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US Open 2010 Day 5 Open Thread

Posted on 03 September 2010 by Craig Hickman

Beatrice Capra of the United States signs autographs for fans after  upsetting Aravane Rezai of France at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in  New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. Capra beat Rezai 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
AP

Beatrice Capra of the United States signs autographs for fans after upsetting Aravane Rezai of France at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. Capra beat Rezai 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in what some are calling the most surprising upset of the tournament.

::

Schedule for Day 5: Friday, September 3 2010

Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 AM Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[24] v. Elena Dementieva (RUS)[12]
Not Before:1:00 PM
2. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Petra Kvitova (CZE)[27] v. Kim Clijsters (BEL)[2]
3. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Dustin Brown (JAM)
Arthur Ashe Stadium 7:00 PM Start Time
1. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Mandy Minella (LUX) v. Venus Williams (USA)[3]
2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[1] v. Denis Istomin (UZB)

Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 AM Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Samantha Stosur (AUS)[5] v. Sara Errani (ITA)
2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) v. John Isner (USA)[18]
3. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Virginie Razzano (FRA) v. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
4. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Sam Querrey (USA)[20] v. Marcel Granollers (ESP)

Grandstand 11:00 AM Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v. Ryan Harrison (USA)
2. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[6] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[29]
3. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
David Nalbandian (ARG)[31] v. Florent Serra (FRA)
4. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Shahar Peer (ISR)[16] v. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[19]

Court 4 11:00 AM Start Time

2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[12] v. Dudi Sela (ISR)

Court 6 11:00 AM Start Time

3. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) v. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)[25]

Court 7 11:00 AM Start Time

2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) v. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
4. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) v. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[14]

Court 8 12:00 PM Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Feliciano Lopez (ESP)[23] v. Benoit Paire (FRA)

Court 11 11:00 AM Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA) v. Tommy Robredo (ESP)
2. Women's Singles - 3rd Round
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)[20] v. Gisela Dulko (ARG)
3. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) v. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[8]

Court 13 11:00 AM Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Victor Hanescu (ROU) v. Michael Llodra (FRA)
2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
David Ferrer (ESP)[10] v. Benjamin Becker (GER)
Not Before:6:00 PM
4. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Gilles Simon (FRA) v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)[29]

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US Open 2010 Day 3 Open Thread

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Craig Hickman

NEW YORK - AUGUST 31:  Chelsey Gullickson of the United States  returns a shot against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during her first  round women's singles match on day two of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA  Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2010 in the  Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Getty

Chelsey Gullickson of the United States returns a shot against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during her first round women's singles match on day two of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2010 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

::

Lots of upsets avoided yesterday. Too bad.

Schedule for Day 3: Wednesday, September 1 2010 SINGLES

Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v. Jie Zheng (CHN)[21]
Not Before:1:00
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Lukas Lacko (SVK)
3. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Rebecca Marino (CAN) v. Venus Williams (USA)[3]
Arthur Ashe Stadium 7:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Sally Peers (AUS) v. Kim Clijsters (BEL)[2]
2. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v. Andy Roddick (USA)[9]

Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Sam Querrey (USA)[20] v. Bradley Klahn (USA)
2. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[24] v. Vania King (USA)
3. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Melanie Oudin (USA) v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[29]
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Frederico Gil (POR) v. John Isner (USA)[18]
5. Men's Doubles - 1st Round
Bob Bryan (USA)[1] v. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)
Mike Bryan (USA)[1] Bjorn Phau (GER)

Grandstand 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Gisela Dulko (ARG) v. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)[10]
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Michael Llodra (FRA) v. Tomas Berdych (CZE)[7]
3. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[6] v. Maria Elena Camerin (ITA)
4. Men's Singles - 2nd Round
Gael Monfils (FRA)[17] v. Igor Andreev (RUS)


Court 4 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Potito Starace (ITA) v. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[14]
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)[25]
[B]3. Women's Singles - 2nd Round [/B]
Sara Errani (ITA) v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)[28]
4. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Agnes Szavay (HUN) v. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[19]

Court 6 11:00 Start Time

2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) v. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)
4. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Petra Kvitova (CZE)[27] v. Elena Baltacha (GBR)


Court 7 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v. Peter Luczak (AUS)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Dudi Sela (ISR) v. Xavier Malisse (BEL)

Court 8 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) v. Dustin Brown (JAM)
2. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)[32] v. Mandy Minella (LUX)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Tobias Kamke (GER) v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)[29]

