Wimbledon 08

[javero]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:19pm

Thoughts, observations, commentary, rants or predictions?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 3:01pm

Who's ready for Nadal/Federer.... again.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 10:39pm

Me.

I love Wimbledon.
I can predict with absolute certainty that I'll be watching!

Breakfast at Wimbledon. Love it!

[DG]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 10:14am

<----- what can I say?

Safin just took out Djokovic in straight sets - wouldn't have guessed that. I want to see if maybe Novak was injured - the stats indicate he completely folded in the third set.

Whatever the reason, it takes a little pressure off of Roger.

[javero]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:30pm

I wasn't surprised at all by Safin coming on top against Djokovic. When I got my first peek at the men's draw, I became concerned by the presence of Safin and Baghdatis in Fed's half of the draw. Luckily, Safin & Baghdatis collide before taking on Fed if the seeding holds up.

Nadal has no cake walk either. His half is loaded with players that are capable of beating him on grass. I really want to see a resurgent Roddick take on Rafa in the semi on their half of the draw.

On the women's side, I'm predicting right now that the winner of the Sharapova-Venus semi win claim the title, if the seeding holds up.

Ivanovic will be upset while struggling with the weight of expectation. Kutznetsova will take out Serena in their quarter only to completely collapse in the semis against an upstart. It Venus or Maria vs an upstart.

[DG]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:43pm

I wouldn't mind Venus taking another one

[DG]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 1:19pm

Sharapova knocked out in the second round - straight sets, no less.

I'm going with Jankovic for the trophy - plus, I really like her.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 1:28pm

At least now we won't have to listen to Sharapova's scream for the rest of the tournament.

[DG]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 1:35pm

Amen to that, Lauren! I simply have to turn the sound off if I try to watch her. I like her style, but I really do want to strangle her.

[javero]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 3:39pm

I was distracted today from the Wimbledon coverage by boring mundane crap like WORK, arrggggggh.

Not a Maria or Yuri Sharapova fan here. This clears a path for Venus all the way to the final. She'd better bring her A game b/c the Big W is the only major she's capable of winning these days imo.

update: oh no...Roddick & Blake were both sent packing lightening Nadal's load.

Updated On: 6/26/08 at 03:39 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 8:45pm

Does James Blake ever get past the third round of anything?

EDIT- I'm happy it was Tipsarevic who ousted Roddick. I like that guy, he had an awesome match with Federer at the US Open last year. Updated On: 6/26/08 at 08:45 PM

[DG]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 1:55pm

frogs - poor Blake just can't get it together for the slams.

Serena ousts Amelie, not surprisingly. And Ivanovic is out. I'm still gonna say Jankovic.

Roger trounced Gicquel in the third round, which leads to a fourth against Hewitt (whom I can't stand).

[javero]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 2:36pm

Hum, startin' to look like Serena's gonna book passage to another final in her half unless Kutznetsova pulls off a miracle in the semis.

The other half is interesting because Jankovic enjoys a 4-3 head-to-head lead over Venus including one win at the Big W 2 years ago. But in semi at Wimbledon, smart money is on Venus.

I don't want to see an All-Williams final.

Call me crazy but Marat Safin is my darkhorse to win this thing on the men's side.

[DG]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 2:42pm

I don't think you're crazy at all, Jav. Marat has just never had a firm foundation to build on - too many injuries. But when he has it together, I think he's one of the best ever. And such a PASSIONATE player to watch (not bad on the eyes, either )

But I'd still bet on (and hope for) Roger!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 2:48pm

no sharapova, no ivanovic? there is no wimbledon.

[DG]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 2:50pm

They're just freed up so you can have them together, papa.

And then she can scream all you want her to

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 2:51pm

she'll be hoarse. and saddled.

[javero]

Posted: 6/27/08 at 3:11pm

"no sharapova, no ivanovic? there is no wimbledon."

ivanovic is a hottie for sure but i guess never got the sharapova allure. maybe it's because now that her face is filling out she starting to resemble her dad a bit too much for my comfort.

