Wimbledon diary

· Sometimes silence is not only golden, but safer too. Journalists working late on Thursday were surprised to see Martina Navratilova watching the one-day cricket international on a television in the press centre, occasionally talking to another woman. As James Kirtley was bowling for England, one scribe exclaimed: "He's chucking." At this point Navratilova's companion rose from her chair, grabbed the accuser and told him: "Don't say that again."

When the bemused scribe asked whyever not, the forcible reply came: "Because I'm his mum..."

· Anna Kournikova had no sooner actually won a grand slam match here, even if it was only a women's doubles with Chanda Rubin, than she cranked up her frosty Wimbledon relationship with the media. In the post-match interview, the Russian was asked if she agreed with John McEnroe's assertion in his recent autobiography that "cockiness is a necessity" for top players. "I don't think that has anything to do with me" - pause for sarcastic tone - "because obviously I'm not a top player right now."

· The fierce tie-break battle between Wayne Arthurs (Middlesex-based Australian) and Taylor Dent (American son of the former Australian player Phil) drew Aussies to a crowded court No3, along with many English fans seeking vicarious triumph. What puzzled many in the press box was the loud foreign support for Dent which even drowned out American voices.

These vocal South African and French supporters of Taylor, like their man, ultimately took a dent to pride. But the mystery lingers.