Best of luck Pads if you drop by. 

any value around on Countbunface in the Clacton By-election? asking for a friend (anyone that knows me know i dont have any friends)

Just can't see it.  Will be the obvious protest candidate, but too many people in Clacton don't see Farage for what he is.

Arthur Fery v Cobolli today, centre court. Wildcard to quarter finalist, well done young man although his last match against Dimitrov was a tough watch as I wanted them both to win. He stands a good chance today as I think he has won their only previous meeting (first round Aussie Open).

Brilliant this.  Every game he plays he fights for everything. LTA deserved to be knocked for many things, but definitely got the wildcard right with him.  Could be now be in the same position as Chwalinska before Wimbledon.  Don't know when the cutoff is for the Citi Open, but wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't even high enough to get in the qualifiers.  Obviously gets in the US Open, and won't need many more points to be seeded there.

Would love to see him smash up Zverev. 

Have enjoyed Wimbledon this time despite the poor show from the Brits.

I was surprised by the palava with Dan Evan's wild card.  I originally thought he should have got one, but it was clear he was only ever getting one on sentimental grounds.  His ranking is really low (something like 29 on the UK rankings last time I looked), with no form at all for 6 months.  He won one qualifying match in the whole of 2026, Much of tennis twitter seemed to think he only didn't get one was because he wasn't posh.  Billy Harris was a much more obvious pick and nobody was fighting his corner.   Anyway by the end of Wimbledon was very much in the feck Dan Evans camp. I genuinely think he shot himself in the foot moaning about a Queen's wild card. The competition for those was much stronger, and don't think he should ever have got one there.

Anyway talking of posh people, Arthur Frey's dad is seriously loaded, but he well and truly deserved a wild card.  Glad to see he has had some serious fight in him too.  Only a matter of time before Toby Samuel is top 100 too.

I went on Monday. Stojsavljevic was disappointing.  We got there early and got to court 18, but she seemed to fall apart quite a bit Vs Bencic. She is in the juniors this week, so hopefully can put that match aside, as she has looked good when I have seen her previously.  Odd that she us playing and Klugman isn't. Pleased for see Klugman get a decent result then other week,, so hopefully she has turned a corner too.

The Sinner game was brilliant though, was pretty surprised it wasn't 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 and didn't leave my seat.  Kind of warmed to him by the end.  Strawberries still under £3, though sure we used to get more.  Pimm's inflation seems higher though, think it was £28 for two now...

Other Brits of note include Henry Searle who won a challenger before Wimbledon (no wild card for him either, Dan Evans fans).  Was pleased to see Dart and Lumsden getting a win at Nottingham too.  I have seen Dart get way too much abuse this week.  Think she absolutely should have got a wild card as she was clearly highest ranked of the Brits. Also pleased to see Swan get a win after her dark days.

Had to get there in the end, I managed a PB in Parkrun this week.

My parkrun closed for 3 weeks while they have done some rebuilding, so tried a couple of new ones.  One is basically solid paths all the way round, but last week when I tried it, it was ridiculously hot.  The fact I got 30 seconds off my PB in the stupid heat gave me a bit of confidence.  Anyway lined up this week, and a bloke in front of me was telling his daughter they were going to do 7 minutes kilometres, so 35 minutes total.  Given my PB was 36m32s, I figured if he knew what he was doing I should beat my PB if I kept him in sight.  About half way round, he wasn't far ahead and could see I was doing just over 7 minute kilometres. 

He pulled away quite a bit at the end, but I was feeling I wasn't really slowing down.  Anyway beat my best by 25 seconds (36 minutes 7 seconds), but was pretty surprised my Fitbit had me at pretty level splits (worst was 18 seconds slower than the.best).  Found them in the list and pretty sure they sped up in the last 2km as they did 34m30s. 

Only downer was I saw a picture of Andy Burnham at a parkrun.  Was thinking he was about my age, so he'd be about 35 minutes too.  He managed 26 minutes FFS.  Wouldn't be surprised if that slippery sod took a car though.

Think I can probably beat my old PB on my local course when it reopens, though am sure it isn't as fast.  I am definitely getting used to the heat.  Could definitely do with a day where they run it in 15 degrees though.

Benny Glaser won the PPC overnight, well of course he did.  Mad how successful he has become.

8 bracelets now, gets the UK higher up in the bracelet count every year.

As it isn't easy to find, wildcard playoffs are here

https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/wild-card-policy-lta-major-events-and-champs-2026.pdf

Who else has received a wildcard?
Six British players - Cameron Norrie, Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Jack Draper, Jan Choinski and Francesca Jones - are ranked high enough to receive direct entry into the singles draws.

On Tuesday, wildcards were given to four British men's players, with two more spots to be confirmed over the next fortnight.

Men's singles wildcards: Grigor Dimitrov, Jacob Fearnley, Arthur Fery, Jack Pinnington Jones, Toby Samuel, Stan Wawrinka

Six of the wildcards in the women's draw were given to British players.

Women's singles wildcards: Maja Chwalinska, Harriet Dart, Alicia Dudeney, Hannah Klugman, Mika Stojsavljevic, Katie Swan, Mimi Xu

The wildcards are chosen at the discretion of the Wimbledon committee.

The tournament said wildcards are usually offered "on the basis of past performance at Wimbledon or to increase British interest".

Not really sure why Billy Harris hasn't got one, apart from that British wild cards were as expected.

Did you see Klugman today?  Came of age after a ropey 12 months or so. 

