WIMBLEDON 2010

I'm at sónar but the draws have been out a day and no one started this? fuck the fucking world cup for making no one care about tennis.

Men's draw - http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ms/
Women's draw - http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ws/

Rafa has such a bitch of a draw. It seriously couldn't be any harder. Nishikori, Blake, Gulbis, Isner/Youzhny, Soderling just to reach the SF.

Silliams/De Screamo and Jankovic/Robson in the 1R will be more interesting as talking points than matches, I feel. It's so weird that De Screamo was able to take Serena and Sweta to three sets as a 14-year-old but can barely win matches two years on - I really don't know how her career's going to pan out.

Mirjana Lucic back in a Wimbledon main draw for the first time in, like, a DECADE. Azarenka is a tough draw but she plays the Eastbourne final today, and playing well the week before a Slam is often a double-edged sword, and apparently Lucic was very impressive in qualies...hmm.

Peer vs. Ivanovic. Funny how Ivanovic is the unseeded underdog now. Peer has been excellent all year but isn't a fan of grass; Ivanovic likes the surface better but sucks everywhere anyway. Peer to win.

KING KOLYA back on tour! I've missed him.

Biggest 1R upset in waiting = Dushevina over still-in-party-mode-and-quite-right-too Fran Schiavone.

also, I'll take Voegele to beat Kirilenko and Riske over Wickmayer for the second time in a fortnight. Tempted by serve-and-volleying Dustin Brown (the first Jamaican in a Slam MD?) over Melzer and last year's junior champ Andrey Kuznetsov over Hanescu, but those are probably more "interesting matches to catch" than "realistic upsets in waiting".

predixxx:

women, 4R:

S.Williams d. Sharapova
Li d. Radwanska
Wozniacki d. Lucic
Rezai d. Date-Krumm
Clijsters d. Henin
Jankovic d. Zvonareva
Bartoli d. Kulikova
V.Williams d. Groth

QF:

S.Williams d. Li
Rezai d. Wozniacki
Jankovic d. Clijsters
V.Williams d. Bartoli

SF:

S.Williams d. Rezai
V.Williams d. Jankovic (1 and 1, probably)

champ: Silliams

men, 4R:

Federer d. Berankis
Berdych d. Ilhan
Hewitt d. Djokovic
Roddick d. Fish
Tsonga d. Verdasco
Murray d. Malisse
Soderling d. Baghdatis
Gulbis d. Mahut

QF:

Federer d. Berdych
Roddick d. Hewitt
Tsonga d. Murray
Soderling d. Gulbis

SF:

Federer d. Roddick
Soderling d. Tsonga

champ: Federer

so psyched for this, i'm there all day tues and weds of both weeks. we are interviewing hingis/kournikova on tues and hopefully a male star at some point too, don't know who yet. possibly ana ivanovic also, if she wins, not looking so likely tho based on the draw.

also took your advice lex for our umpires piece, after about 10 zillion emails and crazy assurances etc we are doing "a day in the life of a wimbledon umpire" (for 7-12 year old audience) with eva asderaki next week.

been loads of work and will be a mental time there but hopefully will get to stay on in the evenings if we're done and enjoy some of the thing.

I've warmed up to Vika ever since the Serena Aussie match, but I would really like to see Lucic do well. Always loved watching her play back in the day.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet times.

You think Nadal won't make it to the 4th round? Sure he's got tough opponents, but you feel like at least he's gonna will himself that far. No man has seemed particularly strong in the warm-up tournaments, but that might not matter. Hewitt, I guess, but I can't see him as a real threat in a Slam. Roddick might be dangerous.

Also Safina withdrawn, Dementieva withdrawn. Don't think Safina would've done much anyway, I'm happy enough about not seeing her curse herself on court for this slam.

Doubt Fed will win this. I mean he lost to Hewitt at Halle.

Possibly the most open championship for quite a while on the men's side: no to Fed, or Murray on his form, and then Nadal looks strong and would dismantle Fed should they meet in the final, but its whether he'd get there. Roddick's run last year looked like a last hurrah but if he can replicate the form that got him there then I'm fearing the worst..

