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Spirited Murray falls to Almagro ... To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111.
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By Piers Newbery at Wimbledon
1158: "I think the PMs words sound vaguely threatening. I wonder what he will do if he doesn't see Andy continue.... Then again, Andy would win in a scrap, no bovver."
From "I vote for brie and grapes on wholemeal" via text on 81111
1155: Question from a member of the press to Rafael Nadal yesterday:
"How did you celebrate the football last night?"
Rafa: "Jumping."
Questioner: "Champagne or jumping did you say?"
Rafa: "Jumping. Champagne will reserve for finish the tournament."
1150: "After the failure of Pro-Celebrity Swingball (see 1030) I have now come up with an idea that perfectly fuses Greg's tennis career and his subsequent forays in light entertainment. May I introduce...light drumroll…'Tennis on Ice!'. Here's the premise, we ice over one half of a tennis court in Greg's back garden and watch, enthralled, as he battles on skates to retrain his racquet skills on a treacherous and unfamiliar surface. Once up to the requisite level he will take on his contemporaries like Mark Philippoussis and Goran Ivanisevic playing on grass on the other side of the court. It's a one set shootout to increase the tension and viewing figures. Again, the winner gets £5,000 to the charity of their choice."
BBC Sport Mole
1147: "Piers a very important question arose from my sister last night whilst watching murray on the soon to be roofed centre court... What happens if the roof is closed but a pigeon is trapped beneath?"
From Ali, London, via text on 81111 (Well, the word 'sniper' springs to mind)
1144: "At school. About to play tennis. What an inspiration andy murray is. Just so you know i don't really like tuna."
From Alain, Tunbridge Wells, via text on 81111 (Are there any teachers controlling the youth of Tunbridge Wells?)
1140: Our leader has spoken. Or rather, our leader's spokesman has spoken. But I suppose that's what spokesmen are for. Anyway... "The Prime Minister, like the rest of the country, will want to see Andy Murray continue with his progress." Moving words.
1134: "Surely cheese is the superior sandwich filling? Preferably brie and cranberry."
From Laura, Preston, via text on 81111
1129: We have a full compliment now as Fordyce, Dirs, Bevan and Westbrook have arrived. It's a bit like being in a space shuttle, a cramped space with five brave souls staing out of a window into the abyss. Fortunately Dirs is not weightless and bouncing off the walls, that would be carnage.
1123: "Moving away from the great tuna debate for a moment, piers i wanna know what you, cheesy & co actually look like! Can you post some pics? I promise to send a photo in return!"
From Pete (also a tuna fan!) via text on 81111 (No offence Pete, sure you're a lovely looking fella, but that isn't a great temptation for me)
1115: "I have just been to see the queue for Wednesday, where at 1045 BST there were around 15 tents already pitched. I spoke to mother and son Alexis and Warren, who arrived at 2100 BST on Monday to guarantee themselves a place on Centre Court for the men's quarter-finals. At that stage they were already the eighth tent in the line and Andy Murray was still locked in battle with Richard Gasquet so there was no confirmed prospect of seeing the British number one.
"While they are delighted to be seeing Murray in action, Warren added: 'I wanted to make sure I saw Federer play.' Apparently planting the tent in line reserves the owners their place in the queue, even if they go away and leave it for a while. Alexis and Warren plan to come into the All England Club later, watch some tennis and visit the museum."
BBC Sport's Ian Westbrook
1108: "Steve, I bow to your suggestion (see 1047 entry), that sounds scrummy. Think we should challenge the bbc team to try out the different tuna bagettes and vote a la The F Word."
From MissBored, Knutsford, via text on 81111
1107: "What happened to fair and balanced reporting from the bbc? There's a shocking lack of sandwich impartiality and nary a mention of tuna's opponents."
From Cassie, cheering for chicken to go all the way, via text on 81111
1105: "Mixing bread with fish went out of fashion in biblical days. As a rule, I try not to get angry about foodstuffs, but tuna just makes my blood boil! P.S. I would guess that mr murray will be less inclined to get his guns out tomorrow, having been spanked by nadal and his muscles. Still love him though!"
