Day 8

Four main sporting headlines of today (in no particular order)::

1) Football - England beat Japan 2-1 in an uninspiring and entirely unconvincing manner. Two own-goals by Japan. Technically Japan scored three goals and England scored none and yet they won. Bizarre. Lets hope the lacklustre display is not a sign of things to come.

2) Lewis Hamilton wins his first race of the season. Very exciting one. Vettel crashes into Webber which pisses both of them off (even though it was clearly Vettel's fault) and the Maclaren's take full advantage of the situation to make it a sweet 1/2 victory.

3) Bangladesh make it tricky for England to close out a victory without running out of time, or even to close out a victory at all. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

4) Andy Cannot-Smile-To-Save-My-Life Murray-ray loses in depressingly straight sets to Tomas Berdych (who is rather pretty I have to say). Very lacklustre and disappointing performance by Ray-ray. He looked knackered to me - much slower than he normally is and not a single big rippling backhand down the line of forehand cross court. There was nothing to trouble Berdy. Nothing. He was so negative all the way through. Not just in his shots but in his thinking. He was shaking his head and looking up at his coach in disgust, even when he was in front! He needs to learn to hide that better, I think. I suggest a sports psychologist to make him feel more positive throughout his matches. He needs to have that never-say-die attitude that Fed or Nad or Hewitt have.

I'll keep you blogged...

Day 6/7

Last night I made a hot air balloon and it was so much fun. It took hours to make on account of the (nagging) perfectionist that was in charge of the proceedings but I have to admit it was totally worth it in the end. We went to the top of Primrose Hill and set fire to the little ball of cotton wool and watched as it filled with hot air, started to rise, and eventually floated up and away towards Camden. It was a thing of beauty. There is something so rewarding about spending hours making something and then seeing it actually work. So if anyone saw a big white tissue paper lantern/hot air balloon flying over the night sky of north London at around 12.30am this morning (Saturday 29th May 2010) twas a little gift from us (Tess, Red, Sas, Ben, Kiss) to you.

Tennis! Murray-ray played yesterday and looked pretty darn good those first two sets. He was in control and sending ol' Baggy scrambling all about the place. All looks well as he starts the third set, and we, the British fans, are looking forward to an easy passage into the fourth round and a well-deserved break for Murray who came onto court just 20 hours after completing his match against Chela. But Murray, being Murray, decides to fall asleep for the next 25 minutes and all of a sudden he's lost the third set 6-0. I mean, 6-0. Just, what? He went on to win the next set 6-2 and therefore the match but it's moments like that that worry me. Why do they happen? You never see Fed or Nad or Djocko just letting a set slip by. It just doesn't seem like the right way to be, the right thing to do. Murray said he was conserving energy for the fourth set that he knew was coming after he lost his first two service games in that third set but wouldn't it be better to keep trying? To not let your opponent see that lack of focus so starkly? Tennis is all about the mental and if you let a player know so obviously that you've gone off the boil it's just going to hand them the mindset advantage, surely? Ok, with Baggy he got away with it but against Nadal? Federer? I don't like his chances.

Meanwhile, Djocko is through in four, Nad is through in three in a very entertaining match against Hewitt (who I have always liked and respected - he's like a dog with a bone in the best possible way. Saw him play at Wimbledon last year against Stepanek; great match. He was two sets and a break down, the rain came for about twenty minutes, and Hewitt came back out a changed man. He fought to win the third then won the fourth and fifth quite easily. It was great to watch.), Janko won in two (I'm going to say it now - I think she's going to win it this year. Yep, that's right, I do.), Serena won in a very sketchy three (did not feel at all good in the second set and lost it 6-1 - odd, not something you usually see with her), Petrova pushed out Rezai (epic), Verdasco edged past Kohl (also epic), Kuz is out (about time - she has been skating on thin ice since the get-go), and the saddest news I've had to bring to you since this blog began... Andy Dreamy Roddick is out of this years French Open. Well and truly out. Beaten in three shattering sets by Russian qualifier Gabashvili (who?). The bright side? He got three games after a dodgy and injury-ridden few weeks and now moves onto his home; the grass. I love watching Roddy on the grass. Tis where he belongs in my opinion. Bring on Queen's.

