Wimbledon Highlights Programmes

[Theblip]

Watching some of the older matches, the standard looked so much lower than today that I imagine current low-ranked players would have stood a good chance against champions of the 70s and 80s the way they played then... Another thing: how can the BBC really justify having Heather Watson on as a special guest FOUR times seeing as she's never won anything significant in Singles at Wimbledon? So many more deserving guests they could have chosen, including Anne Jones and Jo Durie. They just had to get BLM into it a few times...

[thesshhh]

I agree on both counts. It would be interesting to see how those past champs would have fared with modern technology, training methods, nutrition info and so on. As for point 2, classic BBC PC

[roopower]

I prefer the old style of play, I don't like the 'grunt and smash' style of today. The doubles is better but they don't show much of that.

[Mozz71]

Oh flaming Nora. Is that is it now? Every time a non-white face appears on TV, you twits are going to cry PC craziness or BLM over it.

She's the most recognisable current British player (perhaps Jo Konta was unavailable) around, and perhaps she is planning a media career when she retires, so is being groomed by the Beeb for such a role. Also, do you know if older players wanted to be involved? I saw Sue interviewing Billie Jean King recently, so there isn't exactly an ban on older players.

Isn't Annabel Croft part of the BBC team? I don't see you complaining about her, given her lacklustre Wimbledon career.

[thesshhh]

At least Croft won Junior Wimbledon and is a very experienced tv tennis pundit. Konta was a guest 3 times which is still tough to justify at the expense of others but at least she’s got the semis and quarters in singles at Wimbly

[Mozz71]

//At least Croft won Junior Wimbledon and is a very experienced tv tennis pundit.//

Yup, Watson won Wimbledon mixed doubles so they are about the same standard, so shouldn't Watson be given the chance to become an experienced tv tennis pundit if she so desires?

I'm sorry, but I really think the OP's mention of BLM betrays the real reason they're complaining about Miss Watson's appearances.

[margarettom]

I like Jo Durie best of all the lady commentators, but I don't think the BBC have ever used her. They seem to go for lots of American tennis players, Pam Shriver, Tracy Austin and Lindsey Davenport to name a few. But, they have all been successful at Wimbledon.

[bhg481]

Jo Durie seems to work for Eurosport; maybe her contract stops her from other jobs.

[choux]

I am with roopower here. The evening doubles matches brought some light relief to the intensity of the afternoon play. The worst ladies matches, imo, were Chris Everett v Tracy Austin - boring beyond belief with the constant base line play. The best was the likes of Margaret Court v Ann Jones and B J King v Martina Navratilova.

Surely no-one is surprised by the pc behaviour of the BBC?

I do not recall so many international championships say 50 years ago and of course Wimbledon was an amateurs' world. Once the players became professional it opened up the whole game for many more to join the circus so it is hardly surprising that the players have upped their play accordingly.

[Mozz71]

//Surely no-one is surprised by the pc behaviour of the BBC?//

Only if you think anyone with dark skin on the channel is there for political reasons, rather than due to their own qualities or abilities.

[choux]

If one wasn't on the shortlisting/interview panel how can one possibly know?

[Mozz71]

I just see a tennis player on a tennis highlights show. I honestly think it's ridiculous to think anything else, but I'm not into conspiracies.

If there was five or six people of colour on the show, I'd be more likey to be doubtful.