Back in the old days, when all tennis rackets were 27 long and 9 wide, it was child’s play to check that the net was 36 high even those whose arithmetic development was crippled by exposure to New Maths could be persuaded to learn by rote that the task was simply accomplished with two rackets, but now that no-one would be seen dead abusing a Wimbledon umpire with a standard sized racket, the trick is a tough one to pull: if you want to succeed as an inventor you must be opportunistic, so tennis fanatic Dr An Wang, who, we’re sure, is old-fashioned enough to be the soul of politeness to umpires and rackets alike, has taken a patent on a series of notches on the strings and handles of outlandish rackets to indicate the measurements that add up to 36; let’s hope he makes a fortune from it – knowing the good doctor, it will all go to charity.
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