Wimbledon is over and in terms of weather it is one of the worst I can ever remember.  Yet as a tournament the ending puts it up there as one of the finest in recent history. In a strange way I think Federer beating Nadal in a titanic battle will help him in next year’s French Open because I believe that many demons were laid to rest in that fifth set. I think it will ultimately be harder for Nadal to win Wimbledon after that match because the fear factor that I believe he held over Federer was possibly extinguished when he failed to convert a break point in the 5th set. All said and done the world of tennis is lucky to have two great Ambassadors and great Champions leading the sport and they are a credit to the sport and to their families.
 
I said in my previous Inside Story that I doubted Venus could win the Tournament; but ignore the Williams sisters at your peril. All credit has to go to Bartoli for making the final and in doing so denying the tournament a Henin and Williams final but the form that Venus showed in the final would probably have been good enough to defeat anyone.
 
The Williams sisters are a remarkable story and it is almost mind-blowing how well they can re-emerge from the wilderness to conquer major tournaments. I have never personally spoken to Richard Williams but I would love to sit down and have a beer with him because I think he is interesting and crazy and the fascination for me is how much sanity I have come across within what on the surface seems eccentric but in many ways is very effective. I salute people who march to the beat of their own drum rather than that of the supposedly sane majority. All great thinkers are not afraid to step out and think outside the norm.
 
Wimbledon has always been a good Tournament for me and my players. This year the MCTA broke new ground with Anna Fitzpatrick showing her pedigree by reaching the semi-final of the Junior girls’ singles.  Anna has had a near-perfect grass court season and achieved every single goal that we set for her. Further news on a wonderful week for the Academy can be found by clicking here
 

All the best

David