Wimbledon '11: Point by point coverage

[lt]

He did! Wahoo! (that's a wahoo for Feli's win, not Andy's loss) And perfect timing. . . I gotta go back to work.

Jim Courier has some thinking to do. The Spanish players playing their best right now are three players who can all play really well on fast surfaces.

[harry24]

Aw, I'm happy for Feli, but especially happy for all you Feli Fans. Whoot!

*Points n LOLZ*

What was this, Jer? I missed it.

[GrandSlamGuru]

Oh don't get me wrong -- I've never been a Rod-dick fan but am just surprised that he's become such a non-factor. Seems he and Blake have already lived their glory days.

[mooncreek]

It's kind of sad that I called Feli beating him. Andy just hasn't done so well at the majors since the 2009 final.

Oh, for those who have been tracking the Petko-Judy tweeting, it's doubles time!

So Pironkova does nothing for fifty weeks and then Wimbledon comes along... and we have to deal with a rematch of Venus' last disaster?!

[falafaclese]

I can't believe I have to spend the next two days wondering if Venus is going to beat her this time. I also can't believe that I care enough that I'm actually gonna be wondering for two days if Venus is going to beat her this time. I actually do have a life, I swear!

Jun 24, 2011 14:36:18 GMT harry24 said:

*Points n LOLZ*

What was this, Jer? I missed it.

I think Jer was pointing and laughing at Roddick's loss.

[GrandSlamGuru]

From the Telegraph -- Wimbledon 2011: Serena Williams accuses All England Club of predjudice over 'exile' from Centre Court tgr.ph/kk7hSN

You tell 'em Serena!

[harry24]

I think Jer was pointing and laughing at Roddick's loss.

Oh, I get it now. Thanks, fala.

Pondering the Feli-Roddick match today and their respective careers: aren't these two quite comparable in terms of athletic and tennis qualities? Is the difference simply a question of competitive resolve? Work ethic? Both? Something else? What's made the difference in career success between the two?

[tikigirl]

Ljubicic's Frankenpate is freaking me out.

[curlywhirly]

If Venus loses to this Pironkova girl for a THIRD time in a slam, I'm going to have some serious words with my tv. It kills me that Pironkova's sole purpose on tour is to eff up Vee's flow. The chick barely wins matches year after year, until she gets to face the elder Williams every so often.

[lt]

From the Telegraph -- Wimbledon 2011: Serena Williams accuses All England Club of predjudice over 'exile' from Centre Court tgr.ph/kk7hSN

I think I gave myself a headache with the eye rolling. I know their father taught them to use slights (some real, some imagined) to pump themselves up and it works--I just wish they'd keep it to themselves. I was thinking just yesterday that Wimbledon has been doing a great job of moving the players around the courts. Imagine the US Open--they never put the top US player on Armstrong but Murray's been bouncing between Centre and Court 1. And how about Azarenka? What court was the #4 seed on the other day--15? Rafa's another guy who never banks on being on Centre Court. Is Roger the only one who is consistently on Centre?

Speaking of the Williams sisters--what's the spin going to be if these just-off-IR players keep going far into the tournament? That proof of the "depth of the women's game" is 3-set matches? For that reason, I hope both Venus and Serena lay waste to the field 'cause I want to see the excuses afterwards.

[lb]

In fairness to Serena, I think she only talked about it because she kept getting asked about it. But it's true - no one is immune from being taken off Centre Court. Djoko's been in Court 1, Andy has, a bunch of people. They even put Roddick/Feli there instead of Rafa today, to my surprise (and relief - I wasn't watching but I heard Rafa got hurt (?) and a break could help). It seems a lot of people are getting a turn on Centre Court.

Speaking of the determination of the Williams' sisters, I am not only happy for them. I am also happy for Sharapova. With Li Na out, she's the one I've been rooting for (despite the shrieks).

[harry24]

Okay, I just skimmed that article, but I totally missed Serena saying anything about "prejudice."

