Wimbledon Diary

Today's other stories from Wimbledon

Bowtell reaches final

Well, maybe there is hope for Irish tennis. Young Greystones player Amy Bowtell reached her first European Tennis Association under-16 final with a tough three-set victory over number two seed, Judmila Bredikhina, of Switzerland yesterday. Bowtell started well and dominated the first set with powerful returns of serve and comfortably won it 6-3. She then went 3-1 up in the second and had points to go 4-1 but was unable to take them and soon found herself fighting to save the set.

She saved four set points before finally losing it to a forehand winner. The loss seemed to focus the teenager's mind and she stormed through the third set for the loss of only seven points! For a 13-year-old, whose both parents Trina and Paul were both decent hockey players, that's not at all bad.

Arthurs defies the years

Wayne Arthurs made it through to the third round at Wimbledon to set up what is being called the 'battle of the veterans'. With 32-year-old Tim Henman now just a memory, the 36-year-old Australian is set to meet 35-year-old, Jonas Bjorkman, for a place in the fourth round. Arthurs has already come through the qualifying rounds at Roehampton, which means he has played six matches to get this far.

"There are a couple of Aussie guys who manage the lockers," joked Arthurs. "They had a wheelchair with my name on the back. I didn't get into it. Maybe after a few more matches I will!"

Security stepped up

Women, particularly, will be more careful about what they bring to Wimbledon in their handbags. Following the bomb threat in the Haymarket area of London's city centre, the security at the All England Club, which is usually tight anyway, was stepped up. Security meticulously went through every single item in handbags, coats and picnic baskets leaving a few red faces walking up the main drag by centre court.

Royal box at more risk

The most dramatic story this week was the one on the first day that promoted the idea of a sniper attack on the royal box. Since the Centre Court roof was removed, the seats on that side of the court are exposed to the top of two high-rise blocks of flats just across the road from the All England Club. The story in itself wasn't that bizarre as police have sealed off the roofs on both towers and carry out daily security checks. The real question was why the royals? What about Alan Titchmarsh, who was there earlier this week?

Tipsarevic springs upset

If anyone doubts the talent on show at the Irish Open in Fitzwilliam, cast an eye to Wimbledon this weekend. Serb player Janko Tipsarevic played in Dublin last year and yesterday knocked out the sixth best player in the world and fifth seed here, Fernando Gonzalez. Tipsarevic, now ranked 64 in the world wasn't good enough to win the Irish event but he now finds himself in the last 16 at Wimbledon following his five-set victory over the Chilean. The Serb will walk away from London with at least £47,250.