It was a rather confusing day of tennis yesterday, as the women took to the courts to try and sort out who would be going through to the semi finals. Very few of the names we expected to go through managed to achieve it though! I don't know about anyone else, but I was absolutely expecting to see another "Williams/Williams" final at Wimbledon this year. Now we know that at least half of that is not going to happen.
Venus Williams was knocked out by some rather stunning tennis from the world number 82 - Tsvetana Pironkova. I only managed to see the highlights of this match but it looked like a great one. Not for Venus, obviously. Elsewhere, returning favourite Kim Clijsters was knocked out by Vera Zvonareva. It's looking likely we'll get a "Williams/unheard of" final instead.
However, that is not for days yet. Let's look at what we've got to look forward to today. The men get their quarter final matches underway, with Federer first up on Centre Court. He is facing Berdych who is the 12th seed. You'd put your money on Federer, but things have not been going as expected at all this tournament, so all bets are off. Once that match is wrapped up, Andy Murray will take to Centre to face Tsonga. This is the fourth seed versus the tenth, so again, things would seem to favour Murray. The Scot is the only man left in the draw that hasn't dropped a set yet, so things could be looking up.
Over on Court 1, one of Amy's favourites Djokovic takes on the Roddick-defeater Lu. I couldn't tell you who will win this one, although Lu is unseeded, whilst Novak is third. We'll be cheering him on, I'm sure, but halfway through his last match he started feeling unwell. The final battle will be between Nadal and Soderling. Rafa couldn't be here to defend his title last year, so he'll want to go far. Soderling reached the final in 2005, but didn't win it, so he will also be quite determined. I'm leaning towards Nadal on this one though.
Let us know who you're cheering for and whether you're able to watch any of it. The problem with the second week is all the good matches are on during the day and there's not much left to watch in the evening. Still, the tennis will be good whatever time of day it is on. Enjoy!
Roger and Sodders and Nole and Jo Willy please :D
Lukeh's favourite has predictions:
predictions for today, federer in 4, murray in 4, djokovic in 4, nadal in 5, but that is not a certainty soderling has the fire power.
http://twitter.com/GregRusedski1/status/17402436823
I like that Pironkova lady. When I watched the highlights, she looked very good.
I is watching Williams/Williams while I wait for Roger :D
I was just sad that Serena is dressed the same for doubles as she is in singles because normally she has a different outfit and I quite like what she wears.
But I just noticed she's wearing white shorts instead of red ones. I guess thats different.
roger tiiiiiiiiiime
MO!
not-Rog breaks. Boo.
I don't think I can take another day of upsets. Particularly as I can't watch them!
I don't want man-upsets. Apart from Tsonga and Sodders of course :D
Not Rog serving for the first set. Come on Roger, break hiiiiim.
In better news, Nole takes the first set of his match.
Bah.
Oh dear Rog, that's not good
i cannot believe tennis is on, but not football.
Cycling starts this weekend
Tennis > football.
tennis is always on, there's 70 mens tournaments a year :D
*sigh*
Football players run 10km a match...so they deserve a break every now and then.
Even goalies? ;)
Its tiring diving around all over the place y'know....
Roger breaks, wooo!
...Said the Italian to Ronaldo ;)
Better Rog, better
It's quite tiring hitting a tennis ball about for three hours, too.
Or 11 hours for that matter
That was amazing reading Agassi's book how Tennis basically kills you slowly and steadily!
I get the feeling I am going to have to read this book, and I don't really want to.
From other biographies I've read, I don't think his experience was typical. Then again, he had better results than others I've read and maybe that's the key :D
Was that the drugs or the tennis?
Tennis fact of the day, since we're kind of talking about injuries.
Roger Federer has never retired from a match since he turned professional. Ever. #dudeisamazing
That is quite impressive.
Wow.
Commentators are making an interesting point about how in 2012 there is only 6 weeks between Wimbledon + the Olympics, and if the grass can be prepared in time, because it's pretty wrecked by the end of the slam.
Can't they move Wimbledon forward or is that breaking tradition?
they'd have to move Roland Garros if they did that, it would never work.
Sacrilege!
set point! how about you actually use it mr federer!
oooooh the williamseseses lost in doubles! That's the first slam they haven't won in aaaages
Oh come on roger I need to sleep.
I see Williams/Williams are out
You sound suspiciously like Amy.
I wouldn't be saying that at 11.20pm! :D
Oh, my mistake :)
this is the middle of my day. I might try and fix that next week :(
That's it. I am assuming Roger has the game won. (like Kim last night)
Bed.
nooo don't say that!
Roger is better than Kim:-)
that is true. They're both awesome though :D
I think I must like nice people, both my favourites always win the sportsmanship awards from their fellow players :D
Kim won the 2009 one when she was only back playing for about 3 months of the year!
