Tennis

The Wimbledon tennis tournament is firmly underway. This usually means two things to me; dodgy weather and Tim Henman (or Henmania if you're a tennis fan). On the former point it always amazes me that people associate the Wimbledon fortnight with dodgy weather. If you picked any two week period during the summer over the last 30 years you would encounter at least 2-3 days of rain. Inclement weather is all part of the wonderful British summer.
This year Tim is not competing. He retired from tennis at 33. What will the British public do? Ah well, I guess they'll have to switch their devotion to a middle-class Scottish player called Andy Murray.

I like watching the odd game of tennis. My favourite ever player is Steffi Graf. She was so good to watch on court. "Skills to pay the bills" as they say and one of the most physically fit womens players of all-time. Her sliced-backhand is my favourite stroke of any player. A true legend.

The last bit of tennis I saw was on June 7th this year. I remember it well. I was in a bar in Saint Omer in France watching the final of the womens French Open. I was in the bar hoping to see the South Africa v Wales rugby game which was due on later. I caught the last thirty minutes of the match. That Ivanovic girl was making a good impression on me. She was easily the best player. I'd heard the name Ana Ivanovic before but had never seen her play. I was pleased when she won. I enjoyed her celebrations, climbing into the stand to reach her coach and parents. Always a dangerous thing to do but she managed that gracefully as well.
It was only later that I found out that it was Ivanovic's first Major win. As I was in France when she won she's become my favourite player now, notwithstanding she's beautiful as well. I think she will win Wimbledon this year.

I never did get to see that Wales rugby match. Probably for the best.