From Ed via text on 81111
1059: Four people are out on Centre Court at the moment gently moving around 40 tennis balls from one end of the court to the other. It looks like a futuristic game of mass participation petanque.
1052: "My girlfriend was getting angry at me watching all the murray game last night. She said, 'you watching all of it! But it's only in the first trimester?' I think my smirk made matters worse."
Toby from Bath via text on 81111
1047: "Surely MissBored is mistaken (see 1018 entry). Tuna mayo, red onion, red pepper, twist of lime juice and freshly ground black pepper is the perfect tuna baguette?"
From Steve, more bored, Leeds, via text on 81111
1041: The show courts start at 1300 BST but play will begin on the outside courts, as ever, an hour earlier and there are a couple of interesting junior matches lined up. British hope and 15th seed Marcus Willis takes on Hiroyasu Ehara of Japan on Court 14, while top seed and Aussie hope Bernard Tomic plays Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia on Court 19.
1036: Ah, lovely little bonkers Shakira. She's not here but warbling away on Radio Wimbledon as the gates open and the fans begin to file in. BBC Sport's Ian Westbrook reports that there is no queue - repeat, no queue - for today's play but people have already started camping out for Big Wednesday.
1030: "Yesterday was a chastening day as yet again I battled in vain to get my Greg Rusedski reality TV programme 'At Home With The Rusers' off the ground. My Pro-Celebrity Swingball idea for the show hit the buffers after the first participant set to take on a blindfolded Greg in his back garden, Dean Gaffney, refused to take part citing 'creative differences'. Egos huh. That’s TV for you folks, you've gotta roll with the punches. Back to the drawing board we go....."
BBC Sport Mole
1022: So it's time for me to make some spectacularly inept predictions, although surely nothing will match my pre-Euro 2008 clam that "Spain are overrated, Germany are overrated, France will win." With that in mind, today I am going for Dementieva, Radwanska, Venus and Zheng to get through. The eagle-eyed among you will notice I have tipped Serena to bite the dust today. It must be the heat.
1018: "Best tuna baguette ever? With red onion and a sprinkling of grated cheese. Yum."
From MissBored, Knutsford, via tex on 81111
1010: "Just at school at the moment. Feelin physically drained from murray's performance yesterday. Lets go andy lets go"
From Stefan, Tunbridge wells, via text on 81111
1004: News just in from the Broadcast Centre that Murray and Gasquet attracted a peak audience of 10.4m last night. Impressive stuff, well done everyone.
0958: The leading women were not happy about their scheduling yesterday, particularly second seed Jelena Jankovic who was on Court 18 at 1200 BST having asked for a late start because of an injury, while Venus and Serena were on Court Two. "I don't know what they are doing," said Jankovic, "to put Venus on number two and I'm on 18, especially having had an injury and asking for a favour to play a little bit later in the day. I was almost playing in the parking lot. I almost need a helicopter to go to my court."
0953: "How do you guys like your tuna baguettes? Sullied with sweetcorn? Just a dab of mayo?"
From Curious in London via text on 81111 (Sweetcorn - no, mayo - yes, £6 a pop - no)
0948: "Re: 0924 Oh my god, he's playing F-Lo? That's it, I'm taking tomorrow off."
From Hannah, Docklands, via text on 81111 (Medic!)
0941: Some people say that the tournament really starts on the second Monday, but I disagree. It's the second Tuesday when Wimbledon truly takes off with the beginning of the veterans' events. Who can forget the drama of Britain's Jeremy Bates winning the senior invitation doubles single-handed last year? With Anders Jarryd. Or the disappointment as the lovely Annabel Croft and Jo Durie were edged out of the ladies' invitation doubles by the dastardly Bollegraf and Lindqvist? Well, Croft, Durie and Bates will see battle rejoined today, so get out there and support them. And Anders Jarryd.
