Queen of Sports

BBC Offers Wimbledon Viewers Grunt-Free Options Online

We told you last week about the Wimbledon executive who expressed his dislike for grunting in tennis. The BBC must have been listening, because they just implemented a noice-reduction tool, called NetMix, that cancels out any grunting noises. The downsides are it only works online, and only with those matches being played on Centre Court.

According to the Daily Mail, the BBC has received a lot of positive feedback in reference to the new tool and the network is considering using it for other sporting events. A vuvuzela-free World Cup, maybe?

Try out a grunt-free tennis viewing experience here.

Athlete Sighting: John McEnroe, Rory McIlroy And Andy Murray

US Open Golf Champion Rory McIlroy was spotted on the practice courts at Wimbledon yesterday with tennis stars John McEnroe and Andy Murray.

Murray is playing Rafael Nadal today in the men’s semifinals. Nadal is the defending Wimbledon champion and Murray is the No. 4 seed. Earlier today, Novak Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets.

Photo: Art Seitz / Splash News

Hot Or Not: Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal took home the Wimbledon title last year, and has another shot at the title again this year. Tomorrow, Nadal will be taking on Andy Murray in the men’s singles semifinals of Wimbledon. The winner of the semifinals match will go on to play the winner of the Novak Djokovic/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga match in the finals.

At only 25 years old, Nadal is currently ranked No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. With ten Grand Slam singles titles, and an Olympic gold medal in singles, Nadal is the second male behind Andre Agassi to complete the Career Grand Slam. From Majorca, Spain, Nadal was introduced to tennis at the age of 3. In his younger years, Nadal played both soccer and tennis but had to choose between the sports when he was 12. At age 15, he turned pro. From being endorsed by Nike, to becoming the new face of Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans, and being featured in a Shakira music video, Nadal is on everyone’s radar. His Rafael Nadal Foundation provides opportunities and aid to those in need.

What do you think?

Photos: Wenn.com and Armani

The “Lady Gaga of Tennis” Challenges Blogger

The world of tennis is a generally very conservative environment, especially when it comes to the traditions of dress in tournaments like Wimbledon. Enter Bethanie Mattek-Sands: a Minnesota-born tennis player who’s flamboyant choice of outfits both on the court and off have amused several. She showed up to a pre-Wimbledon party wearing the dress pictured above. The tennis-inspired gown secured her nickname: the “Lady Gaga of Tennis.” Known for often sporting knee-high socks, sometimes with cowboy hats,animal prints, and eye black, Mattek-Sands seems to have outdone herself this year at Wimbledon.

Mattek-Sands showed up on the court for her first match sporting eye black, knee-high socks, and an (all-white) jacket adorned with tennis balls and fringe. Created by one of Lady Gaga’s designers, the get-up got a lot of attention. However, Mattek-Sands went on to not only lose and get ousted from the tournament in the first round but snub the umpire on her way off the court because she disagreed with a call.

Blogger Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports made a couple posts above Mattek-Sands’ choice of dress and performance on the court, saying, “It’s one thing if you’re wearing crazy outfits like Venus Williams or Maria Sharapova and actually winning majors, but it’s quite another if you’re getting bounced in the first round. A word of advice to Bethanie Mattek-Sands: fashion statements are best reserved for players who are actually winning. Until you can win a match at a grand slam, worry less about your outfits and more about your opponents.” Brown has a point.

Mattek-Sands must have read the posts, because she messaged Brown on Twitter, challenging him, saying, “Since you manage to talk some smack how about we get you out on the court during the US Open series!?! Put up or shut up RIGHT???” Now the two are set to take each other on at the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad in August. Should be interesting to see if both parties show up!

Photos: Facebook

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge At Wimbledon

Prince William and Kate Middleton headed out to London yesterday to attend Wimbledon, where they were seated in the Royal Box to cheer on fellow Brit Andy Murray. The Royals must have provided some good luck for Murray, who beat out France’s Richard Gasquet.

In keeping with Wimbledon’s all-white dress theme, Middleton wore an off-white Temperley London knee-length dress with tiered layers. The Royal couple received a warm ovation upon their arrival. After watching Murray’s match, they returned to watch Venus Williams and Rafael Nadal. There are pictures to prove they even joined in on the wave during Nadal’s match.