I'll keep you blogged...

Day 4/5

Crazy couple of days. No time to myself let alone to dedicate to my beautiful blog. So many sporting things have happened in the last couple of days I hardly know where to start. I have to mention the cricket though because those boys have done us proud in recent weeks. Twenty20 title a couple of weeks ago, and now an awesome first day of their two-match series against Bangladesh, thanks largely to one Jonathan Trotty.

Do you know what I wish? I wish there was more cricket on TV that didn't involve owning (and paying for) Sky Sports. Just a little cricket - an hour highlights program a day whilst a test is going on. Then I could actually watch it and get the feel for it and not have to rely solely on words on a screen (although perhaps I shouldn't be bad-mouthing words on a screen...)

The French Open is moving soggily along. A lot of rain in the last two days but still plenty of play to be seen. Big casualties of the last couple of days: Ivanovic (lost to Kleybanova in straight sets - quite depressing really); Benneteau (those Frenchies will not be happy about that one); Monfils (!!!!!!! I am very upset about that one! I adore Monfils. Boo :-() who lost in an epic five-setter against Fognini. Who'd have thunk it?

Big winners of the last couple of days: Kuz (really should not have won and even though I watched the match I still can't believe she did); Fed (beautiful as ever); Sod (absolutely crushed Taylor Dent - my money's on Sod this year... until he gets to Fed that is); Murray (MUCH better performance against Chela than Gasquet. All big penetrating backhands and gorgeous drop shots measured to perfection. The vollying was looking pretty special as well. Murray is coming back, I can feel it).

It's getting juicy. I'm getting excited.

I'll keep you blogged...

Day 3

Andy Roddick.

Five sets; sweat sweat and more sweat dripping off the peak of that cap; a massive forehand here, a crazy fast serve there; that tantalising lift of the shirt when he wipes the sweat from his face; a subtle drop shot and attacking lob (newly refined and gorgeous aspects of his game); a set won, a set lost...

Another epic game at the 2010 French Open.

I want to write more. I want to talk about all the amazing games that happened today. I want to talk about Henin winning and back at Roland Garros for the first time in three years; I want to talk about Nadal thumping another unlucky opponent; Verdasco cruising through and looking pretty damn hot; Safina crashing out and not being at all surprised by it... but I can't because I'm about to drop down I'm so tired. Work all day, a spot of tennis and then a walk around the neighbourhood to spy on the goings on (it's a summer time ritual) and to walk across the golf course deliciously illegally.

I go to sleep with images of Roddick flashing through my dreams. It's his year, Row.

I'll keep you blogged...

Day 2

Well well welly well well well...

I'm still recovering after the Murray/Gasquet match. It was brilliant. The first two and a bit sets were rather special. Murray was dead in the water until Gasquet ran out of steam. Gasquet surprised me today. Here are the five main things I learnt about him:

1) when he wins a point with a good shot he likes to re-use the ball

2) he takes his sweet time between points and games (this did not amuse Murray at all)

3) he's just 23 years old (who knew??)

4) he's super cute

5) he's really rather good

I know this is going to sound very unpatriotic of me but I really wanted Gasquet to win today. Before the game I was all for Murray, and worried that Gasquet would be a little tricky, but from the moment Murray went 0-30 down in his first service game I thought 'hang on a minute, this guy is good' and it just got better. He was supreme. The crowd were barely on his side at first but even they were swayed by his majestic (yes, I said it) backhands and winners from 10 yards behind the baseline. Tis a shame that the organisers didn't give him that extra day to recover because I'm pretty sure 24 hours more would have seen him through to the second round.

I like Murray, don't get me wrong, he's a grinder and he's tough and he has excellent legs (ok, he could have a bit more joy - would it kill him to smile every once in a while?) but Gasquet deserved that win today.

So the final result: 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2 6-1

Cracking game.

