in exclusive Singer Island.

Capriati, who burst on the tennis scene as a precocious 14-year-old, has a history of drug use.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/usa/3033874/Jennifer-Capriati-overdoses-by-mistake.html#ixzz0sG4pxlNi

[lizann]

Serena Williams has to win the women's title now

[tammyy2j]

Roger Federer is out not thats a shock Nadal to win now

[Chloe O'brien]

Can't believe my Fed is out, he wasn't the great machine he usually is. If Murray can over powere Nadal Wimbledon is his.

[Perdita]

Murray out now, played well but not well enough Raf Nadal who is on form. Well done to him though

[tammyy2j]

Nadal and Williams champions again well done to them