Annual Middle Sunday Thread

ollinger · Jun 25, 2014

Why wait? Start to vent now about no tennis on middle Sunday, avoid the last minute rush. Be as specific as possible about how you have no life and don't know what you're going to do with an entire Sunday to fill. (If you're British, be sure to mention that a day off is the civilized thing to do. If you're American, mention that the US Open sometimes runs 14 hours a day non-stop for 2 weeks.)

tennisaddict · Jun 25, 2014

Things that suck at Wimbledon :

- Sunday Rest Day
- Too many matches on Monday causing us to miss out live action
- Slowed down grass
- Players to do Curtsy for the queen and the prince.

Positives

- Seeding system

Sid_Vicious · Jun 25, 2014

Question OP. Do you ever post seriously? Every time I see you post, you are making sarcastic posts to poke fun of people. Have you met TTMR? He joined in 2009 and is the newer generation of posters who specialize in sarcasm 24/7.

bluetrain4 · Jun 25, 2014

I love Super Monday with all the Rnd of 16 matches.

ollinger · Jun 25, 2014

Sid
I routinely post seriously in the Health and Fitness section. The Pro Player Discussion section is such a circus of outrageous partisanship and zealotry that it's nearly impossible to be too serious here.

olive_triangurl · Jun 25, 2014

is the middle sunday tennis-free because of church?
seems strange if that's why because my church is at 9am :s

Mainad · Jun 25, 2014

olive_triangurl said:
is the middle sunday tennis-free because of church?
seems strange if that's why because my church is at 9am :s

Doubt it, considering the men's final is played on the following Sunday!

I think it's just one of those odd conventions that Wimbledon always sticks to.

Fee · Jun 25, 2014

ollinger said:
Sid
I routinely post seriously in the Health and Fitness section. The Pro Player Discussion section is such a circus of outrageous partisanship and zealotry that it's nearly impossible to be too serious here.

And the childish sexism. (I appreciate many of your posts in H&F, very informative).

Middle Sunday off is because of an old agreement with the residents of Wimbledon village that they get a day of peace from the traffic and crowds. They also have an 11 pm curfew now, apparently, that limits play even with the roof closed. Or maybe it's midnight. Can't remember, but they almost it that one day a few years ago.

Round of 16 Monday is one of the best days in tennis. Yes it's busy and chaotic, but most years, it's a great equalizer in the draw, and barring rain delays, puts the players on the same schedule.

tacou · Jun 25, 2014

At least it is followed up by the best day of the year

vive le beau jeu ! · Jun 28, 2014

the thread i was looking for...

pound cat · Jun 28, 2014

tennisaddict said:
Things that suck at Wimbledon :

- Sunday Rest Day
- Too many matches on Monday causing us to miss out live action
- Slowed down grass
- Players to do Curtsy for the queen and the prince.

Positives

- Seeding system

No tennis on Sunday at Wimbledon has nothing to do with being a religious holiday or being a tradition or giving the players a rest.

It's all about giving the groundskeepers a full day to repair the courts that have been run own by a full week of many. many players wrecking the grass.

Three cheers for the groundskeepers!!!

pound cat · Jun 28, 2014

olive_triangurl said:
is the middle sunday tennis-free because of church?
seems strange if that's why because my church is at 9am :s

nothing to do with religion.
see explanation of why no tennis on Sunday above.

PrinceMoron · Jun 28, 2014

tacou said:
At least it is followed up by the best day of the year

And I have Centre and No 2 court tickets. Still suspect I won't get to see Federer. Djokovic Tsonga must be Centre. Big day for Kyrgios if it is on Centre.

Will have to get up early as play will be 11.00 if they want to get Warinka and Isner through. So many matches on Monday...

McLovin · Jun 28, 2014

Good. Now I can give my undivided attention to Netherlands v Mexico and Costa Rica v Greece.

ibbi · Jun 28, 2014

I enjoy middle Sunday for the break that it gives you to be free to do other things with your time, and I love 4th round Monday (even if the criticism that someone mentioned about it being too much tennis, and we thus inevitably miss out on more of it is very true) but it really irritates me when we see situations where guys and girls are stuck at the end of Saturday not having played/completed their 3rd round matches, and middle Sunday is still not utilized.

I think it's safe to say they'd rather lack a day off between a 3rd and 4th round match than a 4th round and quarter final. You sell all tickets on the day to whoever shows up first, and you get an atmosphere like you had for the mens final in 2001. It's stupid they don't take advantage of it when the players would benefit, the crowds would benefit, and business would benefit.

vive le beau jeu ! · Jun 28, 2014

can we agree that it sucks for the players who couldn't play their 3rd round on saturday ?...