[DG]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 11:42pm

Time for the mid-fortnight break.

Looking more-and-more like a Roger/Rafa final. That doesn't bother me too much, as they USUALLY give a good show (we'll pretend the French final didn't happen ) I feel a little bad for Britain, as Murray is giving a good showing - but I can't see him getting past Nadal. I just really want Rog to trounce Lleyton in straight 6-0 sets!

As for the women, Jankovic's troubles with her leg are going to be a BIG hurdle for her. I think she'll have to go through both sisters, and that just isn't the easiest thing to do. I, too, would prefer not to see an all-Williams final (nothing against either of the wonderful ladies, but the tennis is always mediocre at best.) If it ends up that way, I'd like to see Venus do it again. Her regalness found a home at Wimbledon, and it should stay hers. Serena can have the US

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/29/08 at 11:19am

Got to watch Venus yesterday. That final match winning serve was pretty impressive! And history making!

[DG]

Posted: 6/30/08 at 10:37am

I love how Venus wasn't even aware of the stats until someone told her

So, Venus and Serena into the quarters in almost identical fashion. Jankovic couldn't deal with her injury, so she's out. That makes an all-Williams final a foredrawn conclusion, to my mind.

And, I sort of got my way with Hewitt - Rog just kind of brushed him aside. I still wish he'd hit him over the head with the broom instead

[DG]

Posted: 6/30/08 at 4:46pm

Good grief - Rafa walked all OVER Youzhny! He is becoming ferocious on this surface . . .

And what a thrill for Britain - Murray triumphs in a 5-set thriller! Unfortunately, he's up against Rafa next, but they can savor this for a day or two

[javero]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 12:34pm

Serena is peaking at the right time but I don't think that to be the case with Venus.

One of the Williams sisters is going down in the next round and I predict the defending champion as long as Dementieva can keep her new service motion under control. Her ground game is levels about Venus' imo. She has to hold serve and hope that Venus is having a bad day serving.

On the men's side, sorry DG but I'm concerned about a potential Federer-Safin match. Despite Federer's 8-2 head-to-head lead over Safin, 7 of those 10 matches generated at least one tie-breaker. If Federer is slight off, there could be an upset in the making. Even Boris Becker has commented that Fed has [not] put in a showing this year expected of a Wimbledon champion.

Updated On: 7/1/08 at 12:34 PM

[DG]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 1:06pm

Oh, Jav, believe me, I know! Marat can be one of the most dangerous players ever - and Roger is obviously having an off year. When push comes to shove, I think I still expect Rog to prevail - if only because I think HE thinks this is an opportunity to salvage SOMETHING from this year. Interestingly, Marat's volatile passion has frequently been his undoing, but right now, I think Rog is more likely to implode. And that's certainly not been what we're used to from him.

Meanwhile, Rafa is like the wrath of God on his side of the draw - it's truly awesome to watch. Frankly, if it isn't going to be Roger's, I really hope Rafa can pull it off. He deserves it after this showing.

And I think you're probably right about the sisters. Given the set of circumstances, I think Serena will fight to the death, while Venus would be more likely to accept whatever outcome. She's not firing on all her cylinders, and Dementieva can wear her down - as long as she remains consistent.

[DG]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 2:53pm

The current issue of OUT has an article on gays in tennis – with the following little tidbit:

“As any mildly obsessive gay male fan knows, tantalizing rumors surround a hunky American player once ranked inside the top 20. ‘He was very attractive, muscular, the epitome of a gay pinup. Everyone kind of knew he was gay from the way he talked – he wasn’t hiding it. I remember him in line for lunch with his boyfriend,’ one source says.”

They couldn’t POSSIBLY mean Jan-Michael Gambill, could they – who did achieve a high rank of 14 in June, 2001?