Holding court

Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN

What's the story with Rory?: Wozniacki keeps her cool

Caroline Wozniacki lost her first round match to Austria’s Tamira Paszek 7-5, 6-7, 4-6 on Centre Court. It was a wonderfully entertaining tussle, the best contest so far at the All England club. She had two match points in the second set but could not convert as twice her opponent hit lines on one of the break points. Defeat was measured in millimetres in a heart-breaking loss, chock-full of excellent tennis.

The disappointing ache of defeat was etched on her features as she sat in the interview room and offered up her feelings. About the last thing she wanted to entertain at that moment was a question about her boyfriend, the world number two golfer Rory McIlroy, who is competing at the Irish Open in Royal Portrush that begins today.

When asked whether she would be attending the golf tournament she admitted that: “To be honest, right now I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know what my plans are at the moment. I’ve just finished the match.”

A classy young lady, she did well to retain her decorum when asked the next question – do you think your relationship with Rory is affecting your tennis? The emotion invested in the one word answer didn’t require any elaboration: “No.”

A tough day, on and off, the court.

Simon starts: Gender battle

Gilles Simon's comments in which he pointed out that "men's tennis is ahead of women's tennis" and that they provide "a more attractive show," culminated in him suggesting that the ladies did not merit equal remuneration. It's being aired many times before but the Frenchman and number 13 seed's position on the ATP Council meant his views got plenty of airplay.

All four Grand Slam tournaments pay equal prize money to men and women, something Simon said he doesn't think "works in sports". His position was put to several players including Roger Federer and Ana Ivanovic, who treated it slightly differently.

Six-time Wimbledon champion Federer, kicked to touch to mix a sporting metaphor. "I hope it doesn't become a big issue during Wimbledon. It's obviously a debate that's out there ever since, I guess, the Slams have made equal prize money. There's nothing you can do, anyway, about it. It's just a matter of who believes what, and then that is an endless debate. So whatever you believe."

Ivanovic opted for humour: "Yeah, it's always been talked about, but we have different physiques. I think we earn our money; I mean, I was two and a half hours out there today."

RBS rein it in: IT crowd affects It crowd

While the Ulster Bank saga rattles on, its parent company Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have cancelled corporate hospitality at Wimbledon starting yesterday as the IT problems threaten to enter a third week.

RBS, which also own NatWest Bank, claims that while they are getting on top of the problem, it would be "inappropriate" to continue providing hospitality. The bank had hosted clients for the first two days of play at the All England club and had planned to do so for the rest of the fortnight.

They have also cancelled a corporate day at Gleneagles in Scotland at which, according to reports, Jack Nicklaus was due to appear.