Backbored · Jun 28, 2014

I hate it because it’s always so rainy during this tournament that it is a disadvantage for some players every year. Unless they repave a court with grass, I don’t see how plugging holes on Sunday will make all that much of a difference.

Chico · Jun 28, 2014

It is ridiculous indeed that they simply refuse to play on Middle Sunday even if there are matches postponed due to rain and there is rain in the forecast for the whole second week.
Anyone remembers 2007. It was ridiculous and they still refused to play on Middle Sunday. Same might happen this year.

AELTC need to realize we are not in 19th century any more and start behaving accordingly.

tipsa...don'tlikehim! · Jun 28, 2014

Nishikori and Bolelli get stuck at 3-3 in the fifth set that's beyond ridiculous.

Murrayfan31 · Jun 28, 2014

tipsa...don'tlikehim! said:
Nishikori and Bolelli get stuck at 3-3 in the fifth set that's beyond ridiculous.

Just found out about this. I thought their match didn't get started. Wimbledon's website sucks.

Sentinel · Jun 28, 2014

pound cat said:
No tennis on Sunday at Wimbledon has nothing to do with being a religious holiday or being a tradition or giving the players a rest.

It's all about giving the groundskeepers a full day to repair the courts that have been run own by a full week of many. many players wrecking the grass.

Three cheers for the groundskeepers!!!

i had read or heard that it was to give all the people involved a day off.

I;ve also heard the church excuse, but the final is also on a Sunday, although it may be in the afternoon (after church times).

Sentinel · Jun 28, 2014

vive le beau jeu ! said:
can we agree that it sucks for the players who couldn't play their 3rd round on saturday ?...

I agree if you agree that it depends on who the players are

MichaelNadal · Jun 28, 2014

Honestly it's an outdated tradition that should have leeway when you have to delay matches to rain. Wimbledon 2007 comes to mind, ridiculous.

*Sparkle* · Jun 29, 2014

I can only assume the people who whine about it each year don't have enough things to do and have spent the previous six days glued to their tv. I suggest you use today to do some things from this list:

* Spend time with your family
* Walk the dog
* Cook a meal
* Phone a friend
* Do some exercise
* Read a book
* Catch up on housework (tidy your room)
* Go shopping

* Play tennis!!!!

Don't begrudge the staff who work at Wimbledon (including press) a quiet day (many will still be working), and let the people who live and work near the tournament get a bit of peace.

vive le beau jeu ! · Jul 4, 2015

... bump ?

Mainad · Jul 4, 2015

Posted this a few weeks ago:

Mainad said:
Once Wimbledon gets underway, various people will inevitably start to complain about:

1. The unfairness of the draw.
2. The unfairness of the scheduling.
3. The unfairness of not playing on middle Sunday.
4. The unfairness of playing on slippery grass.
5. The unfairness of having to play all in white.
6. The unfairness of the weather causing rain delays.
7. The unfairness of not being able to use a selfie-stick.
8. The unfairness of not being able to use anything else that is banned.
9. The unfair advantage that some players who can play on grass have over those who can't.
10. The unfairness of anybody being forced to play on grass.

And they will conclude that Wimbledon is by far the most incompetent and worst run of all the Slams (now that the Australian and French Opens have finished and at least until the US Open gets underway).

How am I doing so far?

vive le beau jeu ! · Jul 4, 2015

Mainad said:
Posted this a few weeks ago:

How am I doing so far?

not so bad... but as regards the white stuff, i can understand the "unfairness" feeling as headbands, socks, panties, garter belts, etc. and strawberries are not treated equally.
they should only accept to sell this kind of strawberries:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineberry

Sentinel · Jul 4, 2015

*Sparkle* said:
I can only assume the people who whine about it each year don't have enough things to do and have spent the previous six days glued to their tv. I suggest you use today to do some things from this list:

* Spend time with your family
* Walk the dog
* Cook a meal
* Phone a friend
* Do some exercise
* Read a book
* Catch up on housework (tidy your room)
* Go shopping

* Play tennis!!!!

Don't begrudge the staff who work at Wimbledon (including press) a quiet day (many will still be working), and let the people who live and work near the tournament get a bit of peace.

I pity the dude who has not walked his dog in six days.

Or rather I pity the dog.

House must be smelling, too

Whom should i pity more, dude or dog ?

Sentinel · Jul 4, 2015

Mainad said:
Posted this a few weeks ago:

How am I doing so far?

Point number 9 is a digrace, scandal and a outrage.

