It is Men's Semi-Finals day, and it's shaping up to be a good one! That is, if the weather holds out. We've experienced a good ten days of beautiful sunshine (and rather a lot of humidity too) but it looks as though the rain is making a breakthrough. Centre Court has it's roof, of course, but it's not quite the same atmosphere under there as it is when they get to play in the golden light of British summertime.
Credit: Yersinia / Flickr
A ball person does their stuff during the 2010 Wimbledon tennis tournament
I covered who remains in the draw yesterday, in quite delicious detail, so there's just a couple of notes to catch up with. Serena Williams won her match, although it certainly wasn't easy for her. I was rooting for Pironkova in the other match, but her fabulous Wimbledon campaign was brought to a halt by Vera Zvonareva. The women's final will shape up as Williams vs Zvonareva, and I would still put my money on Williams.
Coming up today, we have the Berdych/Djokovic match up first, followed by Nadal vs Murray. I think that is the one that everyone wants to see because whatever the outcome, it's likely to be some great tennis.
I was talking to a colleague yesterday, who I was surprised to see as she normally takes the second week of Wimbledon off. She said she had struggled to find anyone to get behind this year, and considering it's such a surprising tournament (or Opposite Wimbledon, as Amy would call it), it makes sense. I wonder if this is a transitional year. Some of the dominant players of past years are starting their downward slopes - not necessarily out of it, but not at their peak anymore - and perhaps the youngsters are not quite good enough to have become well-known yet. It's certainly an interesting year.
Anyway, let us know who you're cheering for and where you're watching, and most of all, enjoy the tennis!
[Image licensed under a Creative Commons 2.0 license]
Raf! O! Le! Raf! O! Le!
In other words, Rafa/Nole final please and thankyou.
We don't like Mandy?
Are you new here?
:D oops I must have missed that bit
He doesn't like anybody!
I have quite the list of reasons :D
I'm not talking to Heikki anymore
http://twitter.com/H_Kovalainen/status/17556695565
Maybe he doesn't know either?
#just me and heikki
Stats from the Beeb.
The bad news for Murray fans is that he trails 7-3 in matches against Nadal, the good news is he's 2-2 in Grand Slams meetings and has won the last two. They last played each other at the Australian Open, when Nadal was forced to retire with a knee injury in the third set, which rather overshadowed one of Murray's best performances.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8781351.stm
Good lord, a map of the queue: http://www.kevr1990.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Wimbledon-Map.jpg
via @Wimbledon
Wow they have everything there - golf course, athletics track, cricket pitch.
They could hold the ultimate sporting competition, like a decathlon/heptathlon but bigger.
There's talk David Beckham might be at Wimbly today, cheering on Andy. He wasn't much of a good luck charm for the England team, though, was he?
He's a real bad luck charm isn't he?
Sir Tom has taken over: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8781351.stm
But I think things are a bit too tense for Pride & Prejudice now. Yesterday was not very flowery at all. Mr C is better off sleeping, I reckon.
Just to make sure Andy Murray hasn't been in any cursed Nike adverts recently?
The world cup one featured:
Ronaldo/Portugal, out
Rooney/England, out
Donovan/USA, out
Ronaldiniho - didn't get to the world cup
Roger Federer, out
Andy is in Adidas, so he'll be fine.
And FWIW, Kobe was in that Nike ad too - and he won the NBA Championship. ;)
Oh dear, I think that Berdych might have just broken Nole.
Berdych has a break, which the commentator says is unexpected
And he holds on his serve. 5-2 he leads.
Nadal and Murray would smile - if they weren't so focused on each other.
Berdych wins set one. If I go to bed now, it means djokovic will win.
Tie break in the second set.
Berdych gets it.
#blamepaul
Laura Robson lost her juniors match just now. Tut tut.
Berdych in straight sets.
David Beckham is there! I need a picture.
I didn't know they did wheelchair tennis. That's way cool.
http://twitpic.com/21s3ru
Wooo!
Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal, and no one's in the comments??
I think the tennis fans are either at Goodwood or asleep.
Lou wouldn't mind missing this too much. Nadal's up 2 sets to love, and he's broken back on Murray...
I think Murray will regret the dropshot that cost him that break. He should have won this game
Not as much as his poor form in the first set, I'd say. Well, it wasn't poor, but certainly not good enough.
I didn't see that. The first thing I saw was the tie break at the end of the second. Haven't really been paying much attention to it
Just saw some parts of it. I was watching Brazil-Netherlands.
Match point now.
Duly converted. Murray falls short... again.
Nadal in straight sets
I blame Beckham
He wasn't around last year, was he? :D
Well, once again, looks like they will have to look to Button or Hamilton for British sporting success. ;)
Everywhere the man goes he sees defeat
Can Nadal do what Fed and Nole failed to do - beat Berdych?
No kidding. ;) Everywhere bar Man U, though. :)
He was OK when he was playing it is just on the sidelines that he is causing havoc
Nadal's English has improved greatly over the last year or so. Almost as good now as Alonso, I'd say.
Noooo....
He brightens any day...
I bet he hasn't brightened Andy Murray's day
Maybe not ....
OK... he certainly brightened mine and probably that of 95% of all ladies watching today...
So he probably isn't certain of the meaning of the word manipulated then?...
nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(
I suppose Britain is back to looking at sports they can win again then? Roll on the F1
Oh yes, F1, I was starting to think down the polo route.
so I slept for 14 hours, including through both semis, and I woke up at 5am and for some reason was sure that Nole and Murray made it through. And when I properly woke up just now I realised that at 5am I hadn't turned my computer or my laptop on, so how on earth was I sure that I knew the results?
Yeah, I was wrong.
I am happy :D
Berdych for Wimbly 2010 please.