Wimbledon Diary

8220;Everyone knows where she is staying along with her family in a cheap bordello down the road,8221; he said while commentating on Dokic8217;s 2nd round win over Katarina Studenikova.

Tutt clearly muddled up his b-words 8212; perhaps he had 8220;boarding house8221; in mind 8212; and later apologised if he had caused any offence to either Dokic and her family or the 59 pound about Rs 4,500 a night travel inn where they are staying.

The whole incident will hardly have improved the mood of Damir Dokic, Jelena8217;s father, who has been quoted this week as saying: 8220;I just hate Britain. I cannot wait to get out of here.8221;

Lucky? Touch shoe!

American Tappy Larsen was so superstitious that he would touch each shoe three times betweenpoints.

George Gadsell was a great believer in an unusual diet. He ate bags of raw carrots and bathed his body in fresh lemon juice, believing this would help him see the ball better and run faster.

Diminutive Felicissimo Ampon of The Philippines kept up his strength with a daily diet of raw eggs supplied by his embassy in London.

Heinrich Redl lost an arm during World War II but was still allowed to play when the tournament restarted in 1946. The Austrian served by using his racket to get the ball airborne.

Skirting the issue

Former British No 1 Buster Mottram has slammed the current crop of muscular young women8217;s tennis players, claiming they are just like men.

Players like French pair Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce and the American Williams sisters Venus and Serena have caused a stir with their muscular physiques.

8220;Femininity and Wimbledon were once like two peas in a pod,8221; he said. 8220;The majority of today8217;s players revel in displaying an aggressive masculinity with all it8217;sassociated features. Shorts or skirts as distinct from dresses 8212; you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of players who don dresses now 8212; short, cropped hair, bad language and mannerisms which are traditionally linked with the men.8221;

Money for love

German Marlene Weingartner was drubbed 6-0, 6-0 on Wednesday by Monica Seles. It didn8217;t get better yesterday as she lost again 6-0, 6-0 playing doubles with Maria Fernanda Landa against Americans Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu. Without winning a game she still picked up 7,920 pounds 12,672. In 20 singles matches this season, she8217;s lost nine sets 6-0.