Haafa gets knocked out by grass specialists every year

vive le beau jeu ! · Jul 5, 2015

so what's the order of play for today ?

hey... where's everybody ?!

Deleted member 688153 · Jul 5, 2015

One of the few rules of theirs which actually is silly.

What if my holy day is Tuesday?
What then, hmm?

Mainad · Jul 5, 2015

vive le beau jeu ! said:
not so bad... but as regards the white stuff, i can understand the "unfairness" feeling as headbands, socks, panties, garter belts, etc. and strawberries are not treated equally.
they should only accept to sell this kind of strawberries:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineberry

Not sure they'd pass muster. Too many red spots!

Maybe if they turned them inside out?

Bartelby · Jul 5, 2015

And Wimbledon's website asserts it's all about the grass:

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that has a day free of play in the middle of the tournament.

Why? It has nothing to do with old-fashioned British decorum. Nor is it a hangover from the days when everything closed on Sundays and everyone, except emergency workers, had ‘the seventh day’ off to recharge. The All England Club is closed on Middle Sunday simply to give the courts a breather. It’s all about the grass.

“People often ask, ‘Why don’t you play on the Middle Sunday?’, but it’s not about having a day off,” confirms Philip Brook, Chairman of the All England Club.

“The main reason is that it gives the groundsmen the only opportunity to put a proper amount of water on the courts to get them ready for the second week.”

So while the players go into competitive 'pause mode', head groundsman Neil Stubley and his team of 28 are in at dawn to tend to the precious grass.

Mainad · Jul 5, 2015

Bartelby said:
And Wimbledon's website asserts it's all about the grass:

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that has a day free of play in the middle of the tournament.

Why? It has nothing to do with old-fashioned British decorum. Nor is it a hangover from the days when everything closed on Sundays and everyone, except emergency workers, had ‘the seventh day’ off to recharge. The All England Club is closed on Middle Sunday simply to give the courts a breather. It’s all about the grass.

“People often ask, ‘Why don’t you play on the Middle Sunday?’, but it’s not about having a day off,” confirms Philip Brook, Chairman of the All England Club.

“The main reason is that it gives the groundsmen the only opportunity to put a proper amount of water on the courts to get them ready for the second week.”

So while the players go into competitive 'pause mode', head groundsman Neil Stubley and his team of 28 are in at dawn to tend to the precious grass.

Correct. People forget that grass needs more maintenance than hardcourt or clay. The middle Sunday is there for purposes of ground maintenance to ensure that the courts are fit for purpose in the 2nd week. That's all!

Sentinel · Jul 5, 2015

Mainad said:
Correct. People forget that grass needs more maintenance than hardcourt or clay. The middle Sunday is there for purposes of ground maintenance to ensure that the courts are fit for purpose in the 2nd week. That's all!

Now that Rafa is knocked out early there will actually be some grass left after the first week for them to maintain. Now the courts will actually be playable in the second week.

vive le beau jeu ! · Jul 5, 2015

Sentinel said:
Now that Rafa is knocked out early there will actually be some grass left after the first week for them to maintain. Now the courts will actually be playable in the second week.

but if you saw the shape of the finnish tundra at the moment... it's not pretty.

West Coast Ace · Jul 5, 2015

Bartelby said:
...simply to give the courts a breather. It’s all about the grass.

That's ridiculous. 1 day isn't going to help.

Weak Era for British agronomy if that guy really believes that.

I've said many times that the 2nd Monday at Wimbledon is the best day of the tennis year. But that's only true if they get all the matches in.

Forget the middle Sunday; they need to start earlier. The Brit Blue Bloods can wake up early for a few days a year.

Steve0904 · Jul 5, 2015

As has been said, I don't actually care about no tennis on Middle Sunday because it gives us the best day of the tennis year the very next day.

Zoolander · Jul 5, 2015

Pe

Sentinel said:
Now that Rafa is knocked out early there will actually be some grass left after the first week for them to maintain. Now the courts will actually be playable in the second week.

Perhaps in 2008/2010 the groundsmen broke with tradition on the sunday and instead of watering the grass they, i dont know, let a herd of cows trample all over centrecourt for the day?

Then grass dies more in 2nd week/centrecourt becomes a dustbowl/inevitable Rafa victory?

Bartelby · Jul 5, 2015

The main courts were probably originally built wide enough to cut two grass courts, but seating has filled in the sides.

The Australian Open at Kooyong was three courts wide on centre court.

So they could probably have two fresh courts for the second week.

JRAJ1988 · Jul 5, 2015

Middle Sunday in a sunny Cornwall, I tried to get some tan it went wrong, unless "Lobster" is a fashionable look.

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