IT’S SUMMER AND Wimbledon is upon us once more.
The first round proper will begin tomorrow, here’s the tournament in numbers:
11 – The number of hours it took for John Isner and Nicolas Mahut to complete their match last year, which was the longest-ever recorded game in tennis history. Incredibly, the two have been drawn together again to meet in the first round this year.
1 – The number of Irish players to have appeared at Wimbledon during the Open era. Sean Sorensen was then comfortably beaten by Rod Laver in the first round.
256 – The number of athletes who will participate in the singles tournament this year if you include the ladies’ and gentlemen’s events.
14 – The age of American Jennifer Capriati when she made her Wimbledon debut in 1990. She is the youngest player to ever compete in the tournament. She was also the youngest player to ever break into the the top 10 in the world, again when she was only 14.
1,500 – The number of dollars John McEnroe was fined in 1981 after he described the umpire in a game as ”the pits of the world” before swearing at the match referee. However, it did not stop McEnroe from winning the tournament that year, as he beat Bjorn Borg in four sets in the final.
7 – The highest-number of single Wimbledon titles won by a player – a record shared by America’s Pete Sampras and Britain’s William Renshaw. Roger Federer will equal the duo’s record this year if he triumphs in the competition.
He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though