Grand Slams 2008: A Look Back

What a year it was for grand slam tennis. With the last major of the year drawing to a close in New York, I think this is the perfect time to look back at the year that was. Let’s begin after the cut, shall we?

Filed under: A Look Back, Australian Open, Djokovic, Federer, Ivanovic, Nadal, Roland Garros, Serena, Sharapova, U.S. Open, Venus, Wimbledon , ana ivanovic, Australian Open, maria sharapova, novak djokovic, rafael nadal, roger federer, Roland Garros, serena williams, sports, Tennis, U.S. Open, venus williams, Wimbledon

One For the Ages

Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. This scoreline will be remembered as one of the greatest matches in the history of tennis. The history of sport for that matter. Today will be remembered as the day the guard changed at Wimbledon. It will also be remembered as the day Rafael Nadal proved himself a great champion outside of Paris. If I ever get to witness a match as good as this one again, I will be truly lucky. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did something great for tennis everywhere today. Their efforts will surely go down as some of the best ever.

Filed under: Federer, Nadal, Wimbledon , rafael nadal, roger federer, sports, Tennis, Wimbledon

Five

Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title by defeating younger sister, Serena, 7-5, 6-4. This match proves that Venus is the greatest grass court player of her generation and now stands among some of the greatest ever. Only Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Billie Jean King own more titles than her. Serena has been in grand slam title drought since she took the Australian Open by storm in 2007.

Filed under: Serena, Venus, Wimbledon , serena williams, sports, Tennis, venus williams, Wimbledon

Part Three

For the third straight year, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet in the Wimbledon final. Both have been dominant through this tournament, losing a combined total of one set. Rafa hasn’t lost a match since Rome and Roger hasn’t lost on grass since 2002. Rafa became this first man to push Roger to five sets in last years final, but came up just short in one of the greatest matches in Wimbledon history. This year, I’m predicting Rafa to get over the hump and take it in five.

Filed under: Federer, Nadal, Wimbledon , rafael nadal, roger federer, sports, Tennis, Wimbledon

It’s Going Down

For the first time in five years, the William sisters will meet  in a grand slam final. This is going to be a battle of epic proportions. It’s just too close to call, so watch it and see for yourself. Saturday. Be there. Serena vs. Venus

Filed under: Serena, Venus, Wimbledon , serena williams, sports, Tennis, venus williams, Wimbledon, ]

Surprise, Surprise

Jie Zheng became the first Chinese woman ever to advance to the semifinals at Wimbledon with her 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory Nicole Vaidisova. In addition to that, she is also the first woman wild card entrant to reach this stage at the All England Club. She will play Serena Williams on Thursady for a place in the finals. Hate to break it to you, Jie, but I don’t think you’ll be winning too many games against Serena, but you never know.

Filed under: Wimbledon, Zheng , jie zheng, nicole vaidisova, sports, Tennis, Wimbledon, zheng jie

In Quotes: Jelena Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic weighed in on the court scheduling controversy in her post-match interview.

“When I saw that I’m on the schedule at 12:00 in the morning, and especially on Court 18, which was very unusual, you know, for a No. 2 seed to play on Court 18 is, for my opinion, not really normal.

But what can you do?”

Q. Venus raised that point before, being a champion being on Court 2. What do you think about that?

JELENA JANKOVIC: “Yes, I think, you know, the scheduling is really it was not made in a good way. It was not right. I think, you know, the champion, the defending champion, should always play on the top courts, because she won and she deserves to play there.

I also think No. 1, No. 2 seeds should always be on these top show courts. The ranking shows, you know, who deserves it, who has this ranking. Who is in the top of the game should play on the top courts.

I don’t know what they are doing, you know, to put Venus on No. 2 and I’m on No. 18, especially having an injury and asking for a favor to play a little bit later on in the day. They didn’t do it. So it was, you know, quite hard.

I was almost playing in the parking lot. I almost need a helicopter to go to my court.”

Filed under: Jankovic, Wimbledon , jelena jankovic, sports, Tennis, Wimbledon

Super Mario

Mario Ancic is back in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon after his win over Fernando Verdasco of Spain. The match went the distance with Ancic prevailing 13-11 in the fifth set. Up next for him is Roger Federer, but before you write him off keep in mind Mario is the last man to beat Roger at Wimbledon.

Filed under: Ancic, Wimbledon , fernando verdasco, mario ancic, sports, Tennis, Wimbledon

The Upset Bug Strikes Again

After avoiding an upset to Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic finally succumbed to the upset bug, falling to Tamarine Tanasugarn, 3-6, 2-6. This is the first time in the Open Era that none of the 1, 2 or 3 seeds are not in the quarterfinals. All Williams final, anyone?

Filed under: Jankovic, Wimbledon , caroline wozniacki, jelena jankovic, Tamarine Tanasugarn, Tennis, Wimbledon

People’s Monday Picks

Tomorrow is probably the greatest day in tennis, with all women’s and men’s 4th round matches being played, so here’s our picks for people’s monday.

GENTLEMEN

Roger Federer (1) v. Lleyton Hewitt (20): Federer in three

Fernando Verdasco (22) v. Mario Ancic: Ancic in four

Marat Safin v. Stanislas Wawrinka (13): Safin in four

Marcos Baghdatis (10) v. Feliciano Lopez (31): Baghdatis in four

Janko Tipseravic v. Rainer Schuettler: Tipseravic in three

Marin Cilic v. Arnaud Clement: Cilic in four

Richard Gasquet ( 8 ) v. Andy Murray (14): Gasquet in five

Mikhail Youzhny (17) v. Rafael Nadal (2): Nadal in three

LADIES

Jie Zheng v. Agnes Szavay (15): Szavay in three

Nicole Vaidisova ( 18 ) v. Anna Chakvetadze (8): Vaidisova in three

Svetlana Kuznetsova (4) v. Agnieszka Radwanska (14): Radwanska in three

Bethanie Mattek v. Serena Williams (6): Serena in two

Elena Dementieva (5) v. Shahar Peer (24): Dementieva in two

Nadia Petrova (21) v. Alla Kudryavtseva: Petrova in two

Venus Williams (7) v. Alisa Kleybanova: Venus in two

Tamarine Tanasugarn v. Jelena Jankovic (2): Jankovic in three

Filed under: Predictions/Previews, Wimbledon , rafael nadal, roger federer, serena williams, sports, Tennis, venus williams, Wimbledon