The official line 2025...

The Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament is upon us again, in many ways more enjoyable than the main event, because there are far less people attending and you can get so close to the action.

The main blip is a rerun of last year and 10 years ago. Things have certainly moved on since 2015 - the most noticeable difference being the absence of line judges for the first time this year.

The three extras are from the battle of the Canadians in a second round match. The first shot is of 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu, the second is of her friend and compatriot Carson Branstine, who ran out the winner in three sets.

I'll make a little confession, that normally I don't enjoy women's tennis as much as men's, but today I figured out why this may be. Firstly the standard TV angle which fore shortens the view, is vastly inferior to being at courtside where you get a far better sense of speed and movement, and secondly, watching live you don't have to listen to the near constant stream of drivel that seems to pass as commentary these days :-)