Court 10 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Marcel Granollers (ESP) v. Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Court 11 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Ryan Harrison (USA) v. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)[15]
2. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v. Elena Dementieva (RUS)[12]
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[12] v. Andrey Golubev (KAZ)
4. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Samantha Stosur (AUS)[5] v. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)

Court 12 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) v. Lukasz Kubot (POL)

Court 13 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)[20] v. Sania Mirza (IND)
2. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Marion Bartoli (FRA)[13] v. Virginie Razzano (FRA)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Gilles Simon (FRA) v. Donald Young (USA)
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Jack Sock (USA) v. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
5. Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Shahar Peer (ISR)[16] v. Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

Court 14 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Victor Hanescu (ROU) v. Carlos Berlocq (ARG)

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US Open 2010 Day 1 Open Thread

Posted on 30 August 2010 by Craig Hickman

A  boy carries an oversized tennis ball used for gathering autographs at  the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York August 29,  2010. The tournament begins here August 30.
Reuters

A boy carries an oversized tennis ball used for gathering autographs at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York August 29, 2010. The tournament begins here August 30.

::

The last Slam of the year is upon us and I won't have a whole lot of time to watch or write about it. I'm in the final stretch of my campaign to become a member of the Maine House of Representatives, it's already harvest season, and I'm already tired enough to hibernate for the winter.

I'll watch what I can watch and report what I can report as best I can. As always, we appreciate those of you who provide great match reports in the comments. If you've got a special report to submit, please use my email address. I'll check it more regularly throughout the fortnight.

Enjoy the US Open.

Schedule for Day 1: Monday, August 30 2010

Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Melanie Oudin (USA) v. Olga Savchuk (UKR)

Not Before:13:00
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Greta Arn (HUN) v.Kim Clijsters (BEL)[2]
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Stephane Robert (FRA) v. Andy Roddick (USA)[9]
Arthur Ashe Stadium 19:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Roberta Vinci (ITA) v. Venus Williams (USA)[3]
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Brian Dabul (ARG) v. Roger Federer (SUI)[2]

Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)[6] v. Michael Russell (USA)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[24] v. Dinara Safina (RUS)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Samantha Stosur (AUS)[5] v. Elena Vesnina (RUS)
Not Before:17:00
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[32] v. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)

Grandstand 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[6] v. Ayumi Morita (JPN)
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Robin Soderling (SWE)[5] v. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Taylor Dent (USA) v. Alejandro Falla (COL)
4. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)

Court 4 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Martin Klizan (SVK) v. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[22]
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Shahar Peer (ISR)[16] v. Jelena Kostanic Tosic (CRO)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Ricardas Berankis (LTU) v. Ryan Sweeting (USA)
4. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) v. Jie Zheng (CHN)[21]

Court 6 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)[28]
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)[20]
v. Kristina Barrois (GER)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Jurgen Melzer (AUT)[13] v. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Michael Berrer (GER) v. Andreas Beck (GER)

Court 7 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Illya Marchenko (UKR) v. Marin Cilic (CRO)[11]
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) v. Sania Mirza (IND)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)[32] v. Renata Voracova (CZE)
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v. Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Court 8 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Vera Dushevina (RUS) v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[29]
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Igor Andreev (RUS) v. Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Virginie Razzano (FRA) v. Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
4. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Rebecca Marino (CAN) v. Ksenia Pervak (RUS)

Court 10 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Simon Greul (GER) v. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Petra Kvitova (CZE)[27] v. Lucie Hradecka (CZE)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Albert Montanes (ESP)[21] v. Michal Przysiezny (POL)

Court 11 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Olga Govortsova (BLR) v. Elena Dementieva (RUS)[12]
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Gael Monfils (FRA)[17] v. Robert Kendrick (USA)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Monica Niculescu (ROU) v. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)[10]
4. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Tim Smyczek (USA) v. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)[26]
5. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Irina Falconi (USA) v. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[19]

Court 12 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Thiemo de Bakker (NED) v. Marc Gicquel (FRA)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Sally Peers (AUS) v. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Agnes Szavay (HUN) v. Sandra Zahlavova (CZE)

Court 13 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Kei Nishikori (JPN) v. Evgeny Korolev (KAZ)
2. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Ivan Dodig (CRO) v. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)[27]
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Marion Bartoli (FRA)[13] v. Edina Gallovits (ROU)
4. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Vania King (USA) v. Christina McHale (USA)

Court 14 11:00 Start Time

1. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Bjorn Phau (GER) v. Ricardo Mello (BRA)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Zuzana Ondraskova (CZE) v. Sybille Bammer (AUT)
3. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) v. Alberta Brianti (ITA)

Court 15 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Sara Errani (ITA) v. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) v. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) v. Olivier Rochus (BEL)

