Don't forget men play the best out of 5 sets.

Women play the best out of three sets.

I think that a lot of the issues that are linked to athletes of all persuasions across a number of sports is that they are surrounded by an adoring group of sycophants, all there for their own percentage of the spoils, only too ready to defend the athlete, no matter how appalling the athlete's behaviour may have been.

In tennis there is always the box, chock full of girlfriend, coach, family members and other hangers on, all waiting to be fed the dollar. The athlete lives in a world where all thinking for him or her is done by others. When this illustrious career finishes, usually in a shorter period of time than anticipated, the athlete lands on his or her bum and the adoring mob of leeches has moved on to the next victim. Another period of time lapses and then we either hear about the comeback, the financial ruin or the depression.

We can't live in the past but I can remember back when most athletes maintained their existence by having a regular job. Members of the Australian Cricket Team had jobs that they attended. Tennis players had jobs, Olympians had jobs. These days their chosen sport is too important to have any outside interaction and this is what happens. This great sense of self importance and adulation because they can hit a tennis ball, bowl a cricket ball or run faster than most.

Maybe I have a poor memory, but I cannot remember any of our champions of yesteryear causing the sport or the general public embarrassment over their on field behaviour. They just seemed to perform, do their best and most importantly, accept the decision or result without a temper tantrum, abuse or petulance. I was once a great sports fan, sat up all night to listen to the cricket, watch the tennis and never miss the Olympics. Now, I get more joy watching the Australian Cricket Team lose and could not care less about the other two former interests.

We live in interesting times.

Thank you for the kind words, Roy. I am sure that the only people who will be offended are those to which my comments apply. Having said that, I doubt very much that they visit this website.

I don't know how the crowds will react, or even if there will be a crowd, but I imagine the hype will be unbearable around the Australian Cricket Team this summer. We will get all those "the boys are back" and "they are all forgiven" from the media side of Cricket Australia but I feel they have lost a large group of followers in the 40 years plus group.

Me, I will just tune in now and then and hope to hear they are getting a total thrashing for what that lot did to our game and image.