Crazy day! My pick to win the men’s title, Andy Murray, was sent home in the third round by Stanislas Wawrinka. Some great matches on the women’s side; Venus Williams and Shahar Peer played a tight 2-setter and Elena Dementieva and Samantha Stosur played the best match on the women’s side so far this tournament.
After winning the first set in his match against Stan, Muzz played very passively and got very down on himself. Per usual. I don’t think anyone can explain why he does it but everyone can see that it needs to stop for him to be able to break through and win a slam.
Lena D and Sam played a great match where they both held and saved match points. This match started a little before 11pm and went late into the night, last call for alcohol late. Lena had 4 chances to win but was not able to convert any of them. Sam had 2 and won it on #2 in the 3rd set tiebreak after Lena sent a forehand long. Towards the end of the match, it was clear that Sam was mentally stronger and that got her the W.
Day 7 results:
Kim Clijsters [2] def. Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1
Venus Williams [3] def. Shahar Peer [16] 7-6(3), 6-3
Samantha Stosur [5] def. Elena Dementieva [12] 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2)
Francesca Schiavone [6] def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [20] 6-3, 6-0
Serena Williams announced today that she will not compete at this year’s US Open. She’s still recovering from the freak accident she suffered in Munich which she had to undergo surgery for last month.
“It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the U.S. Open,” Williams said in a statement released by her publicist.
Williams went on to add: “My doctors have advised against my playing so that my foot can heal.”
It’s a huge loss for… Serena’s fans? With Serena out, there is no clear favorite to win The Open, no one who you can point to and say with a yawn, she’ll blow away the field.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tommy Haas have also pulled out of the final Grand Slam of the year. Jo with his knee injury and Tommy taking more time off to heal from his hip surgery.
Ana Ivanovic and John Isner both suffered ankle injuries during their matches last week and are doubtful about competing in New York.
Mardy Fish defeated John Isner 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the finals of the Atlanta Tennis Championships in Georgia, USA. He defeated the first and second seeds, Andy Roddick and John, en route to the title. This is Mardy’s second title of the year and fifth of his career. He is riding on a nice 10-match winning streak and is in great form to do some damage in the US Open Series.
Chaky! I so happy.
Anna Chakvetadze won her first title in two years! She defeated Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-2 in the finals of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz. I hope this win gives her the confidence she needs to tear shit up at the US Open Series again. Let’s party like it’s 2007!
Julia Goerges won her first career SEWTA title after she defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-1, 6-4 at the Nurnberger Gastein Ladies in Austria.
Andrey Golubev won his first ATP World Tour title after he defeated Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 7-5 at the International German Open in Hamburg.
Great first title wins for Julia and Andrey. Now, both of you, get your butts to the hard courts.
You’ve been the best, Wimbledon ’10. Just the best.
Here’s a big thank you…
For stopping the tennis world with Roger Federer/Alejandro Falla and Novak Djokovic/Olivier Rochus on opening day. I wish I read more into your hints that this was going to be a crazy year.
For showing me that Maria Sharapova can win the big ones again.
For alerting the fans of Venus Williams, Andy Roddick and Roger Federer that their clocks are ticking and maybe it’s time to find other players to learn to love. It doesn’t necessarily mean right away but sooner than later. Harsh but true. I wouldn’t want you any other way.
For leading Tomas Berdych back home- at the top with the big boys.
For maintaining the balance between crazy and reality by, in spite of the explosion this fortnight, still having both World Number 1s win the Championships.
And most of all, thank you for making me fall in love with tennis all over again. It’s been seven years but you made me feel like the best has yet to come and all of us are really only getting started!
Day 5 was surprisingly routine for the seeds and expected winners. No upsets. How disappointing, Wimbledon.
Then, at the 11th hour, Victor Hanescu threw down spit on some spectators. I also heard he intentionally foot faulted 100 times (okay, 4) to lose a game and then quit. Well, he had an injury but that’d make it less juicy. BUT HE THREW DOWN SPIT ON PEOPLE.
Thanks for saving the day, Vic. Now, go away. See a therapist or something to fix youself. Or you know, hang out with Crazy Dani.
John Isner lost his second round match today. Nothing surprising there. The guy could barely walk.