Court 16 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) v. Sophie Ferguson (AUS)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Gisela Dulko (ARG) v. Angelique Kerber (GER)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) v. Guillaume Rufin (FRA)

Court 17 11:00 Start Time

1. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Elena Baltacha (GBR) v. Petra Martic (CRO)
2. Women's Singles - 1st Round
Polona Hercog (SLO) v. Mandy Minella (LUX)
3. Men's Singles - 1st Round
Carsten Ball (AUS) v. Milos Raonic (CAN)

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US Open Series Champs

Posted on 16 August 2010 by Craig Hickman

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 15:  Kim Clijsters of Belgium poses with the  trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the singles final  match on day seven of the Western & Southern Financial Group  Women's Open on August 15, 2010 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in  Cincinnati, Ohio.
Getty

Kim Clijsters of Belgium poses with the trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the singles final match on day seven of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open on August 15, 2010 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

::

Sharapova wasted three match points?

Andy Murray of Britain holds the winners trophy after beating Roger Federer of Switzerland during their final match at the Rogers Cup  tennis tournament in Toronto August 15, 2010.
Reuters

Andy Murray
of Britain holds the winners trophy after beating Roger Federer of Switzerland 7-5, 7-5 in their final match at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Toronto August 15, 2010.

::

Saw most of the first set and a bit of the second before rain suspended play. Was interesting to hear Darren Cahill making excuses for Roger Federer after he dropped the first set.

And the melody still lingers on....

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US Open Series Update

Posted on 14 August 2010 by Mad Professah

BY MADPROFESSAH

Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic 6-1 3-6 7-5 to regain his World #2 ranking and defending champion Andy Murray defeated World #1 Rafael Nadal to retain his World #4 ranking in today's semifinals at the Toronto Masters.

Federer followed up his clutch win over Tomas Berdych (despite being down 2-5 in the deciding set!) to improve to 10-5 against the Serbian. The Swiss player was up 6-1 2-0 and was two points away from a second break when after holding Djokovic smiled and relaxed and reduced his error count considerably while Federer continued to struggle on break points and ended up losing the set. In the third set, Federer took a commanding 4-1 lead and had multiple opportunities for a 5-2 lead. Instead, he got broken and the next game was a titantic 15-minute struggle (9 deuces!) which Djokovic won to even the match at 4-all in the 3rd. Federer fell behind 15-40 on his very next service game but served three consecutive huge first serves to get himself out of trouble and nosed ahead 5-4. The match looked like it was going to a deciding set tie-break with Djokovic up 40-15 on his serve at 5-6 but Federer fought back to deuce and won the match on his first match point after another backhand and forehand error by the former World #2.

The first semifinal between Murray and Nadal was relatively uneventful, with ineffectual serving from the World #1 which eventually led to a deciding break in the first set. In the second set, Murray had an early break which he relinquished to even the match and then surprisingly Nadal lost the 9th game of the match on his serve through some excellent returns from Murray, who then coolly served out the set to win the match.

Tomorrow's final should be a reprise of this year's Australian Open men's final which was won by Federer. Murray, however leads their head-to-head 6-5 but Federer has won their three match-ups in finals (2008 US Open final, 2010 Australian Open final and the Thailand Open).
I expect a barn-burner tomorrow with Federer pulling it out in 3-sets.

On the women's side Kim Clijsters will face Maria Sharapova. Sharapova has won the last 3 times they have played, but Clijsters leads their head-to-head 4-3. I like the defending 2009 US Open champion versus the 3-time major champ.

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US Open Series Champs

Posted on 09 August 2010 by Craig Hickman

Argentina's David Nalbandian celebrates after beating Marcos  Baghdatis of Cyprus to win the finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic  in Washington August 8, 2010.
Reuters

Argentina's David Nalbandian celebrates after beating Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to win the finals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington August 8, 2010.

CARLSBAD, CA - AUGUST 08:  Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia poses with  the trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the  championship match in the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort and  Spa on August 8, 2010 in Carlsbad, California.
Getty

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia poses with the trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the championship match in the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort and Spa on August 8, 2010 in Carlsbad, California.

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WIMBLEDON 2010: Women’s Final Preview

Posted on 02 July 2010 by Mad Professah

Serena Williams waves to the crowd, after defeating Petra Kvitova  of the Czech Republic in their women's singles semifinal on the Centre  Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon,  Thursday, July 1, 2010.
AP

Serena Williams USA (1) vs Vera Zvonareva RUS (21). For the third consecutive year and sixth time in the last eight years, Serena Williams is in the Ladies' Final of the Wimbledon championships. Surprisingly, she is not facing her older sister this time, as she has four times before, winning three titles in the process. Serena did well to get past a spirited challenge from Petra Kvitova, but, as predicted, she left the court with a victory after two sets.