2nd set to Nole. Adje!
pants.
I sense it is not going well for King Rog.
broken again.
My commentators also helpfully pointed out that only one man has ever won a slam after being down 2 sets to love in their first round.
Was it Roger?
nope, Pat Rafter. Or Pat Cash. It was one of the Pats :D
I used to LOVE Pat Rafter.
oh lord
oh me too. He's still quite a bit of alright, too ;)
this set sucks. I should be watching Nole, at least he's not stressing me :D
Nole serving for the match.
Novak, yaaaay!
Phew! That's something at least!
people on wikipedia are waaaay too fast, they've already updated his page to add it on there.
Were you going there to do that? :)
heheh no, I went to see if Nole had ever made it to a SF at Wimbledon before :D
come on roger, stop sucking at deuce and break him
or not.
I know I said this in the first round, but I think Roger's gonna lose.
You can only have so many comebacks in one tournament, surely.
"There's the Frenchman, Tsonga. His coach is sitting down. They must be on strike there"
3 break points, Roger does better when I write him off.
ugh, 3 aren't enough. I hate you roger.
#blamePaul
that is so correct. You never go to sleep and assume Roger will win!
how about finding some first serves there rog?
or you could get broken, that works too #rage
Hello.
we're about to see either the greatest comeback ever, or the first true sign that roger is on the decline...
people said that in 08.
Do you think he looks tired?
#sorryamy
but then he wasn't getting beaten by the 12th seed in the QFs of his best tournament...
Berdych is a machine. i was scared of him from the day I saw the draw.
The Brits will be happy. Now they'll hope Soderling can eliminate Nadal too...
2 points away...
...or not. 2 straight aces.
he made roger cry last time they played. meany.
Berdych to serve it out. Can he avoid a choke?
If he blows this he's lost.
no point getting excited roger, you've converted one out of seven break points.
Nadal also appears to be failing by style.
at least roger hasn't been bagelled.
WOW.
Well, if Nadal AND Fed go out, and Murray still doesn't win it... he never will.
match point saved.
Nole for Wimbledon 2011.
Although... he'd be going up against someone who beat them, which wouldn't be easy.
Sodders for Wimbledon 2011.
why do I keep saying 2011? I have forgotten what year it is.
Just figured you were planning ahead.
Fed is out. WOW.
ah well.
Soderling 5 - 0 Nadal.
The SW16 air has gone nutty again...
you know why that is?
something about planning?
Paul has a lot to answer for when he wakes up.
Soderling winning doesn't shock me anymore. I kind of love him.
you spend your days filling next years diary ;)
True. But think about how Nadal whooped him just a few weeks ago in RG. Fed AND Nadal out on the same day = lunacy.
I don't have a 2011 diary :D
that was clay though.
But he beat Nadal last year on clay...
Nadal was totally broken by then though, he took the next 3 months or so off.
This isn't going to make Amy feel any better but:
#Federer will drop to No. 3 for the first time since Nov 2003. it is also the first time he has not reached a grass court final since 2002.
http://twitter.com/ATPWorldTour/status/17419673422
one set a piece, ooh
Tie break in the first set for Murray.
Why is he always playing as I'm about to go home?
Stoopid tennis.
Agreed.
;)
ah but when you get home it will still be going and you'll get to see the end
TSONGAAAAA
Goo murray!!
so thats upsets in the womens quarters, mens quarters, womens doubles quarters and mens doubles quarters. Go opposite Wimbledon!
Soooo... When is mr c writing his tennis post? :)
same day as you do a football post. take your pick :)
When you do your football one?
but I can't do the football post till next Monday/tuesday... And tennis is over by then...
i thought your exams were over?
Just to point out... football is on Saturday/Sunday...Wednesday/Thursday
I can't write a football post without lukeh!
okay, will write one for the weekend?
thats cheating :D
cool. i'll do tennis on saturday if that's ok?
noo it's just called using my resources.. :)
as much as I would love to watch these matches conclude, I need zzz
Wohoooo! Go Murray :)
YAY I went to my dinner with it 1-0 and now it's 1-1 on sets
Come on
TimGregAndyAlso... did I just hear boris becker right about Roger fereder????
I can;t believe King Our 'Rog is out!!
Is it bad that because I prefer calling out "come on Tim" to most other peoples names I just call whoever I want to win Tim?
Yay Andy!!!! through to the semis :)
Wooohoooooo!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
Good match.
Very good recovery by Andy after the first set loss
From TED's column, he's talking about the Hulk being too tall to use the current F duct solution from Williams and then he says this:
Non-sequitur of the day.
Loops sorry wrong thread. Silly me..
Ooops not loops. Erm... Not my moment.
Oops!
Who would have thunk Roger would loose?
#sorryamy