Back to WC: Cameroon - Denmark -- its loads of fun :-)

I was going to start this thread, if only to point that there are NO ENGLISH PLAYERS in the men's singles draw. First time in the history of the event. No wildcards for county-standard hacks this year, you've got to be in the top 250 or, if you're eight-time R1-loser Alex Bogdanovic (#160-odd), tough luck - out in a 24-22 final set in the qualies. So, two Scots is the sum-total of your Brit interest, and only one of them is likely to be around on Wednesday.

Roddick didn't get very far at Queen's, which is encouraging.

(And Lex, it's perfectly possible to care very much about both events (four years ago I had two tellies set up for Roddick-Murray and POR-ENG) but I won't be mentioning the 32-nation Afro-kickabout in here).

(four years ago I had two tellies set up for Roddick-Murray and POR-ENG)

Did they play at the same time of day? Well done on the effort of the set-up. Must have been switching manically back and forth but I can't remember.

Yes, it was basically simultaneous. Murray won at around 7:30pm, I think; ENG-POR k/o was 4pm, so over a little earlier.

so jealz ronan - I'm thinking of going either Wed or Thu (depending on Sónar recovery time) (oh god), if the former I'll bell you.

Doubt Fed will win this. I mean he lost to Hewitt at Halle.

That was a terrible loss, but he's had much worse in Tour events over the past year and yet he currently still holds two Slams. I don't think he's able to turn off in regular events and then turn ON in Slams the way Silliams can, but he's not going to be losing to the likes Hewitt or Montanes here.

here are NO ENGLISH PLAYERS in the men's singles draw.

Good! It's a marker of how bad they are that BOGDANOVIC of all people is still leagues ahead of them. I can't believe Bogdanovic had the gall to whine about not getting a wild card. Talk about self-entitlement. No player that gets a nationalistic wild card "deserves" it. If I was in charge of player development I'd hand him a lifetime ban on wild cards into any event and ban him from using LTA facilities for the rest of his career just for that. And the rest of them are WORSE than him!

Martinez Sanchez also out :(

Azarenka apparently played (and lost) the Eastbourne final with a leg injury. Lucic in with a real chance now so cue a 7-5 in the third loss. From 5-2 up obvvv.

it's perfectly possible to care very much about both events

would that anyone did! the inevitable glazed-over expression whenever I talk about tennis is so saddening, and then the same people's eyes light up when the conversation turns to the World Cunting Cup. I hope the stadium gets bombed and every football team gets wiped out, and then I hope that the game gets banned worldwide. I'm not even joking.

oh apparently Gulbis is out as well so rip up all predictions. too drunk (")drunk") to remake them. Illya Marchenko to win or something.

Fed won't lose to Hewitt over five sets but I reckon he will unexpectedly lose along the way. That loss of Soderling at the French had a 'this is over' feel...

Really looking forward to watching both tournaments. Shame I am unable to do two telly sets in one room. Would be really useful given the night matches under floodlights.

I hope the stadium gets bombed and every football team gets wiped out, and then I hope that the game gets banned worldwide. I'm not even joking.

I posted a response to this and then my kids came in with Father's Day gifts and the moment went. Let's drop it.

I wouldn't have dropped it, but saw that Lex was drunk - no excuse, but I'd like to think he wouldn't say this garbage if he was so sober.

Best dropped...

yep lex defo give me a call if you're there on weds. lol i got a dress code email from wimbledon last week, it's so fucking cool the crazy levels they go to to protect the integrity of the brand. you can't take a fucking photo there without full permission from the head dude. my lucicrous preppy dressing will finally pay dividends...

The way Murray's been playing I'd be amazed if he made it to the QFs.