Notable wins and losses: 2nd Round Thiemo De Bakker def. John Isner (23) 6-0, 6-3, 6-2
3rd Round Venus Williams (2) def. Alisa Kleybanova (26) 6-4, 6-2
Jelena Jankovic (4) def. Alona Bondarenko (28) 6-0, 6-3
Kim Clijsters (8) def. Maria Kirilenko (27) 6-3, 6-3
Vera Zvonareva (21) def. Yanina Wickmayer (15) 6-4, 6-2
Roger Federer (1) def. Arnaud Clement 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
Novak Djokovic (3) def. Albert Montanes (28) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
Andy Roddick (5) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (29) 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3
Tomas Berdych (12) def. Denis Istomin 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (15) def. Gael Monfils (21) 6-3, 7-6 (11-9), 6-4
Daniel Brands def. Victor Hanescu (31) 6-7 (7-9), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, 3-0
These men stopped the world on it’s tracks and made it watch tennis for 2 days. No, maybe not just tennis but watch them defy whatever you knew a professional athlete or a human being was capable of doing. They shattered the record books and pushed their minds and bodies to extreme extremes. The will to win from both guys was inspiring to watch. Up to the last ball that was struck, no one gave in.
There were other things that went around the grounds at Wimbledon today. The Queen watched Andy Murray win his second round match over Jarkko Nieminen. She also watched both these guys awkwardly bow to her… twice. It was the cutest thing ever!
Rafael Nadal was pushed to a 5-set match by Robin Haase. It was a great effort from Robin but unfortunately, a knee injury hampered his movement in the fourth set and Rafa picked up his game and won the last two sets easily
Notable wins and losses: First Round
John Isner (23) def. Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 70-68
Second Round
Serena Williams (1) def. Anna Chakvetadze 6-0, 6-1
Victoria Azarenka (14) def. Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-4
Maria Sharapova (16) def. Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-1, 6-4
I have no words for this match. Just look at the stats and… I don’t know, stare at them. Then, proceed to throw away all the records you know about tennis. AND IT AIN’T OVER YET!
This match started on Tuesday and they hope to have a winner by tomorrow (Friday).
What else happened on Day 3? Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic were tested in their matches but eventually able to pull through. All of them advance to the 3rd round. Nikolay Davydenko and Shahar Peer were the only upsets today.
Notable wins and losses: First Round
Daniela Hantuchova (24) def. Vania King 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Roger Federer leads the top half of the draw with Nikolay Davydenko in his quarter. I don’t see anyone giving Fed any real trouble throughout the first four rounds. Jurgen Melzer in the Round of 16 could be interesting. But not really.
Kolya, on the other hand, I do not see reaching the quarters to face Fed. Tomas Berdych, Kolya’s Round of 16 opponent, will most likely come through to the quarters.
Andy Roddick is in Fed’s half with Novak Djokovicin his quarter. Roddick has his work cut out for him. He could face either of the big serving Croats, Marin Cilic or Ivan Ljubicic, in the Round of 16.
Nole also has to battle in the Round of 16 against Lleyton Hewitt.
Rafael Nadal leads the bottom half of the draw with Robin Soderling in his quarter. I think Rafa has the trickiest draw out of all the top guys. Early on, he has James Blake and Ernests Gulbis in the second and third rounds, respectively. Then, John Isner in the Round of 16. He’s going to play against a tree to start the second week. No fun.
Sod’s got his footing on being a top guy and I don’t think he’ll bring the same mess he did at SW19 last year after reaching his first major final. I expect him to get through to the quarters without a lot of trouble.
When I see Murray and Wimbledon in the same sentence, all I can think of is, no pressure. Yeah, right.
Andy Murray is in Rafa’s half with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his quarter. It should be a straight forward first week for Muzz with only Gilles Simon in the third round posing some threat. Sam Querrey in the Round of 16 is going to give him and The Queen major worries.
Jo. If Jo’s not hurt (and please let him not be hurt), he has a pretty good chance of making the quarters. A battle with Fernando Verdasco in the Round of 16 will be tasty. What?
Maria Kirilenko takes down another former champion in a Grand Slam event. Is this going to be an every slam thing? Kiri defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in their third round encounter. I told you so. ;-) Well, everyone saw this coming for miles away. Sveta hasn’t exactly looked like her slam-winning self and Kiri’s always a threat.
Aravane Rezai and Nadia Petrova played a drama-filled match with both players wasting 3 MPs. Play was suspended at 7-7 in the third set due to darkness and will resume tomorrow on Philippe Chatrier. Just like that Gael Monfils / Fabio Fognini match, it’s going to be a match of who can win two games in a row. My brain hurt-ed while watching, can’t imagine what Nads was going through. I don’t care about Aravane.
Notable wins and losses:
Justine Henin [22] def. Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 6-3
Maria Sharapova [12] def. Kristen Flipkens 6-3, 6-3
Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Maria Kirilenko 3-6, 6-2, 4-6
Caroline Wozniacki def. Alexandra Dulgheru 6-3, 6-4
Andy Murray [4] def. Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-3, 0-6, 6-2
Tomas Berdych [15] def. John Isner [17] 6-2, 6-2, 6-1
Fernando Gonzales [12] lost to Oleksandr Dolgopolov, Jr 3-6, 4-6, 3-6