0935: "Thailand is uber hyped over Tammy's SW19 exploits! We are still in the Bangkok Bar celebrating Tammy's win over Jankovic! Predicting part 2 of Shock & Awe with Tammy beating Venus in 3, 8-6 in the third! Sorry Venus, but this is Tammy Time!"
From scibase on 606
0929: "I love how it took nearly losing to really get the country behind Murray. Brits: we're really not comfortable with winners, are we? P.S. is Marat playing today?"
From Hannah, Docklands, via text on 81111 (I refer you to my Cheese advice below)
0924: "Walk this way!" screams Radio Wimbledon. Unfortunately, it's the Girls Aloud version. It has just occurred to me that among Wednesday's quarter-finals is the dream match up for BBC Sport's Caroline Cheese - Marat Safin v Feliciano Lopez. She may need to be heavily sedated for that one.
0919: "Good lord it's hot down here already. Had a scary tube ride here flicking through the papers and seeing photos of Andy Murray. Doesn't he look like an absolute mentalist? Also, see we all missed Sting's appearance in SW19 yesterday. That's what happens when you become dangerously obsessed with tuna baguettes and the Fonz."
BBC Sport Mole
0910: We managed to grab Tim Henman the moment he stepped out of his commentary box last night and the now ex-favourite of the Centre Court crowd was happy to give us his thoughts on his successor. "All credit to Murray - he'd been outplayed but I think the biggest thing was that he had the belief to hang in there," said Tim.
Henman on Murray
0904: "Ahh finally a British player with passion and grit, what a refreshing change. Also glad to see that Murray has ba... Nerves of steel and being able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, rather than the reverse we've seen from previous british players."
From Alastair, Preston, via text on 81111
0858: Seriously, if you're coming to Wimbledon today bring plenty of fluids, some sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat. And an umbrella. It's going to reach a sultry 28 degrees Celsius before the weather cracks violently at some stage and a biblical storm descends, either this evening or tomorrow. Be warned.
0853: The official weather outlook: "Dry for much of the day with hazy sunshine. Hot in the afternoon and becoming increasingly humid. Top temperature around 28 Celsius."
0849: As Murraymoniumania subsides for a day, attention turns to the women's quarter-finals - bereft of the top four seeds after a week of shocks. That leaves Elena Dementieva as the highest seed remaining at number five, and she opens on Centre Court against fellow Russian Nadia Petrova at 1300 BST. At the same time over on Court One will be defending champion Venus Williams against Thailand's Tamarine Tansugarn, who beat second seed Jelena Jankovic to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Second on Centre is 19-year-old Pole Agnieszka Radwanska - the 2005 junior champion - against Serena, while Jie Zheng, conqueror of Ana Ivanovic, faces Nicole Vaidisova in the second match on Court One.
0842: Nick 'The Don' Bolletieri speaks for a nation with his succint dissection of the emotions felt during Murray v Gasquet. "I had to go to the restroom several times," The Don tells Radio Wimbledon. "I love a streetfighter, man," he adds. "You have to dig, you have to chop, you can't give up." And Nadal? "He's a navy seal, an army ranger and a top fighter pilot all rolled into one. I believe the backing of the English audience gives Murray a chance. My emotions our with my boy, Andy Murray, but the slight edge goes to Nadal." The Don has no time for the whole English/Scottish/British thing, and quite right too.
0835: A quick look at the morning's headlines - 'Murray Miracle'; 'Murray on the march'; 'King Andy'; 'Braveheart'; 'Murray marches on like a champion'; 'Murray reaps rewards of composure'; 'Now bring on Nadal'; 'Comeback kid holds nerve'. And the French view? 'Gasquet in obscurity' says L'Equipe. Mange tout, mange tout.
0830: Has Murray won yet? What happened to Gasquet? How many tuna baguettes can one man eat in a day? All these questions will be answered in the coming hours, as well as the identity of the four women's semi-finalists. And the good news is that the sun has again got his hat on and is already out to play.
- We'll be here throughout the day to bring you the latest news from around the All England Club, both on the courts and off, so whether you're settling down at home, stuck in the office or queuing on Church Road, send us your thoughts.
(BBC)
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