Yawn

john williams

Interesting that you comment on something that you didn't see. Let's hope that your political observations are more informed. I did watch it and it was thrilling as anyone who looked rather than pre-judged and dismissed would agree. I presume you like soccer?

Jonny Mac

"Tennis, as I keep repeating, is the sport for people who don't like sport."

I pretty well fall into that category and tend to agree. But so what? There are loads of people who are bored by most sport on TV; by your logic that's a lot of potential tennis fans. On this subject you tend to have the boring, belligerent tone of the thick and aggressive bloke at school who was only any good at knocking people over on the rugby pitch.

PhilM

Sorry to be personal Stephen but you look like someone who has never played much sport. I've played football, rugby, and sprinted and feel I understand these sports from the inside. I have played a little tennis but last night was better than any of the high moments that these other sports produce. If an individualist like yourself can't get excited about the ups and downs of two competing 'gladiators' then perhaps you should ask yourself why you claim to like sport.

Marcus Cotswell

Well said, PhilM, and you shouldn;t apologise to Stephen for being "personal" - he likes to give it out so he should be (and probably is) prepared to take it.

Statements like "tennis is the sport for people who don't like sport" don't become true simply by repetition, any more than the PM's claims to be the man to lead us through tough economic times.

The level of self-satisfaction inherent in this post is extraordinary. Given the prize money and sponsorship deals at the top of pro tennis these days, it seems there are quite a lot of folk who like tennis well enough.

But no, Stephen Pollard is the supreme arbiter of these things - by virtue of what? A few used betting slips, a season ticket at White Hart Lane and Sunday afternoons watching Sky Sports? Pur-lease! (And no, I'm not an Arsenal fan).

Gordon Ross

Probably true that tennis is the sport for people who don't like sport, but far more boring is the football, football, football that is persistently thrust at us. Hours and hours of TV viewing time on several channels are taken up with it, so that TV becomes even less watchable than it normally is.

Nicole Segre

You sound like those people who say War and Peace is boring, or anything else they can't get their little heads round. I find most classical music boring, but I do realise that the inadequacy is mine. Tennis is a great spectator sport, full of skill and human drama. The real problem is everyone getting excited about Andy Murray just because he's British. What has where tennis players were born got to do with it? Now Roger Federer is worth getting excited about, the most accomplished, graceful, mentally controlled player ever (even John McEnroe says so). If you really like sport, watch him.

Lee Jakeman

Can you slag off cricket sometime? It deserves a slapping.

Stephen Pollard

Too right I can take it - I love it! There are few more satisfying ways to spend a morning than writing a post which riles so many tennis fans. Looks like you can't take it, though - to judge from the thin-skinned comments!
It's a rich world - if you like tennis, go ahead and like it; and if it bores me rigid, I'm going to say so.

Tiberius

Sport will never provide a more euphoric moment than seeing your team hit the back of the net, but tennis is easily the most frustrating game I ever played, and can draw you in emotionally as a spectator sport like no other, probably because it is more like theatre than any other.

Ann

John, I used to watch Wimbledon (in my misspent youth) - and it's not as exciting as moaning about it. Never has been. There is nobody I know who even cares what Murray's score was.

You want excitement? Watch Kevin P. hit a fast bowler for six. Or even Graeme Hick notching up yet another century, more in senior cricket now than almost anyone else ever. Or Anderson on a good day destroying world-class batsmen.

Ann

Phil, wo cares? I love sport, but tennis is just two yobs hitting a ball back and forth and grunting a lot. Nothing new and exciting ever happens. Forehand, then backhand, then arguing about chalk on the ball. Big deal. Perhaps a pink ball might make it interesting.

Verity

"Tennis is a great spectator sport".

So is watching paint dry.

Other great spectator sports include watching a cat sleep, watching the supermarket trolley boy collecting trolleys, and going to the Arrivals hall and watching people you don't know deplaning.

Ujah Kapiv

It could be much worse. Imagine if Andy Murray - our very own young Charlton Heston - were to get to the final - even win the poxy thing.
'You can take this cup from my cold dead hands'

The rash of initiatives this would spawn.

Gordon the Stillborn would leap in to create the new post of tennis tsar.

Never mind. Soon the Olympics.

Oh shit yeah that.

Nicole Segre

Airport arrivals as a spectator sport? Now you're talking. I have marvelled at bling-covered Russians embarking at Nice, parked myself in front of a coffee machine that was not dispensing cups, among other entertainments at airports. But on the whole, I'd rather watch Wimbledon.