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Boris Becker helping the nation improve their tennis serve

To mark the 125th celebration of the Championships, three times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker gives his predictions on Wimbledon 2011 while helping the nation improve their serving abilities at the specially designed ‘The Ralph Lauren 125th Anniversary Serving Challenge’ virtual tennis court.

Building on Becker’s interactive tennis clinic last year, 2011 sees the Ralph Lauren tennis legend take his skills to the queuing public, challenging them on a tennis simulator (similar to that used in virtual golf), making it the first time this technology has been used in tennis.

Boris Becker became the first unseeded player, the first German, and the youngest man (17 years, 7 months) to win Wimbledon. Becker won 49 singles titles over the next 14 years – including 2 more Wimbledon Championships (1986, 1989), the Australian Open (1991, 1996) and the U.S. Open (1989) – 15 doubles titles, and 2 Davis Cups. He also won the 1992 Olympic Men’s tennis doubles title with Michael Stich. His career prize earnings are estimated to total over $21 million.

The 125th LTA Wimbledon Tennis Championships begin today and once again all British hopes are pinned to Andy Murray who is one of four inform players who could be crowned Men’s Singles Wimbledon Champion 2011 in two weeks time.

Andy Murray’s confidence has never been greater after his victory at Queen’s Club following two exceptional performances to beat Andy Roddick in the semi-final and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.  But ahead of Murray in the current world rankings are Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and reigning Wimbledon champion and current no.1 Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic has never been further than the semi-finals at Wimbledon but has only lost once in 2011.  Djokovic is the inform player but grass isn’t his favourite surface.  Rafa Nadal will need to be on his best form and free from injury if he is to beat Roger Federer, who I believe will be crowned Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion for the seventh time.

The Ladies Singles has been dominated in recent years by the Williams sisters, and both Serena and Venus Williams will be among the favourites even though they have both recently returned from injuries and failed to impress at last week’s Eastbourne Aegon International event.  A former champion that comes to this year’s Wimbledon finals in great form is Maria Sharapova though Li Na will be looking to add to her recent French Open victory when she bacame the first Chinese tennis player to win a grand slam.

Wimbledon 2011 begins today with the Men’s Singles 1st Round when Rafa Nadal takes on Michael Russell (USA) on Centre Court and Alison Riske (USA) taking on Vera Zvonareva (Russia) the number 2 seed on No. 1 Court.

Weather permitting, fourth seed Andy Murray v Daniel Gimeno-Traver (Spain) will be the third match on Centre Court.

Andy Murray beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga yesterday 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in an exciting and very entertaining final to win his second Queen’s Club final in three years.

Tsonga had previously beaten Rafa Nadal and British number 2 James Ward in the semi-final for the right to play Murray in yesterday’s delayed Queen’s Club Men’s Singles Final.  Andy Murray had played possibly the best match of his career when he completely out-thought, out-moved and out-played Andy Roddick in the semi-final on Saturday.  At one point Roddick had joked “let’s keep it social” as the exemplary Murray pulled off shot after shot.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga started the first set the brighter as Murray was unable to break Tsonga’s serve. Tsonga looked like causing an upset when he won the first set 3-6. But Murray began to fight back, even though he was still unable to break Tsonga’s serve, as the second set went to a tie-breaker.  But it could have been such a different result when at five games all and Tsonga leading 30-40, his return shot hit the top of the net, only to drop down instead of over the net.  That would have left Tsonga to serve for the match.  But as it was Andy Murray appeared to step up a gear and dominated the tie-break to take this exciting match to a third set.

That was the turning point of the match.  At the start of the final set, Tsonga looked slightly jaded. Murray took advantage and finally broke Tsonga’s serve in the fifth game.

The 7,000 spectators at Queen’s Club were treated to a great spectacle and delighted when Murray began to showboat, returning a half-volley from between his legs, not once but twice.  Both players found the first trick amusing as Tsonga won the point.  But he was less amused when Murray pulled out a winning stroke later in the set.

Andy Murray ‘showboating’ has split critics.  Was it really disrespectful? I personally think it is exciting for the crowd and makes the game more enjoyable.  Seeing Andy Murray play this good against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Roddick was a delight to watch.

Murray’s attention is now on the 125th Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship that begins on Monday 20th June where he will be brimful of confidence and no doubt be one of the bookies favourite to win the Men’s Singles final on Sunday 3rd July.

James Cracknell - 1,000 mile Deloitte Ride Across Britain

The Deloitte Ride Across Britain – an annual 9 day, 1,000 mile cycle ride that raises money for the British Paralympic Association – gets underway this Saturday, as riders look to top the £372,000 that was raised last year. The 500 riders will depart John O’Groats on Saturday 11th June and are expected to arrive in Land’s End on Sunday 19th June, as part of the initiative that was devised by James Cracknell and his co-founders at Threshold Sports.

This year’s event has incorporated Daily Stages into the nine stops along the route, allowing a wider group of riders to cycle a single 105 mile stage to get a taste for Deloitte Ride Across Britain experience. It is hoped that by giving an increased number of riders a flavour of the experience, a record number of cyclists of all skill levels will register for the entire 1,000 mile route in 2012.

Multiple Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey returns to the ride for the second straight year and is joined by Danny Crates who is the British Paralympic Association’s ambassador for the ride, and Tim Reddish, Chairman of the British Paralympic Association. Tim, who is visually impaired and cycled last year’s ride on a tandem bicycle with his son Paul, will be joining the ride again this year.

Anyone who feels inspired to find out more about how to get involved next year can find more information at www.rideacrossbritain.com.

Olympian Mark Foster with the 2012 Olympic Torch

Four-time Olympic Champion Sir Chris Hoy and Olympian Mark Foster have called on the nation to recognise people who have made a difference in their local communities, by nominating them to carry the Olympic Flame.

The Olympic Torch Relay will be a 70-day celebration starting at Land’s End on 19 May 2012, travelling thousands of miles and bringing the spirit and inspiration of the London 2012 Games to hundreds of communities across the UK. From today, Lloyds TSB is inviting the public to nominate somebody who’s made a difference in their local community and inspired others, for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be an Olympic Torchbearer.

To help communities share in the excitement of the Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the London 2012 Olympic Torch on a tour of the UK this summer. The London 2012 Olympic Torch Tour is an interactive roadshow where visitors can have their photo taken with the London 2012 Olympic Torch and other historical torches, learn about the history of the Relay, play interactive games, and nominate someone for the chance to carry the Olympic Flame. The tour was launched today in Manchester’s Exchange Square and will travel extensively throughout the UK, visiting many of the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration Sites.

Chris Hoy with his torch-bearer nominee Geoff Cooke and the 1948 London Olympic Torch

Sir Chris Hoy and Mark Foster have been among the first to nominate and encourage the public to get involved by submitting and sharing their own Torchbearer nominations. Sir Chris has nominated Geoff Cooke, whose competitive career spans six decades and who was the British Cycling’s national coach for ten years; as well as 94 year-old Andy Coogan, a World War II veteran and former champion middle distance runner from Carnoustie, Scotland who missed the chance to fulfill his athletics potential because of the war, but who still supports and coaches runners today.

Mark has nominated his swimming instructor Mrs Ann Hardcastle who spotted his talent in his home-town of Southend-on- Sea when he was only five years old. Mother to Olympic Silver medallist Sarah Hardcastle, Mrs Hardcastle has been central to the development of a number of elite UK swimmers and it is for this that Mark has nominated her for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Nominations can be made online via www.lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame from 9th June until 12 September 2011.