I'm planning to queue up on the 2nd Tuesday! Should hopefully get some good doubles/juniors action if it's not pissing down.

of course it was hyperbole and of course i meant it. i don't think football fans ever really realise just how wearyingly, disproportionately inescapable it is anyway, let alone ramped up to current levels, while as a tennis fan i have to kill my eyes/sanity on shitty, pirated internet streams just to WATCH matches, let alone enjoy anything like the same amount of commentary etc, and all the while 99% of the media mocks it like in [Removed Illegal Link] - whoever wrote that needs beheading (NOT hyperbole, would wield axe myself).

i was gonna go on thu because a) recovery time from sónar needed b) will be more interested in the projected 2R matches on that day. BUT apparently that's the day the queen is attending and i refuse to be inconvenienced by royalty bullshit. so i'm gonna try for wed, maybe? aargh. one year i swear i'll actually do something about pitching a wimbledon piece.

"illegal link"??? this - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jun/18/wimbledon-andymurray

You may complain about the World Cup overshadowing tennis, but I think this one beats it: Our national broadcaster NRK had to sell their rights to Wimbledon because of the costs of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest!

So I've bought the live streaming subscribtion on the Wimbledon site, which looks solid. 6 courts to choose from and so on. Would prefer actual HD broadcasts on an actual TV, though.

No sympathy whatsoever, could argue how tennis fans don't understand etc etc but as you say its just empty, spineless hyperbole so lets move on to the tournament tomorrow. xp

The internet hardman route leads straight to hell, Lex, I wouldn't recommend it. Also, the drinking. Ymmv.

Nothing to add other than happy expectation and excitement and the weather is LOVELY.

are you fucking serious, bbc???? i get less of a choice of courts to watch because of the fucking football? I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL

also, Petra Martic really sucks for someone being hyped up as "the future of tennis". Being overpowered by Baltacha - Baltacha! - with EASE.

Lex, or anyone, in the 15 min h-time interval upcoming in the football which court should I be watching on the red button?

Prob Baltacha/Martic, it's getting towards the exciting end of the second set (she's possibly about to win)

though ideally just stop watching the football

Done. and heh. Ohh just in time for a lovely lob

And I notice that Davydenko is on court. I <3 Davydenko.

(she's possibly about to win)

or, as it transpired, choke!

I seem to have jinxed Baltacha

(it was a weird game - Baltacha alternated between great, non-chokey points, and utter howlers. Then Martic played a great point to finish it.)

soooo glad to see Davydenko back on tour.

Yeah the first break point she saved wonderfully

set point!

God this a replica of her last service game

Checking in. Gday Lex and Michael - where the hell is Ed?

Currently watching Carsten Ball hanging on for dear life against somebody called Derankis. Dangerous is two sets to one up and looking more solid on serve....(he says as Ball scrables to deuce)

I'm BEHIN YOU.

Federer match is really boring at 5-5 which means he's about to break out of nowhere innit.

Or be broken.

Which he just was. Ale-Alejandro to serve for the first. Federer looks shite. This does happen, of course, and he usually does improve a bit.

Falla has broken Rodge and will serve for the set - can't possibly be more boring than the game I'm watching.

ooohhhhh @ that Falla volley at 30-30

I'm sure he'll wake up soon. Otherwise <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/20/wimbledon-federer-oxfam-bet";>Oxfam will have to wait another year for their 100 grand</a>...

Top set point there, shame for Roger he didn't win it.

ARGH html fail :(

O_O

I'm guessing the last time Fed lost his first Wimbledon set was...2002?!

Kat - see the 'show formatting help' link below the 'add a post' box for html help. xp

oh the link is no good as well - here it is

Thanks Julio!

Mardy Fish has lost some weight. Looking very skinny. Bad hair too. But he's beating Tomic so YES!

Fed a set and a break down now O_O

Fed couldn't possibly do a Hewitt 03 could he?

looool "Venus gave it to me" re: the necklace, Venus was asked earlier in the tournament about that and had no idea

Great job, Serena. 13 Slams, that is an insane number when just a few years ago, no one thought she'd ever win again.

And I think Bepa has a lot to be proud of, and I really hope she gets the doubles. Which is later today, Lex!