The 12-time major champion is playing Russian Vera Zvonareva who is in the first Grand Slam final of her career. Zvonareva has a very strong backhand and a good forehand. She has previously shown an extreme level of mental frailty (the celebrated collapse against Flavia Pennetta at the 2009 U.S. Open where she blew 6 match points in the second set and lost the third set 6-0 while in tears). However, by dispatching Kim Clijsters from a set down and outlasting a determined Tsvetana Pironkova in their closely contested semifinal demonstrate this is a brand new Vera.

Russia's Vera Zvonareva punches the air as she defeats Tsvetana  Pironkova of Bulgaria, in their women's singles semifinal on the Centre  Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon,  Thursday, July 1, 2010.
AP

Unfortunately for her, she is playing a new Serena. This Serena has yet to lose a set in this entire Wimbledon tournament and is lapping the field in the number of aces delivered. The two have played 6 times before with Serena winning all but once. If Zvonareva can keep the game score close then perhaps Serena will get nervous and give her a chance. As Francesco Schiavone proved in the 2010 Roland Garros final, anything is possible.

Yeah, I don't think so either.

MadProfessah's PREDICTION: Serena in 2 sets.

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Her Big Break

Posted on 01 July 2010 by Craig Hickman

by Craig Hickman

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01:  Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic reacts  on Day Ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England  Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, 2010 in London, England.
Getty

The look of a broken player.

Serving down a break at 2-4 in the second set, Petra Kvitova faced break point. She swung her huge lefty serve into her opponent's backhand, and seemed surprised the ball came back. After all, for much of the match, her opponent wasn't handling that serve well at all. The surprising return led to an exchange that I described as the point of the tournament. The Wimbledon semifinal ingenue prevailed with a stinging volley winner.

Both players were whipped. Chests heaving, both let the crowd's extended applause wash over them. The longer it lasted, the better.

Petra fired another great second serve that came back with interest. The warriors were at it again. This time, Petra tried to end the point with a backhand crosscourt acute angle winner that landed half a foot wide.

She barked.

Despite her deceptively efficient movement and excellent anticipation, she doesn't yet appear fit enough for the long haul. Still fatigued from saving that break point, she tossed in a double fault.

It took the better part of two tight sets with enthralling tennis sans melodrama for Serena Williams to finally break the will of her opponent. After the changeover, the defending champion would serve for the match.

Soon as her second serve hit the tape, Petra dropped her racquet, her shattered determination captured in the photo above.

What a match.

Best thing I heard by any commentator during it came from Lindsay Davenport.

"Serena doesn't get enough credit for her strategy," said the Wimbledon champion and former world No. 1. "She's definitely a thinking player out there."

And so when Serena stopped attempting outright winners on her service returns and started striking them high and deep, she pushed Petra back, forcing errors instead of giving away points.

An adjustment that made all the difference.

Petra had no deep-Slam experience to rely upon, but her exquisite serve, raw talent and gutsy fight are a breath of fresh air on a tour populated with serveless top-10 players who fold at the first hint of success.

Petra did no such thing. She had to rally from a set down and save match points just to get here. No. Serena had to break her will in order to win. She broke it with her tennis.

Her name alone wasn't going to be nearly enough.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01:  Serena Williams of USA in action during  the Ladies Semi Final match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic on  Day Nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England  Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, 2010 in London, England.
Getty

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Wimbledon 2010 Middle Sunday Tirade

Posted on 27 June 2010 by Craig Hickman

by Craig Hickman

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 26:  A ball girl on Central Court on Day Six  of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn  Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2010 in London, England.
Getty

Not a tirade at all. Just a bit of melodrama to perk up your ears. Not as though I have a whole lot to say, mind you. But it's Wimbledon. My favorite tournament. I ought to, no?

It was an eventful week. The Queen of England made a rare appearance. Defending champion Roger Federer almost lost in the first round. (Lleyton Hewitt had to be praying.) Victoria Azarenka keeps proving me right. Andy Roddick keeps proving me wrong. Victor Hanescu was defaulted after losing his mind because a fan was allowed to keep insulting his sick mother and he wasn't having it. Svetlana Kuznetsova's slide continues. Unheralded 29-year-old Jurgen Melzer is into the second week of a Slam for the second consecutive Slam for the first two times is his career. Unheralded 23-year-old Jarmila Groth is into the second week of a Slam for the second consecutive Slam for the first two times in her career. And John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played such a legendary match that it ended up as the No. 1 segment on Countdown with Keith Olbermann after it finally finished 70-68 in the final set. 70-68.

