WIMBLEDON DIGEST

Today's latest news from Wimbledon

Bigger, fatter and better

THE ROOF over Centre Court continues apace and almost everything is in place except the transparent covering. On court the spars and rails can be seen where the pliable roof will run across before a drenching from one of the famous London downpours.

After going roofless in 2007, the main court has also assumed a more traditional look following the installation of the permanent non-moveable part of the roof. The seating capacity has also increased by 1,200 to 15,000.

Part of the redevelopment plan is also to install bigger, padded seats as people are apparently getting bigger and fatter. No!

Too busy to be a mum

IT'S NOT so uncommon in other sports but in tennis there are not so many players on the women's circuit who are also mothers.

This year there were two at Wimbledon. The Paraguayan 32-year-old Rossana De Lois Rios, who was beaten yesterday by top seed Ana Ivanovic, has a nine-year-old daughter, Ana Paula, while former winner Lindsay Davenport returned to the game this year, having given birth to daughter Jagger just over a year ago.

Strange how something so normal feels weird in the world of tennis.

Winning tears

THE LTA have certainly tightened up on their wild card selections. In former years the governing body used the system at Wimbledon to fund players and scattered British players, who could not qualify, throughout the draw.

This year there were just four British wild cards in the women's singles. Maybe that's why Elena Baltacha, ranked 158, fell to her knees and wept after her match. Whatever would have happened if she'd lost?

No free stuff

IT WAS a tame first day for freebees. The walk from Southfields tube station along Church Road to the All England Club is usually lined with people trying to give stuff away.

Yesterday yielded a poor return. Fizzy pear juice, fruit-flavoured bubblegum, water and an invitation to a gospel meeting.

There was just one discard in that lot. A new fruit-tasting experience, a natural plaque remover and rehydration were all promised but free entry to Heaven was not.

Murray joins Goal distinguished list

ANDY MURRAY, Britain's great hope for Wimbledon, has joined Third World relief agency Goal as one of their distinguished list of international sporting patrons.

The Scot joins the likes of tennis legends John McEnroe, Pat Cash and Mats Wilander, as well as top athletes Eamon Coghlan and Steve Scott and Irish rugby's Gordon D'Arcy.