91Èȱ¬

Had to laugh at the 91Èȱ¬ headline today "Rafael Nadal defies injury to progress"

Wouldn't "Rafael Nadal simulates injury to progress" have been a bit nearer the truth?

As Boris Becker rightly pointed out, Nadal requested - and was granted - a medical time-out at a crucial point in the match. For - apparently - a knee problem. This, as Becker also noted disapprovingly, after no outward sign of any strain or injury taking place.

And then - in the game that followed - poor Rafa proceeded to show some of the most remarkably free running you could imagine.

Very impressive, for a man whose leg-joints were at death's door only 90 seconds previously.

I think his poor sportsmanship is a side to his play that is... how you say... regrettable

I'd Most certainly agree with the ground pass assesment. Myself and a friend have just spent the week at Wimbledon - Monday to Wednesday and Friday. Monday we were lucky enough to get centre court and again on friday but the really enjoyable days and memories of wimbledon over the years are the great days where we have queued for ground passes, as on Tuesday and Wednesday this year.

However one thing that has struck me over recent years is how busy it is getting.... and how hard it is to, as you say, sit on the benches and watch good tennis. Its very hard to get near any good matches, even late in the evening the seats and standing areas are all packed and it means missing several sets of matches involving some of your favoirte players if you are not there 20 mins or more prior to the match, i.e it is hard to move around and see "bits and peices" or catch several matches a day.

It is good to see the public know their stuff and are sticking around till late in the evening (thats one thing that struck me this year, how busy the grounds were at gone 20.30) but something just tells me that the capacity is set too high to make the day enjoyable if there are several matches you want to watch or certain players you want catch a brief glimpse, perhaps a set or so.

My theory is that through the new number 2 court and this year lack of the old 2 way stand between Courts 2 and 3 has pushed the rest of the grounds to the limit - Getting top row on court 3 stand was always, as a tennis fan, the place to be, a view of No2, 3 and numerous other outside courts. I feer that Wimbledon will never be the same now No2 is all seater and off limits to all but ticket holders, the free standing area has gone and no view from court 3, will the new court 3 be all ticket?

I certainly hope not as the magic of that ground pass is being somewhat erroded in my opinion. Seems that gone are the days when we had free standing/viewing for ground ticket holders on at least some major courts, its both pushing the ground capacity to its limits, overcrowding other areas and most importantly denying the real tennis fan - i.e the guys and girls that follow their players like some follow their football team and who don't just watch tennis for 2 weeks a year (like a fair proportion who get tickets to the show courts) from seeing there favoirte players and matches which they want to see.

G_K, I totally agree about the questionable timeout taken by Nadal who employed the same tactic at Queens when he was losing. He may have been feeling pain in his knee but he knows as we all do that a 3 minute rub by the trainer is not going to solve the problem. Petzschner said during his press conference that he felt it was a tactical move by Nadal to upset his rhythm and given what happened immediately after you would have to agree.

Whilst the medical timeout rule exists players are going to take advantage of it. Unless it is to bandage a cut or administer medication I cannot see it's purpose.

I must admit I cannot remember the last time Andy Murray received a medical timeout which I think says a lot about his character.

Nadal's knee problems are well documented - he does not strike me as the sort of player to indulge in unsporting conduct, he has always seemed an exemplary player. It may be over cautiousness on his part but I would not read anything else into it.

Rafael Nadal is tarnishing his image with all these medical time outs at critical times in matches - whether they are necessary or not.

Villasronaldo, I totally agree with your comments about the value of a groundpass.

I was at Wimbledon on Friday and Saturday and was fortunate enough to have tickets for Court One and then Centre. But that said, I was keen to have a look around the grounds and catch some of the action elsewhere, especially on Saturday. We gave up after a while. We tried to watch Isner (no chances), then Bartoli (forget it), then the next day tried the men's doubles (Flemski and Eaton & Inglot) and Azarenka but the courts were rammed.

But as you rightly say, nipping in and out off a show court to see other matches isn't that viable anymore because you have to get on to a court so early, otherwise there are no seats/standing area left.

Of course you could queue for standing area but if it's a good match, chances are you could be waiting a long time to get anywhere. From my experience, people seem far more willing to leave seats they have specific tickets for than on the outside courts so getting that 'ground pass experience' does appear to be getting harder.

I share the concerns about the new court three as well. If that becomes all-ticket, it's going to be even harder for ground pass holders to see big names in action - at least in singles anyway.

The flip side of course, is that is widens the number of tickets available for a show court which many would welcome. We'll have to see how it pans out but I'd like to think the depth in talent/players people will be interested in and some sensible scheduling from the All England Club will mean ground passes will still offer excellent value for money.

Ihave just read some comments about Raffa Nadal.He is one of the greatest sportsman,he is number one,he has just won the French openand all the other clay court tournaments.What has Murray won this year?Why is Raffa not on centre court.I am British but sorry it's Raffa all the way.Vamos

I have been watching ANDY MURRAY on Centre Court today and I am totally disgusted with his body language and his readable verbal abuse...every time I watch him I get angry at his attitude - I think everyone, including children, can read what he is saying and you can just feel his anger and his superior attitude - he needs to be taught a lesson in more than just tennis in etiquette as well. I am disappointed in him and what he represents to UK. Someone should explain to him what sportsmanship is all about - and it is NOT just about winning...thanks.

PLEASE will somebody tell me who is the man with the white beard and big black hat, who is often sitting in the family box?? He doesn't seem to belong to anybody!!