SW19 Court Circular - The Wimbledon Diary

PROVING right that old adage about it never raining when you take a brolly, Wimbledon's new roof - estimated cost £80 million - won't be needed for a few days yet, according to weather forecasters.

They've even slashed the odds on a rain-free fortnight from 10/1 to 6/1.


SUNNY DAYS: Wimbledon's new roof during the ceremonial opening at the All England Club last month (Getty Images) 

* THEY think it's all ova, well it is at Wimbledon.

There are 30 players in the women's draw whose name finishes ‘ova' - underlining the strength of former Soviet republics on the WTA Tour.

"Everyone is from Russia now, sometimes I think I'm from Russia," joked Serena Williams.

"All these -ovas. I'm thinking of changing my name to Williamsova."

* VENUS Williams won't be retiring soon - despite claims her off-court distractions are becoming too .... distracting.

Along with Serena she won doubles gold at last year's Beijing Olympics and the pair are already planning their defence in London, when tennis events will be staged at the All England Club.

"Whatever happens Serena and I are going to defend our Olympic title at 2012," she said.

"It would mean so much to win an Olympic gold at a Wimbledon, where we've had such amazing memories."

SHE'LL BE BACK: Reigning champion Venus Williams, pictured with Rafael Nadal, is eyeing gold at the London 2012 Olympics (Getty Images)

* ONLY 16 times since 1878 has a player been lost a best of five set match at Wimbledon without winning a game.

It's 22 years since Stefan Edberg became the last man to win a flawless match and it seemed his record would be equaled by Argentina's Leonardo Mayer yesterday.

But Spain's Oscar Hernandez spoiled his fun, rallying briefly before surrendering tamely 6-0, 6-0, 6-3.


NATURAL BORN GRUNTER: Michelle Larcher De Brito has been warned to turn down to volume by her tennis mentor Nick Bollettieri (Getty Images)

* MICHELLE Larcher De Brito's grunting will be closely monitored again during her second round match with Italy's Francesca Schiavone tomorrow.

She graduated through Nick Bollettieri's school of tennis hard knocks in Florida but even he thinks it's got out of hand.

"It has got to the point where it is becoming distracting," he admitted.

"It's not cheating - no-one could call Seles, Agassi or the Williams sisters cheats.

"But has it got out of proportion? Yes."

But what about his star pupil Sharapova?

"When you look that beautiful, people don't mind about grunting," he adds.