Court thoughts

I'm not seeing as much of Wimbledon as I would like, but what I am seeing, I am enjoying. Gone are the days when I could lock myself in my office at a supermarket filling station to do 'administrative duties' and spend the afternoon watching tennis on my computer. So I'm not quite as 'on it' as I would like to be. But I'll do my best with a bit of a 'First Week Review':

Cameron Norrie looks like a different player from a year ago. Amazing what a bit of confidence from a few good wins can do to a player. He's gone from looking like a British no.5 to looking like a player who can regularly appear in the latter stages of tournaments and seriously threaten the World's Top 10. 

Ditto (sort of) Heather Watson. I thought her potential had fizzled out years ago, yet here she is displaying stunning grass court skills and getting herself into the last 16! It has to be said that she's had a fairly easy run when you look at the quality of her opponents, but she's still navigated her way through them successfully and her smile can light up the whole of London, so I hope she keeps it up.

I understand why they've decided to play on the middle Sunday, and spread the Fourth Round matches over two days, but God I'll miss Manic Monday. Having ALL the Mens and Womens last 16 matches played on the same afternoon and evening used to be a highlight of the annual sporting calendar. So much going on, so many stories to follow and so many surprises, even on the outer courts. It was unique to Wimbledon and a real treat, and I feel all that will be diluted this year and it just won't be as exciting. 

I have to say I'm enjoying the rowdier crowds this year. Might just be my imagination, but there seems to be a lot less 'polite clapping' and a lot more 'overenthusiastic cheering'. It makes it sound less like a Royal dinner party and more like a proper sports event.

I think it's a post-pandemic thing. People are finally able to get out and enjoy these things again and they're determined to get into it and give it their all and participate, not just observe. They're feeling less self-conscious and just going along with it and expressing their emotions, and long may it continue.

See - Covid was a bastard, and will keep kicking our arses for years yet, but the pandemic has had its good points!

RC 2-7-22