What a prospect, probably the best British female tennis player I've seen in a decade.

Thought it was our first signing then...

Not saying a great deal, as apart from the very erratic Jo Konta they've all been first round pushovers in the grand slam events.

Raducanu does seem very focused in comparison. Cute too, though with ridiculously short legs for a tennis player.

Expected us to be signing a Romanian centre back on loan from Steaua. So disappointed

yes, excitement down to despair once again.

Pools' record of signing players from European leagues is woeful apart from Pedersen and Toure. The likes of Matteo Lanzoni weren't any better than lads who had come up through the youth team.

More exciting than Fiona Butler mr p?

That's an iconic photo Sussex, when you think it was taken in 1976 it still impresses today

Wonder what price she was to win the US Open before her 3 qualifying games?

My knowledge of tennis is up there with my knowledge of Albanian Midwifery Practices in the 8th Century and I suspect the Albanian Midwife stuff edges it for me.

Bit like asking what odds South Shields are to win the FA Cup.

think my interest in albanian midwifery practises are far above my one for tennis. the whole sports makes watching 5 day cricket fast and entertaining up to that.

I’ve always regarded tennis as on of those ‘social’ sports where you have to be a member of a club to even get near a tennis court and of course be one of them.
There might be the next Wimbledon champion hanging about down Belle Vue, but they’ll never know it or even be given the chance to prove it because the gene pool for potential champions is limited to the social group who run it.

[quote="Snowy"]My knowledge of tennis is up there with my knowledge of Albanian Midwifery Practices in the 8th Century and I suspect the Albanian Midwife stuff edges it for me.[ /quote]

Alternatively it could be associated with the Albanian castration centre as the cry "new balls please" would suggest !!!!!!!.

yes, a bit of a level playing field like car motor racing and golf are. if you haven,t the dosh or can get hold of it just stick to a sport that does not require it.

Hartlepool has 2 tennis clubs, Eldon Grove and Hartlepool tennis club which is only £80 a year for an adult member, hardly expensive, infact a family of 4 (2 x adults x 2 children) is only £120 a year. Concessions are only £40 pa with 25% off in your first year.

I think that membership fee is costly to people who don’t have that sort of cash to spare.... however, I don’t think the fee is the real problem though.

you mean like the way they,d make people feel if they caught the bus there or arrived in some old peugeot like i would. shades of many golf clubs.

Amazing that Emma Raducanu is the first qualifier ever to reach a major tournament final.

Win or lose tomorrow, I hope she carries on smiling and enjoying the attention for as long as possible. She's going to make a shit load of money but the weight of expectation from now on will be huge, especially from our lovely red tops. Their motto is always 'build em up to knock em down' cause it sells papers.

Exactly, it’s a social clique, that’s why generally we’re crap at club sports.

Covid to the rescue to save 4 days of watching paint dry until the inevitable England collapse on the last day

The final will now be shown live on Channel 4 tonight from 8pm.

The Asian won at bat n ball.
Congratulations

Not really a tennis fan but I'm glad she's stolen the spotlight off an overrated, diving rapist.

That and beat the yanks.

Born in Canada with a Romanian Father & Chinese Mother, the family moved to London when she was 2.

And strangely she played a Canadian in the final.

She's already a multi millionaire - good luck to her.

Just who the feck on here could say they've played a couple of minutes on a tennis court and said they've enjoyed it ffs,??

I played tennis for about 20 years - it's like squash only loads better, the same way snooker is a much better game than than pool.

Never much liked watching it on TV, but Raducanu last night on Channel 4 was brill. She doesn't hang about putting opponents away so there's no time to get bored.

I like how up until a few days ago tennis was a decently followed sport, yet now everyone and their gran is fanatical about it.

I wonder what would happen if Team GB won every gold in an obscure sport like water polo? Would there be a water polo super league? A water polo match of the day? How about water polo ultras?

You're not splashing anymore!

thats so true. same when wimbledon is on and the empty public tennis courts are full. now the lass is hailed as a role model and inspiration to us all. no one inspired me to kick a football or needed a sodding so called role model whatever those are anyway. the only thing i did was in my early teens where i changed my hairstyle to norman oakley,s as i was quite similar in build and looks to him.

Plenty of tennis played in Belle Vue back streets. Two dustbins with a washing line pole across and we were all Tony Mottrams. (age concern will tell you who he was)

Me! I had tennis lessons at school and loved it, only problem was I couldn't find anyone good enough to have a game with.

I remember his son

I enjoy watching a good match on tv, i just found it impossible to have a rally going of more than 2 or 3 shots,give me a badminton racket any day.