The doubles final is really really good!

It's been a long time coming, but here we are with the Bepa tears and racket-throwing. I'll be shocked if she and Vesnina come back now.

This is gripping, but also kinda painful to watch.

;_;

Masha took the most games out of Serena...yaaay

Sorry, just trying to find positives in this. Was rooting HARD for Vera to take the doubles final after singles final tears. She held up well until 3-4... damnit. This was a positively great run, though, and she just has to find the positives in this unless she's truly crazy.

Back to school, good luck with the forthcoming international economy exams!

lolz at that quote from Frank Leboeuf. Fraid it was an easy switch to the footie and not even a final at that. One more week to go :-)

Nadal in straight sets? You'd think not and then...

Lex is really missing out by hating the football, no sights like this:

http://eyecandy.abzolute.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Roque-Santa-Cruz-4.jpg

for him. Djokovic Schmokovic.

I'm not too excited about tomorrow because I'm expecting a Nadal stroll. The weight of my pleasure is on your shoulders, Tomas.

I didn't realize Vania King was in the women's final! Woot

WHO IS THAT FOOTBALL PLAYER?! O_O

King won the doubles! She was charming, I was sad for Bepa (and felt even worse for Vesnina, who was basically playing on her own in the second set) but King and Shvedova are great too. Bepa is already a Wimbledon (mixed doubles) champ already.

Aargh Boris Becker shut up, he is such an appalling stating-the-obvious commentator.

As for Bepa, no reason to think this will be her last Slam final. It's her worst surface (though obviously she's not really weak on any surface), clay is her best, and Roland Garros is going to be a total crapshoot for the foreseeable future. As I believe this year proved. And last year. And the year before.

Nice scrambling from Berdych (WHAT?!) on that point.

That point in the fourth game was worth watching for on its own!

Oh but Boris has such an aura about him! Terrible.

mcenroe keeps commenting on berdych's improved footwork and movement. seems otm thus far

didn't even realize Henman was commentating until a few minutes ago.

Also, break points ahoy for Nadal :(

well, that was impressive. Berdych playing really well and that Rafa just steps up, plays a few great shots and breaks just like that.

didn't even realize Henman was commentating until a few minutes ago.

neither did I, can't work out whether it was because he wasn't there earlier and got to the booth late, or whether because his voice just went in one ear and out the other

Impressive as usual. Best shot was obv the one to bring the 3 break points. Watch those rafa specials on a loop all day.

I think Rafa's forehand is even more effective a kill shot this year.

Maybe Henman was waiting for Boris to wear himself out a bit.

Man, after a pretty even start Rafa just ran away with that.

That was a bit like yesterday's first set. The way Bepa dominated her first three service games - and even pushed Serena in hers - gave a false impression of how effective she could be when Serena stepped up.

(I think Berdych is likely to show us more than Bepa did from here on in though.)

berdych break point!

lolz just getting excited there for a sec

third break point...Nadal's having one of his brief, temporary dips.

Berdman really should've made that pass.

blame it on the wind

OK. This is a terrible service game from Rafa. These aren't going to come along too often. If Berdych can't take advantage here...

really should have broken him there. it doesn't bode well for berdych.

Might have been too early to break. Berdych has to serve better more consistently first.

berdych is already down a set, needs to open up and go for winners. not going to win many long pts off the baseline

berdman a great chance for 0-30. clips a drop shot into the net. ughhhhhhhh

Lucie Safarova in the players' box! I love Lucie.

Hey, Marton Fucsovics is winning the boys' final. You'll recall that his name would be pronounced Futchovitch, of course.

do they pick commentators based on how likely they are to start harping on about bloody serve and volleying?

Berdych taking precisely none of his half-chances on Rafa's serve.

Oh dear.

and there. we. have. it.

So much for Nu-Berdych.

Hell of a pass to win it with.

'Gratz Rafa.