I still can't wrap my mind around that.


I can wrap my mind around this, though: the round of 16 match between Tsvetana Pironkova and Marion Bartoli steals the show for the most anticipated round of 16 match in either draw.

I'm serious.

See, Pironkova is a pit bull who can hit the cover off the ball as well as anyone. But she's frail. Unless she's not. Then, she'll kick you in your teeth no matter what your name. Love. That.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 26:  Court detail of a ball boy's sweat band  on Day Six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All  England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2010 in London,  England.
Getty

Bartoli is, well, Bartoli. Grass is her favorite surface. When's she's firing on all cylinders, well. I will never forget the way she tore apart Justine Henin the last time Henin played this event back in oh-seven. I'll never forget the extended ovation the fans extended to a player who put on one of the best grass-court displays for the better part of two sets that the stadium had ever seen. I'll never forget how I felt that I'd just seen something utterly remarkable.
,
I'm serious.

Not because I think it takes some superhuman feat to beat Henin on grass. It doesn't. But the way Bartoli went about it can only be appreciated for its remarkability in the witnessing. I really can't begin to describe it.

I understood the fan's extended ovation.

So.

If both of these players bring their A-games and compete as though their egos depend upon it, then we're in for something special. Remarkable. Unpredictable.

If I had to pick a match on the men's side that had the potential to produce the kind of fireworks mentioned above, I would pick, half-halfheartedly, the tussle between Paul-Henri Mathieu and Rafael Nadal. Though I do find it intriguing that Federer and Melzer have never played before....

This is your Wimbledon 2010 Day 7 Open Thread.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 26:  Court detail of a net on Day Six of the  Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and  Croquet Club on June 26, 2010 in London, England.
Getty

Order of Play for Monday 28 June 2010

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Roger Federer (SUI) [1] vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT) [16]
2. Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs Maria Sharapova (RUS) [16]
3. Sam Querrey (USA) [18] vs Andy Murray (GBR) [4]

COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Kim Clijsters (BEL) [8] vs Justine Henin (BEL) [17]
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [3] vs Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) [15]
3. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]

COURT 2 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Jarmila Groth (AUS) vs Venus Williams (USA) [2]
2. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) [3] vs Petra Kvitova (CZE)
3. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) vs Andy Roddick (USA) [5]

COURT 12 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) [21] vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB) [4]
2. Julien Benneteau (FRA) [32] vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [10]
3. Robin Soderling (SWE) [6] vs David Ferrer (ESP) [9]

COURT 18 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Na Li (CHN) [9] vs Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [7]
2. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [12] vs Daniel Brands (GER)

COURT 5 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) vs Marion Bartoli (FRA) [11]
2. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) vs Kaia Kanepi (EST)

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Wimbledon 2010 Day 5 Open Thread

Posted on 25 June 2010 by Craig Hickman

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 25:  A worker sprays her face with water  prior to play on Day Five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at  the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 25, 2010 in London,  England.
Getty

A worker sprays her face with water prior to play on Day Five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 25, 2010 in London, England.

::

Which match on the top two show courts are you looking most forward to watching today?

Order of Play for Friday 25 June 2010

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Justine Henin (BEL) [17] vs Nadia Petrova (RUS) [12]
2. Gael Monfils (FRA) [21] vs Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) [15]
3. Roger Federer (SUI) [1] vs Arnaud Clement (FRA)

COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [3] vs Albert Montanes (ESP) [28]
2. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) [26] vs Venus Williams (USA) [2]
3. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) [29] vs Andy Roddick (USA) [5]

COURT 2 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Kim Clijsters (BEL) [8] vs Maria Kirilenko (RUS) [27]
2. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) [28] vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB) [4]
3. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) [22] vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT) [16]

COURT 12 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Greta Arn (HUN) vs Marion Bartoli (FRA) [11]
2. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) [15] vs Vera Zvonareva (RUS) [21]
3. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [12] vs [B]Denis Istomin (UZB) [/B]

COURT 18 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [13] vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
2. Angelique Kerber (GER) vs Jarmila Groth (AUS)
3. Victor Hanescu (ROU) [31] vs Daniel Brands (GER)

COURT 5 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Thiemo De Bakker (NED) vs John Isner (USA) [23]
2. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) vs Regina Kulikova (RUS)
3. Florian Mayer (GER) vs Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)

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