Lot of talk of Evans and Serena still getting one.  Jodie Burrage already got a qualifying wild card, but no Heather Watson in either singles list. Assume she is getting main draw if Serena doesn't take it up, and qualifying if she does.  Maybe something similar with Dan Evans?  Maybe Felix Gill gets one if he goes further than Billy Harris this week?  Maybe their wins in the Nottingham challenger have done for Evans?  Though suspect they will need to final to do so?

Raducanu yesterday seemed to have limited mobility at the end of match 1, but seemed fine again in match 2.  Great work by the physio/whoever put that strapping on.

Backed Raducanu today at 1.77.  I think you definitely need to look out for Vekic going forward betting wise.  Think Boulter threw it away yesterday, must have been the high from her performance against Rybankina? 

Anyway backed Vekic at 150/1 e/w for Wimbledon.  Think grass form is very important and she was looking half decent.  Raducanu is still 33/1 in places, but not the same value.

Well that didn't last.  Vekic now 50/1 best priced at those that have adjusted. 
Think her and Raducanu both pretty much guaranteed seeds at Wimbledon now.  Baptiste and Mboko definitely out.  Bencic must be a doubt, having pulled out of everything before Wimbledon. A few others carrying knocks.

Would like to see Raducanu in Nottingham and miss Eastbourne, but looks like the other way.

Raducanu yesterday seemed to have limited mobility at the end of match 1, but seemed fine again in match 2.  Great work by the physio/whoever put that strapping on.

Backed Raducanu today at 1.77.  I think you definitely need to look out for Vekic going forward betting wise.  Think Boulter threw it away yesterday, must have been the high from her performance against Rybankina? 

Anyway backed Vekic at 150/1 e/w for Wimbledon.  Think grass form is very important and she was looking half decent.  Raducanu is still 33/1 in places, but not the same value.

well played Emma this evening.
Watson is scheduled for playing in Wimbledon qualification  https://live-tennis.eu/en/wta-schedule  she is down at 484

She played so well.   Think they were both carrying injuries.  Raducanu much more aggressive. Stepping further forward on first serve and inside baseline for 2nd.  Coming to the net more too. 

Jovic at least a yard behind the baseline even for 2nd serves.  They both serve about the same speed.

Think I prefer it to Wimbledon.  Easier to get tickets and a really nice place.  My youngest wants to live by there now.

Enjoy the brits in action tomorrow Doobs. Should be Emma in QF, Katie is Semi, Oliva in the doubles final followed my Emma in 2nd SF

Suspect the doubles final is Sunday otherwise it will be just one game on Sunday.  Also think they start at 1.30, so there is only time for 3 games.  Hopefully will be Raducanu, Boulter, Raducanu.
.
Nottingham Open seems to have gone for the most embarrassing use of wildcards. Stojsavljevic, Xu, Dudeney and Klugman all have qualifying wildcards, despite at least two of them been in great form. So think they are almost certainly giving wildcards to Watson and Burrage.  I don't really mind Burrage has she was climbing before that injuries.  Watson has done nothing for years. Assume one of Jones and Dart isn't playing.

Always the possibility that they are giving them wildcards here as they have no spares for Wimbledon, but think that might be giving them too much credit.

Wildcards for Nottingham are Dart, Raducanu and Boulter.

Not sure where Watson goes from here.  Doesn't look promising for a main draw Wimbledon wild card.  Assume she will have to get some games in if she ever gets a wildcard in the future. 

Queens is pretty nice.  Boulter never really looked like coming back at ang stage.  This is pretty harsh on Raducanu.  Having to play 2 games in one day after an injury.  Wouldn't be backing her today.
 

Enjoy the brits in action tomorrow Doobs. Should be Emma in QF, Katie is Semi, Oliva in the doubles final followed my Emma in 2nd SF

Suspect the doubles final is Sunday otherwise it will be just one game on Sunday.  Also think they start at 1.30, so there is only time for 3 games.  Hopefully will be Raducanu, Boulter, Raducanu.
.
Nottingham Open seems to have gone for the most embarrassing use of wildcards. Stojsavljevic, Xu, Dudeney and Klugman all have qualifying wildcards, despite at least two of them been in great form. So think they are almost certainly giving wildcards to Watson and Burrage.  I don't really mind Burrage has she was climbing before that injuries.  Watson has done nothing for years. Assume one of Jones and Dart isn't playing.

Always the possibility that they are giving them wildcards here as they have no spares for Wimbledon, but think that might be giving them too much credit.

Tony. What with the cost of car hire and parking, and the trek to the car park, wouldn't it be cheaper and more convenient to use taxis?

Uber was cheap compared to taxis when I was last there in 2022. The old Vegas taxis were always looking for ways to rip you off.

Found Taxis and Uber about the same price last year. 

Evan announces retirement after Wimbledon, guessing he has been told he is getting his wild card.

Yeah saw that earlier, and think he gets one (was thinking that even before this, but his recent form is trash).

Wimbledon sent a message to Serena saying see you at Wimbledon, so think she is definitely getting a singles wildcard.  Heather Watson needs to announce her retirement too, as no way she gets in on form. 

Got tickets for Queen's on Saturday, way it is going we will be watching quarters and semis! 

Might be some serious issues with UK players getting Nottingham wild cards, as many won't be able to play qualifying if still in the tournament at Ilkley. Maybe put Watson in qualifying there?  Dart is still in Queen's, Dudeney and Swan still in Ilkley.  Boulter already has a wildcard, so only 3 max available.  And Raducanu not listed, so if she wants one, it might be just two.