Wimbledon day 1

Here it is people! The start of Wimbledon. Today sees plenty of action, including the start of world n°1 and title holder Rafael Nadal's campaign, and of course the small matter of the man who carries the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders: Andy Murray. This is the place to discuss the action on day 1 at Wimbledon.

Thanks for the thread, MFC. Here's hoping to a great start and a good day!!

What on EARTH is Venus Williams wearing?? but then the same could be said of her opponent.

Can't wait to get home to turn on the tube, Nothing like the first day at wimbeldon when the grass is fresh and not worn on the court, it really is beautiful.

socal

Expect to only be watching Centre Court later - weather not too bad at the moment but rain expected from about 4 or 5pm and through much of the evening, so Murray will most probably be under the roof (Rafa should be completed and off before the weather turns).

Agree though that there is something 'right' about watching tennis being played on lush green courts and by players in white - yes, it's old fashioned, but this is Britain, we do old fashioned quite well.

My favourtie two weeks of tv has returned!!

Heres my predictions....

Mens Match Of the Day - Stepanek V Verdasco
Womens MOTD - Schiavonne V Dokic

Mens Highest Seed to fall - Wawrinka
Womens Highest Seed to fall - Schiavonne

Go Rafa!!!

first result of the day, and it's not a good one for the Brits. Katie O'Brien loses to Date-Krumm 6-0 7-5. She did better in the second set after a pretty terrible first set, but her serve just wasn't good enough (held serve twice in the entire match).

Rafa time. Are we going to talk about his game here or on the Rafa thread woofs?

Wooffie wrote:What on EARTH is Venus Williams wearing?? but then the same could be said of her opponent.

Well - Vinus is making a fool of herself. But Wooffie, Amanmuradova is not wearing a disco outfit and I think there is nothing wrong with what she is wearing.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Rafa time. Are we going to talk about his game here or on the Rafa thread woofs?

Would think a quick 3 sets here for Rafa.

decent start by Russell that, holds to 30, the highlight a quite brilliant reflex lob volley for a winner. Centre Court looks quite beautiful out there.

Nadal shanks quite a few balls when he wants to take the ball early.

Tenez wrote:Nadal shanks quite a balls when he wants to take the ball early.

Been watching Roger too much

Federer woudl not shank v Russell!

sportslover wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Rafa time. Are we going to talk about his game here or on the Rafa thread woofs?

Would think a quick 3 sets here for Rafa.

Maybe not so quick!

Darn it, can't wait to get home, enough worky worky, I need a drinky drinky and some opening day tennis. Yes, dummy there is a wonderful feeling that first day of wimbeldon with that lovely untattered grass. By round 3 with oncoming dirt patches it isn't quite as attractive.

I'm so happy Wimbledon has finally arrived! I love this tournament. Dissapointing start for the Brits though with Katie O'Brien already losin 6-0 7-5 against Datte-Krum (I think that's who it was!). Looking forward to Murray's match later

What time does murray kick off?

socal1976 wrote:What time does murray kick off?

He is third on after Nadals match which should be three sets, then followed by Schiavone v Dokic which will be max of three sets.

Work that one out?

I would guess around 5-00pm GMT

Fish has beaten Granollers fairly easily 7-6 7-6 6-4, serving 26 aces! Belucci is the first seed to fall, but that's only a semi upset really, the clay courter losing to former semi finalist Rainer Schuettler.

Zvonereva in a 3rd set with Riske.... could the No2 be the major casualty today??

I can't wait for 'today at wimbeldon' tonight.... Anyone know who's presenting? I hope its not John Inverdale.... He really gets on my nerves!

Today at Wimbledon is on at a stupid time, there will still be tennis going on.

it is like in football Match of the Day starting at about 4.30 on a Saturday afternoon

and you can bet it will be Inverdale, after all they had him doing all the interviews during Queen's. He gets on my nerves too, and I always have to put up with him during the 6 Nations in rugby, he's exceptionally annoying.

5pm sounds a great time for me for Murray's match to start, I get in from work by 5:10pm!

Going from the crowd at the FO to that at Wimbledon is like leaving unciviliazation to civiliazation where the sport and all players are appreciated and respected. Far from the hooliganism at RG.

Ree-Shard two sets up against Giraldo. Just broken serve in the opening game of the third set too, great stuff...

Simple_Analyst wrote:Going from the crowd at the FO to that at Wimbledon is like leaving unciviliazation to civiliazation where the sport and all players are appreciated and respected. Far from the hooliganism at RG.

Totally agree with that

Simple_Analyst wrote:Going from the crowd at the FO to that at Wimbledon is like leaving unciviliazation to civiliazation where the sport and all players are appreciated and respected. Far from the hooliganism at RG.

Hooliganism...is that a french word?!

Scratching my head hard to find an answer to Tenez's thought challenging question.

does anyone else think that there should be more of a gap between matches? it seems a bit stupid that Centre Court is half empty now for the start of the next match.

in cricket they have a lunch break and tea interval. Why not tennis?

Fairly straight-froward start for Rafa, although at 2-4 in the first it perhaps looked a little more testing. Losing only 4 further games was pretty good from there.

Ree-Shard through in straight sets, though he made a bit of a mess in closing it out, surrendering service breaks at 4-3 and 5-4 before clinching the tie-break.

dummy_half wrote:Fairly straight-froward start for Rafa, although at 2-4 in the first it perhaps looked a little more testing. Losing only 4 further games was pretty good from there.

In many ways that was an ideal first round for Nadal - plenty of rallies to get his eye in, not much danger and a bit of pressure early on to deal with

Is Nadal likely to play every one of his matches on centre court this year?

and we have our first rain delay for Wimbledon 2011, gosh they're quick with the covers aren't they? Roof will be coming on, and we'll have a short delay.

Tenez wrote:Federer woudl not shank v Russell!

IU dont think he is fussy who he shanks

Tenez wrote: Hooliganism...is that a french word?!

No. Irish.

Schiavone eventually sees off Dokic in three sets, and that means that Murray is up next

woo Murray time!

Let the drama and grinding of teeth begin !

Murray with a commanding hold to love, good start.

Murray looking fine so far, holding very easily and getting a look in on both his return games, just hasn't made the breakthrough yet...

Nice solid start by Murray, good serving and an immaculate drop shot, only Twizzle could have got that one !

shocking service game from Murray, he just seems to be losing it out there, and Gimeno-Traver will serve for the set

well that was NOT on the cards. Murray showing a bit of nerves, and some poor returning gifts the set away. Needs to regroup very quickly.

Murray, knocking every bottle off the fridge and loosing first set 6:4.

Yeah right Jahu, go get some spectacles.

murray just kept ball in the court,,hoping his opponent would crumble,,

he should go for winners in this 2nd set

Oh god , here we go, Murrays shrinks are spilling the beans as usual.

Got to hand it to Traver, he's going for broke and its working at the moment, just how long he can continue like this is debatable, but Murray isnt doing to much wrong right now, just getting such good returns and powerful shots at him.

Murray's returning has been poor today, how many second serves has he failed to return?