Wimbledon Day 13: Tang

Curtain Call

Player: Hao Chen Tang
Age: 17
Nation: China
Current Doubles Ranking: unranked
Doubles Partner: Demi Schuurs (Netherlands)
Today's Result: lost to Eugenie Bouchard (Canada)/Grace Min (USA) (2nd seed) in three sets

Tang and Schuurs won the first set of the girls' doubles final before losing in three. Tang does have a WTA singles ranking: #1148. That seems likely to improve.


Golden Squid Report

Jurgen Melzer - Melzer has developed a delightful habit of picking up trophies at Wimbledon. Last year, it was the men's doubles title. This time, he teamed with Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) to win the mixed doubles. The pair beat Mahesh Bhupathi (India)/Elena Vesnina (Russia) (4th) in straight sets. In singles, Melzer fell in the third round to Belgian Xavier Malisse in straight sets. Even though they weren't able to repeat as champions, he and partner Philipp Petzschner did live up to their seed in men's doubles, finally losing to the Bryan brothers (USA, 1st) in the quarters.


My Tennis Fantasy

Current Overall Ranking: 23rd
My MVP for the Week: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) with $1,000,000, beating Rafael Nadal (Spain) to win the title at Wimbledon

Tennis has a new king. No one can say Djokovic hasn't earned it. Like he said himself, it only took losing just one match over seven months. I think today's win puts him in the driver's seat for the US Open and year-end #1 as well. Right now, Djokovic is the most under-appreciated story in the sports world - nothing new for tennis. He handled the moment with grace today. Plus, he's been taming a squirrel:


Novak Djokovic on WhoSay

Now that he's reached the top ranking, I hope we'll get to see more of his sense of humor.

Wimbledon Day 12: Lisicki

Curtain Call

Player: Sabine Lisicki
Age: 21
Nation: Germany
Current Doubles Ranking: 151
Doubles Partner: Samantha Stosur (Australia)
Notable Conquests: Vania King (USA)/Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) (1st seed) and Nadia Petrova (Russia)/Anastasia Rodionova (Australia) (6th)
Today's Results: win over Marina Erakovic (New Zealand)/Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) in three sets and a loss to Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic)/Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) (2nd) in straight sets


Photo via goalzz.com

Lisicki had a great Wimbledon and her run to the singles semifinals as a wild card is only part of the story. Her doubles tournament with Stosur was even better. The two played the last few games of their semifinal match today before hitting the wall in the final. This was, in fact, the first time for Lisicki to make it past the second round in doubles at a Slam. She won't need a wild card to get into the US Open, in either draw.

Meanwhile, a new star is born. Everything I've heard and read has praised Petra Kvitova for her composure but really, she looked like she was about to burst into tears as she served match point. Instead, ace, game, set, match, trophy, please. She certainly has the game to win more Slams. However, she could walk away now and her legacy would be secure. Having "Wimbledon champion" attached to your name is the tennis equivalent to "Nobel laureate." If you're gonna win just one Slam, this is the one to win.

For the record, I'm very pleased that NBC aired the men's doubles final today. If tomorrow's men's final is short, I hope we'll get to see the mixed doubles final as well. Don't get me wrong, a long, classic men's final is much preferred.

Wimbledon Day 11: Tsonga

Curtain Call

Player: Jo-Wilfred Tsonga
Age: 26
Nation: France
Current Ranking: 19
Notable Conquests: Roger Federer (3rd seed, Switzerland) and David Ferrer (7th, Spain)
Today's Result: loss to Novak Djokovic (2nd, Serbia) in four sets


Photo via Tennis Ticket News

Tsonga's win over Federer in the quarters may well have been the biggest of his career, perhaps even bigger than his win over Nadal in the Aussie 2008 semis. It's too bad he couldn't follow it up with a win over Djokovic. It would be great to see Tsonga have a big summer - not that men's tennis is lacking for story lines these days!

So, Djokovic will be World #1 come Monday. Even with Nadal as current title holder at three out of four Slams, it's tough to dispute that the Djoker is the hottest player on the tour. Regardless of whomever he faces on Sunday, one expects the majority of the stadium crowd will be against him. Winning the title would sure be a great way to celebrate his ascent to the top.

