Wimbledon is the one place you can combine hot sweaty women in skimpy outfits with strawberries and cream and not get done for being indecent. The annual extravaganza returns today and after no rain for the entire two weeks last year, we could be forgiven for expecting downpours of God-like proportions this year. When not scouting out the latest talented Russian tennis beauty, most eyes will be on Scotland’s Andy Murray though.
Britain’s latest great hope when it comes to tennis will continue to be compared to the flailing beauty that was Tim Henman until he actually wins something. The fact that he’s playing during an era when two of the world’s greatest ever players are taking centre stage says a lot for why he never manages to cross the divide and win one of the tournaments. It’s hard to look any further than Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic but looking elsewhere on the draw one match will jump out.
Last year, John Isner and Nicholas Mahut broke records with a match that felt like it lasted a month of Sundays. Surprise surprise they’ve been paired together in this year’s first round and will be pressured to better last year’s efforts. The BBC can’t just rely on that new fangled 3D technology. If the American Isner does prevail then he could be a good tip for an unseeded player to go deep in the championships. In taking Nadal the distance at the French he showed that he can mix it with the best and might be an outsider.
Another player to watch is the Austrian Philip Kohlschreiber who recently won the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Halle. His game should be well suited to the green stuff. The women’s side of the draw could see the potentially epic encounter between the Danish number one seed Caroline Wozniacki and former Champion Maria Sharapova. If you’re a blonde’s man then pray that they both make it through to the quarters and Sky+ it in 3D and set it to super slo-mo.
