Wimbledon 2008!

Results, discussions, etc...

The usual suspects winning their respective matches
on day one as expected. So far predictable results with some
of the top seeds getting challenged - Novak pushed to 4 sets by Berrer,
Hewitt to 5 sets by Haase and Sveta in 3 sets against Johansson.

The big news so far would probably be Patty Schnyder out in the first
round. Beaten by Casey Dellacqua (Ame's conqueror at AO).

...and Nalbandian is out.

Mauresmo buries graveyard fears
Monday, 23 June 2008
Written by Kate Battersby

Amelie Mauresmo skilfully swerved a late evening date with potential disaster on Court Two - Wimbledon's infamous graveyard of champions - by seeing off American Ashley Harkleroad 6-4, 6-3.

She arrived on court - after the match was rescheduled from its original berth as the fourth match out on Court 11 - wearing the heavy strapping on her left thigh, which provides an obvious reminder of her long-term injury problems. But, despite her poor form this year, she showed enough flashes of her old brilliance to ease to victory and dispel any fears that the 2006 champion would not be the latest to fall victim to the Court Two curse.

The big points in the first set hinged largely on whether 74th-ranked Harkleroad’s groundstrokes were blowing hot or cold at any given moment.

Two long forehands gave Mauresmo an early break for 3-1. When that went to 4-1 Harkleroad changed her shoes in the hope that it might improve matters (although despite the lateness of the hour there was no evidence of any evening dew making the court slippery, as both players appeared sure-footed). But the 23-year-old American was clearly cross, complaining to no one in particular: “Happens to me every time.”

Breaks were traded liberally as the set edged towards its conclusion. There was little doubt who the crowd wanted to win, and they bellowed their approval when Mauresmo nailed it with a love service game.

In the first game of the second set, Harkleroad saved a break point with a lovely crosscourt backhand. But she was flagging. With her unforced error count rising she surrendered her next service to love, and the course of the match was set. It was 9.05pm when Mauresmo clinched victory with her second match point.

Mauresmo’s reward is a second round encounter against Virginia Ruano Pascual, with the lure of a possible third round joust with Serena Williams down the line. Now if anything would persuade the Order of Play Committee to grant Mauresmo a kinder slot and court, it would surely be that.

Day one in pics




Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returns a shot to Evgeny Korolev of Russia during their match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 23, 2008.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque


Roger Federer of Switzerland (R) talks to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia during their match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 23, 2008.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque


REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque


Rafael Nadal prepares for practice at Wimbledon , ahead of the 2008 Championships in south London June 22, 2008.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque


REUTERS/Toby Melville


Andy Roddick (R) is escorted by his girlfriend Brooklyn Decker as he leaves practice courts at the Wimbledon
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Serena Williams walks onto number 1 court before her match against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 23, 2008.
REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

hold her tight Ame
REUTERS/Toby Melville

O la la!
AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

What a match between Ana and Natalie.
Finally ended at 10-8 in the 3rd for Ana after 2 sets decided in tie breaker.
Nat should be very proud of her performance.

...And Novak lost to Marat.

Aww....i was rooting for Natalie....

Mauresmo makes quiet progress

Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Written by Kate Battersby

Among the five players in the women's draw who can say they have already won the title here, none is creeping more quietly through her rounds than Amelie Mauresmo and she continued her progress with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 second round win over Spanish veteran Virginia Ruano Pascual.

Strange to think that a woman who lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish only two years ago could attract so little attention. Of course this year she is seeded just 29, having won just one title since the glory days of summer 2006, and she has been plagued by injury problems.

Indeed another such injury turned up only last week at Eastbourne, and word is among the French here that if the venue of this week's tournament were not Wimbledon, she would have given it a miss to allow her left thigh problem to heal.

Perhaps her low profile this year also has something to do with scheduling – today's match was out on Court 11. Her first round match was also originally scheduled at the same venue, although the lateness of the hour on Monday pushed it to Court Two.

At least she can hope for a touch more of the limelight come her third round match, which will pit two former Wimbledon champions against one another – Mauresmo will play Serena Williams, winner here in 2002 and 2003.

"That is going to be a tough match," agreed 28-year-old Mauresmo, whose world ranking of 33 makes her the French number five these days. "I haven't seen her play here yet but I know her game pretty well and what to expect. Serve will be very important because she serves so well. That'll be the big key. I hope I'll be ready in a couple of days for that match."

Williams leads their career jousts 10-2, including both their previous Wimbledon encounters in 2002 and 2004. Mauresmo may take heart from the fact that she triumphed in their last meeting, back at the US Open in 2006.

But there is little doubt that her new injury is hampering her, although she was pleased to come back from a set down. Ruano Pascual may be among the oldest players on the Tour at 34, but she can spring a surprise – back in 2001 she crushed Martina Hingis, then the top seed, in the first round. Moreover, she is currently a Grand Slam champion, having taken her ninth Slam doubles title at Roland Garros this month.

"My movement was a little tight in the whole first set today," Mauresmo said. "I wasn't really sure how the leg would react after playing my first round match so late on Monday night. So I was probably a little bit scared and felt some tension. It was quite windy for a while in the beginning. But after a bit I served better and moved better, so it was good."

And at least she must have a show court to look forward to now for Friday's encounter with Williams.

JOIE wrote:What a match between Ana and Natalie.
Finally ended at 10-8 in the 3rd for Ana after 2 sets decided in tie breaker.
Nat should be very proud of her performance.
...And Novak lost to Marat.

Nat should be pissed off that the net wasn't on her side

Thanks for the articles and your comments, JOIE

B, thanks for the pics, I like the last one too

yvonne wrote:

B, thanks for the pics, I like the last one too

How did you know I liked it as well?

Sharapova and Roddick out.

I don't recall any slam that had this much top players out in the first two rounds...
(Welcome Y )

...and it continues to set the record for most top players out in the 1st week.
Ana is out. Beaten by world 133 Zheng Jie.

And our dear Amelie continues to get hampered by injury
also said good bye to wimby this year.

I'm rooting for Jalena to to go all the way.
I think Roger will still win it this year...
Rafa's not really been impressive just yet.

i would like to have 2 new champions, i am bored ...

Pez wrote:i would like to have 2 new champions, i am bored ...

try and read a book or something..

yvonne wrote:

Pez wrote:i would like to have 2 new champions, i am bored ...

try and read a book or something..

I'm bored too but I'll read only if it has pictures in it

reading text is too difficult for old ladies, right

babyb wrote:

yvonne wrote:

Pez wrote:i would like to have 2 new champions, i am bored ...

try and read a book or something..

I'm bored too but I'll read only if it has pictures in it

i do, i do ...

B what kind of pics do you have in your book maybe we can share 

Pez wrote:

B what kind of pics do you have in your book maybe we can share

Some classics mostly, Ron Jeremy and co.

And so the women's semi final is set.
It looks to me like Amelie is the only one
who was able to challenge Serena - despite her injury.
Zheng what a run so far.

Elena vs Venus. Zheng vs Serena. It could be another Williams final...

On the men's side, I'm looking forward to a Roger vs Marat semi.
I'd say Nadal has a tougher quarter but potentially easier semi...

can't wait for the finals!
all-williams finals are classics