FOR many sports fanatics the months of June and July are two of the best on the calendar.
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The World Cup has already kicked off, but the sports action really starts to roll from next Monday when Wimbledon hits off and the Tour de France is fast approaching.
For a lot of us "Down Under" there will be late nights and early mornings watching the action from Brazil, England and France.
Although hopes of an Australian netting the Wimbledon men's or women's singles crown are about as flat as centre court, there's always plenty of drama on and off the grass.
Comments by Australia's Marinko Matosevic had his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Matosevic's call that he does not think so highly of women's tennis sparked outrage from many circles.
It's a pity his victory at Queen's Club was overshadowed by his thoughts about reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray hiring Frenchwomen Amelie Mauresmo as coach.
Whether the Murray-Mauresmo team triumphs remains to be seen.
What we do know is they have won grand slam titles. A feat Matosevic is yet to do.
We are all entitled to an opinion and differing views, but sometimes it's best to say nothing at all.
In many ways Marinko would be best to let his racquet do the talking.
He can do so from next week at Wimbledon when most of the world's best vie for the year's third grand slam, and for many, the most prestigious title.
Russian starlet Maria Sharapova, pictured, was in hot form as she won the French Open for a second time.
It's been a decade since Sharapova held the Wimbledon crown.
She heads to this slam knowing the likes of five-time winner Serena Williams is in the field.
Add in Li Na, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka and the women’s draw will be just as intriguing as the men’s.
A lot of Australia's hopes are with Samantha Stosur.
The big-serving Stosur will need a lot to go right to join Margaret Court, three times; and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, twice; as Australia's to have won the women's singles final at Wimbledon.
A dozen years after his Wimbledon triumph, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt is still swatting winners from the baseline.
Sometimes it's best to say nothing at all
There's no doubting Hewitt's fighting quality.
Like him or not, Hewitt has netted the prize most tennis players dream about.
In doing so he joined Australian greats such as Rod Laver, four; John Newcombe; three; Pat Cash, Roy Emerson, Neale Fraser, Ashley Cooper, Lew Hoad, Frank Sedgman, Jack Crawford, Gerald Patterson and Norman Brookes as a Wimbledon champion.
Just how Hewitt's run pans out will be one of the stories of this tennis classic.
In the meantime there's plenty more volleys, lobs, drives and smashes to be watched.