We love the newlywed Royal couple! Kate Middleton takes on the pressures of constant media attention with such grace.

Photo: Mirrorpix / Splash News

Sports 101: Unforced And Forced Errors In Tennis

If you’ve been watching Wimbledon lately, you’ve no doubt heard the announcer mention an “unforced error” attributing to a loss of points in a game. We’ve already talked about how games are scored in tennis, but we want to define an unforced error and forced error in tennis for you.

It sounds more complex, but really it’s quite simple. An unforced error is an error (missed shot or serve) during play that can only be attributed to poor judgement and execution by the player. In contrast, a forced error is just the opposite: it is a really good shot or serve by an opponent that you miss. Usually forced errors will cause a player to really scramble to get to the ball, making them miss the shot. Double faults, or missing two serves in a row causing the server to lose a point, are considered unforced errors. Service winners, a serve that is touched by the returner but not returned, is considered a forced error.

Leo Levin, who played a role in the development of the first computerized stats system for tennis, is credited with coining the term for tennis in 1982.  Now, it is used by commentators for many sports. In football, if a receiver catches a ball then drops it, it may be called an unforced error.

Athlete Sightings At The 2011 BET Awards

On Saturday night, cable network BET held their annual awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks was in attendance with wife and radio/TV personality Lala.

The network not only recognizes musicians and entertainers, but athletes as well. Serena Williams, who was just eliminated at Wimbledon this morning, won the Subway Sportswoman of the Year award while Michael Vick won the Subway Sportsman of the Year award, beating out competitors Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and LeBron James. Metta World Peace, AKA Ron Artest, was also at the awards show sporting a New York Giants hat.

Photos: Allen Berezovsky / PR Photos

Wimbledon Executive Wants Less Grunting In Tennis

Grunting is to the sport of tennis what rituals players perform in other sports. A habitual sort of tick that seems to keep their timing and rhythm with the game, grunting sounds like the release of energy throw the vocal chords with each stroke a player makes. For the unfortunate players who don’t grunt, tuning out another player’s noises can be nearly infuriating. The more seasoned players, though, including almost all women playing in Wimbledon, do it.

Ian Ritchie, the chief executive of All England Lawn and Tennis Club, is speaking out on the issue of grunting and wants to see some changes. Ritchie says, “We have discussed it with the tours and we believe it is helpful to reduce the amount of grunting. We are one tournament in a global circuit. But we have made our views clear and we would like to see less of it.” Wimbledon hasn’t made any formal requests, however.

How do you feel about grunting? Should more actions be taken to encourage reduction of it in tennis, or is it a player’s right to continue doing what helps them play? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

Sports Date Of The Week: Tennis Anyone?

In the spirit of Wimbledon, pick up a tennis racquet this weekend and play (or pretend to!) like a pro. If you’ve never played tennis before and have always wanted to learn, take some lessons. Tennis lessons are really fun and you can play with a group or solo. Most YMCAs offer tennis classes and programs. For an added bonus: get your man out there to learn with you. Once you’ve learned some basic skills, it’s an easy sport to play anytime. Public tennis courts are all over, and you only need two to play! Ask someone if they have an old racquet lying around you can use if you don’t have one.

For a list of free tennis facilities in Los Angeles, check out this source. If you’ve already had some training and want to compete, why not join the USTA and find a tournament to play in!

Boris Becker Launches Ralph Lauren Wimbledon 125th Anniversary Serving Challenge

Former World No. 1 German tennis player Boris Becker launched the Ralph Lauren 125th Anniversary Serving Challenge, with the help of Wimbledon ball boys and girls. In celebrating 125 years of the Wimbledon Championships, Polo Ralph Lauren is challenged media, celebrities and the public to serve as fast as they can on a custom made virtual tennis court, modeled on Centre Court. Participants serve a tennis ball on to a projector screen and upon impact the ball transforms virtually on the exact trajectory into the virtual court while simultaneously being measure by a sophisticated speed gun. Wow!

Photo: Splash News