SW19 Diary: Will Coco be an American idol or a basket case?
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Your support makes all the difference.If it really is nature and not nurture then look out for the American teenager Coco Vandeweghe, who makes her Wimbledon bow today against the Greek Eleni Daniilidou. Sport is in her blood: her grandfather played in the NBA, her great uncle played in the NBA, her uncle played in the NBA and has coached in the NBA, her mother swam in the 1976 Olympics and her brother is an international beach volleyball player. Her grandmother, by the way, was a former Miss America, which may or may not add to the equation. US tennis is in the doldrums and Vandeweghe, who at 19 was briefly inside the top 100 earlier this year, is seen by some as a player who could one day bring the good(ish) times back, although with her family background you have to fear she's got involved with the wrong sort of nets.
'Boom Boom' Becker busted
Boris Becker was once one of the biggest servers, topping 140mph, but years of commentary-box living have taken their toll. Yesterday he launched the Ralph Lauren Wimbledon 125th Anniversary Serving Challenge, in which members of the public are invited to test their serve on a virtual Centre Court, and reached 96mph. "I haven't practised," he explained. Anyone can have a go – it's in a marquee on Wimbledon Park golf course.
Herr out of place
Boris Becker, when Noel Fielding, the shaggy-haired comedian appeared on screen on Centre Court. "Now that's a man not a girl?" Germans... sense of humour...
Sign of the day
Wimbledon is known for its meticulousness, nothing is left to chance. So this in the men's toilets: "Please do not leave these spatulas in the toilets as they cause blockages." Helpfully posted to each notice on each cubicle was a spatula. It's the little details that count.
Stat of the day 1...
Capacity on Centre Court is eight bigger than last year.
Stat of the day 2...
1am, the time Rafa Nadal stayed up until on Monday morning to watch his friend Rory McIlroy's US Open triumph.
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