Both started really well, the first six games were the best of the match and during those it really looked like it could be a classic. Then Rafa visibly stepped up and made Berdych look hapless at the end of the first set, and that seemed to inform the rest of the match - even though it was just one set, thereafter Berdych was basically just fighting to keep it close, and never looked like he thought he could win, even when Rafa presented chance after chance to him. He was brainless by the end. Like Silliams' win yesterday, the manner of Rafa's winning reinforced what makes him great.

Anyway! Roll of honour!

Men's singles: Rafael Nadal
Women's singles: Serena Williams
Men's doubles: Jürgen Melzer & Philipp Petzschner
Women's doubles: Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova
Mixed doubles: Leander Paes & Cara Black
Boys' singles: Marton Fucsovics
Girls' singles: Kristyna Pliskova
Boys' doubles: Liam Broady & Tom Farquharson
Girls' doubles: Timea Babos & Sloane Stephens

Kristyna P joins her twin Karolina, who won the AO girls' singles, as a junior Slam champ! And may Fucsovics find great, commentator-baiting success in the seniors.

some great names there

great names in the juniors that sadly fell by the wayside included Agustina Sol Eskenazi, Grace Sari Ysidora, Doroteja Eric, Luksika Kumkhum, Chanelle Van Nguyen, Nigina Abduraimova, Santa Shumilina and Zarah Razafimahatratra. And that was just from skimming the girls' draw alone.

http://i47.tinypic.com/33k9e90.jpg http://i47.tinypic.com/ih6r1s.jpg

Loved the final today. Tennis players so bloody humble and gracious!

new rankings -

1. Serena Williams (1)
2. Jelena Jankovic (3)
3. Caroline Wozniacki (4)
4. Venus Williams (2)
5. Samantha Stosur (6)
6. Elena Dementieva (5)
7. Kim Clijsters (8)
8. Francesca Schiavone (7)
9. Vera Zvonareva (21)
10. Na Li (12)
11. Agnieszka Radwanska (9)
12. Flavia Pennetta (10)
13. Justine Henin (16)
14. Marion Bartoli (13)
15. Maria Sharapova (17)
16. Shahar Peer (15)
17. Yanina Wickmayer (18)
18. Victoria Azarenka (11)
19. Nadia Petrova (14)
20. Svetlana Kuznetsova (19)
21. Aravane Rezai (20)
22. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (23)
23. Jie Zheng (24)
24. Daniela Hantuchova (25)
25. Lucie Safarova (26)
26. Alisa Kleybanova (27)
27. Maria Kirilenko (28)
28. Alona Bondarenko (30)
29. Petra Kvitova (62)
30. Alexandra Dulgheru (31)
...
33. Dinara Safina (22)
35. Tsvetana Pironkova (82)
38. Kaia Kanepi (80)
43. Klara Zakopalova (66)
64. Ana Ivanovic (45)
76. Jarmila Groth (92)

1. Rafael Nadal (1)
2. Novak Djokovic (3)
3. Roger Federer (2)
4. Andy Murray (4)
5. Robin Soderling (6)
6. Nikolay Davydenko (5)
7. Juan Martin Del Potro (8)
8. Tomas Berdych (13)
9. Andy Roddick (7)
10. Fernando Verdasco (9)
11. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (10)
12. David Ferrer (11)
13. Marin Cilic (12)
14. Mikhail Youzhny (14)
15. Jurgen Melzer (16)
16. Ivan Ljubicic (15)
17. Gael Monfils (20)
18. John Isner (19)
19. Sam Querrey (21)
20. Nicolas Almagro (18)
21. Juan Carlos Ferrero (17)
22. Thomaz Bellucci (24)
23. Fernando Gonzalez (22)
24. Marcos Baghdatis (27)
25. Feliciano Lopez (30)
26. Stanislas Wawrinka (23)
27. Radek Stepanek (25)
28. Juan Monaco (28)
29. Ernests Gulbis (29)
30. Albert Montanes (31)
...
42. Yen-Hsun Lu (82)
66. Daniel Brands (98)

Such a predictably disappointing contest, but we have been spoilt over the last 3-4 years.