Fed had his FedHead well and truly screwed on and the FedHand was working like a charm. He crushed his Aussie opponent. He is looking as gorgeous, fluid and bronzed as ever. (Is it just me or does Fed have the nicest skin colour in the world? And he has great legs. Speaks three languages. Always poised and gentlemanly and charming... ok, must stop.) I'm all for him retaining the title this year. Nadal isn't going to make it easy but I really think he can do it. Of course he can, he's Fed. Come on the Fed!!

Other winners today: Djoko (nice to see him back in some kind of form), Wawrinka, Ljubicic, Berdych, Isner, Baghdatis, Gonzalez, Troiki (beat 21st seed Robredo), Reister (beat 27th seed Lopez), Hanescu, Almagra, Monfils (love Monfils!!) and Lacko (an absolute epic by all accounts).

Must go to bed now. (I know I haven't touched on the ladies but I'll do that tomorrow.) Am completely shattered after playing my own tennis. Oh, just a nod to our boys who beat Mexico this evening 3-1. Patchy? Yes. But teams who win when they're playing badly are champions right?

I'll keep you blogged...

Day 1

So the first day is complete.

Soderling crushed the French wild card 6-0 6-2 6-3. He's looking pretty damn good (in more ways than one - I love those Swedish looks); lots of good serving and big forehands. His bread and butter, as they say. Tough draw (he's in the Federer half) but I'm feeling good about his chances (until Federer that is - he says himself that he just can't beat him). He surprised everyone last year so I'm not ruling him out at all.

Gulbis is out, which is a bit of a shocker having beaten Fed himself only a few weeks ago. Another hamstring bites the dust. Benneteau is through which the French are no doubt ecstatic about. Chela and Cilic are both through in reasonably undisturbed first rounders. Tsonga had a bit of a 'mare but came through it in the end - 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 7-5. I didn't see it but it sounds like it was pretty tough going. Tsonga's not known for his clay court play but he should have beaten Daniel Brands (who, I hear you cry!) of Germany a lot easier than that. Still, I love an unexpectedly tough match. That's the good stuff.

Other winners today - Youzhny, Falla, De Bakker, Fognini (epic game), Montanes, and Garcia-Lopez.

Keothavong put up what I thought was a pretty good fight against seeded Pennetta. She was hitting some super shots. Ok, the score was 6-2 6-2, but it was better than that. They were really going at it in some rallies. I felt sorry for the balls. I like Keo, she doesn't make excuses and she's tough. Bring on the grass for her, see what she can do after a considerable time off for those pesky knees of hers.

More women winners today - Petkovic, Dulko (beat Azarenka, and then some. Did not see that one coming), Scheepers, Cibulkova, Amanmuradova (blimey - beat Martinez Sanchez which is no mean feat), Kirilenko, Lepchenko, Rezai (French hopes resting upon...), Kerber, Meusburger, Larsson, and finally Petrova.

That, people, is a lot of matches. A lot of sweating on a hot day in Paris. A lot of joy.

I'll keep you blogged...

Welcome to the French

It's Sunday morning, the sun is streaming through the windows, the glorious terracotta clay of Roland Garros is on the TV and Svetlana Kuznetsova's guttural grunts signifies the beginning of my favourite time of year.

If you look at the scoreline alone Kuz is creaming Cirstea, but as ever in tennis looks can be deceiving. Here is a quarter finalist of last year playing the eventual champion; on paper, a juicy match. In reality not so much. Cirstea is nowhere near her standard of last year (where she beat Jankovic among others), and Kuz has been struggling for any kind of consistency since that 2009 French Open win. Not the best match I've ever seen.

Kuz wins 6-3, 6-1.

The first match (that I've seen) of this years French Open is done and dusted and boy do I feel happy. Two weeks of sock-staining clay-ey goodness and then it's on to the grass court season. The shortest, the sweetest, the best. I've got tickets for the second Thursday on Court 1. Yay!

Up next, Robin Soderling, my hero from last year; the only man to have beaten Nadal at the French for about 100 years. I like Nadal, don't get me wrong, but I'm of the firm belief that the more winners, the better. Plus who could forget and begrudge Federer his career grand slam/15th (record breaking) slam/weepy first French/affirmation to many (including me) that he is the best player ever seen in tennis?

I'll keep you blogged...