And FWIW, while discussing some other topic today Mary Jo F. said that the schedulers always put only one woman's match on Centre Court each of the early days of the tournament, and that they pick the one most likely to be competitive involving the top players. Make of that what you will.

Also, all these issues are complicated by the fact that the schedulers have to balance out a log jam of prominent women, given that the biggest stars, the best players, and the top ranked players aren't the same people, whereas in the men's game, the biggest stars, the best players and the top-ranked players are all the same 3-4 people.

[GrandSlamGuru]

In fairness to Serena, I think she only talked about it because she kept getting asked about it.

Agreed. They asked, she answered.

Let’s not forget her court assignment during the Queen’s visit. No amount of spin made that right so now it’s a sore subject the press will beat to death.

Furthermore, the headline was very misleading IMO.

[falafaclese]

Jun 24, 2011 22:50:24 GMT harry24 said:

Okay, I just skimmed that article, but I totally missed Serena saying anything about "prejudice."

I cry bullshit on that article. Not only did Serena never use that word, but they both have been asked about that issue at every possible opportunity, and I have heard the commentators discussing it on several occasions. Then there's the matter of Venus' seeding which apparently everyone but the seeding committee seems to think is too low. Everyone has been talking about all of it, and the writer of that article has chosen to rely almost exclusively on a sensationalistic headline, and a quote which doesn't even support it. To me, the article makes more of an attempt to stir up the issue than the quote itself.

Also, I read the whole presser that the quote was gleaned from, and here's how it went down:

Q. What do you make of being put on Court No. 2 today?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, uhm, you know, I don't know. They like to put us on Court 2, me and Venus, for whatever reason. I haven't figured it out yet. Maybe one day we'll figure it out. I don't know.

Q. I remember the last couple years you've said, Okay, it's Court 2, I'll play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't necessarily think I should I try to play my match and take that first and foremost, deal with, you know, whatever later. 'Cause today, if I was thinking about that, then that would be a different issue.

But, you know, obviously they're not gonna change, so, you know, it's like...

****

Q. Can you just explain what it is about Court No. 2 that makes playing difficult? Is it noise? Is it atmosphere?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I don't know. I pretty much won all my matches so far on Court 2, so...

Q. You have to go through the crowds, don't you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I never have too much time to warm up. I look at that as kind of a warmup, trying to walk out there. I'm like, Okay, well, this gets my legs moving.

****

Q. You and Venus almost look at it as an insult that you're not automatically put on Centre, 1, like Djokovic, Nadal.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, they're never moved across. Actually, Venus and I have won more Wimbledons together than a lot of the players or by ourselves in doubles even. So, you know, at the end of the day, I don't know. Like I said, they're not going to change, doesn't look like. So I don't know.

Q. Do you think in any way it could relate to you and Venus, you're bigger than life, you speak your mind, you're big personalities? Do you think that relates to it at all in any way?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. Like I said, I don't really think about it. I don't make it a big issue.

I think at some point maybe I should. I don't know. I just really try to focus on not going down on Court 2. At least now they have a review out there, so I do like that. It was much better than the old one that was actually closer. I really hated that court, but...

Q. What is your reaction when you find out the next day's play? Do you say, Oh, no, that you're going to be out there?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I just say, What court am I playing? I just say, What time am I playing? Like 12:00. Oh, I have to wake up early.

I suppose she could have just refused to answer, and we'd be reading articles about how prickly and tight-lipped Serena's being about the court assignments.

[GrandSlamGuru]

Monfils better get it together soon else he'll go the way of Roddick/Blake. I keep waiting for him to breakthrough but...

...same with old-ass Nalbandian, though he needn't breakthrough today. (Stop clutching your pearls, RF fans.)

Poor Ana, she chokes like no other. Down a set, she fights back, ties the second set then gets blown out in the tiebreak. Guess she's what they call a beautiful loser.

Bartoli, on the other hand, just triumphed in a third-set barn burner.

Rafa vs DelPotro will be must-see.

I often complain about DirecTV... until a major. Then, it's priceless.