Wimbledon Day 10: Peya

Curtain Call

Player: Alexander Peya
Age: 31
Nation: Austria
Current Doubles Ranking: 61
Doubles Partner: Christopher Kas (Germany)
Notable Conquest: Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (13th seed, Brazil)
Today's Result: lost to Robert Lindstedt (Sweden)/Horia Tecau (Romania) (8th) in straight sets


Photo via Tennis Prediction

Doubles has gotten short shrift this tournament. Except for a few glances at the Bryans yesterday, the coverage, including DirecTV's five-court extravaganza, ignored doubles entirely as far as I could tell. The tournaments go on nonetheless. Peya and Kas, who both turned 31 just this month, reached the semifinals, a career-best Slam finish for both of them. I don't know if any of the doubles finals are scheduled for coverage this weekend.

Wimbledon Day 9: Tomic

Curtain Call

Player: Bernard Tomic
Age: 18
Nation: Australia
Current Ranking: 158
Notable Conquests: Robin Soderling (5th seed, Sweden) and Nikolay Davydenko (29th, Russia)
Today's Result: lost to Novak Djokovic (2nd, Serbia) in four sets


Photo via Tennis Australia

Tomic is destined for greatness. That much is clear. He went through qualifying, then took out two seeds. He was a bracket buster for me in taking out Soderling. Now we can add Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (12th, France) to that list. This was Tomic's first time in a Slam quarterfinal, though one doubts it will be his last. I still say he looks like Ted Williams.


Photo via Uncyclopedia


My Tennis Fantasy

Federer goes down. Let's not be too hard on him. He'll be 30 in August. The best years are past and it's unfair to judge him by the ridiculous standards he set for himself. Today was the first time he lost a Slam match after being two sets up. There will be a lot of firsts like that over the next several months. He is still Federer and thus forever capable of genius. But let's be realistic. This chapter of his story is nearing the end. I still say he packs it in after next year's US Open. Let's enjoy the end game.

Wimbledon Day 8: Cibulkova

Curtain Call

Player: Dominika Cibulkova
Age: 22
Nation: Slovakia
Current Ranking: 24
Notable Conquests: Caroline Wozniacki (1st seed, Denmark) and Julia Goerges (16th, Germany)
Today's Result: lost to Maria Sharapova (5th, Russia) in straight sets


Photo via Live Tennis Guide

Cibulkova was thoroughly outclassed today but I suppose one can forgive her in light of the long match she had against Wozniacki yesterday. This was her first Wimbledon quarterfinal finish. Apparently, she used to date Golden Squid Jurgen Melzer.


Catching Up with Old Friends

Juan Sebastian Cabal (Curtain Call, Roland Garros Day 14) - Cabal teamed with countryman Robert Farah in the men's doubles draw. This was the first Wimbledon for both players. The team made it to the third round before losing to James Cerratani (USA)/Phillip Marx (Germany) in four sets. Cabal also teamed with Polona Hercoq (Slovenia) in mixed doubles, though the pair lost in the first round to Paul Hanley (Australia)/Su-Wei Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) in straight sets.

Wimbledon Day 7: Pervak

Curtain Call

Player: Ksenia Pervak
Age: 20
Nation: Russia
Current Ranking: 89
Notable Conquests: Andrea Petkovic (11th seed, Germany) and Shahar Peer (22nd, Israel)
Today's Result: lost to Tamira Paszek (Austria) in three sets


Photo via Wikipedia

It was quite an impressive showing from Pervak. In her very first Wimbledon, she took out two seeds and reached the second week. Her ranking will get a very big boost heading into the hardcourt season.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Nadal-del Potro match - very high quality. It wasn't del Potro's day in the end but I love the way he tests the limits of Nadal's game. You're gonna run down every shot? Fine, let's see it. The Argentine hits the ball so hard and so deep into the corners that Rafa has a much wider court to cover than he has against almost anyone else. Tennis is a better sport with JMDP healthy and playing at this level. Here's hoping for more of the same in New York.


Catching Up with Old Friends

Richard Gasquet (Curtain Call, US Open Day 8) - Early on, it looked like Gasquet might give Andy Murray (4th, UK) a real match today, losing the first set in a tie-break. Alas, he went down fairly meekly in sets two and three. Nonetheless, this is the fourth consecutive Slam in which Gasquet has shown improvement so I shall award him The Golden Squid!


Photo via world tennis players


Photo via Tenhand

Gasquet is a puzzle, a child prodigy with loads of talent who's never gotten his head sufficiently in order to mount a challenge to the top-ranked players. He has just turned 25 and it's possible that his window has passed. Then again, he's just the sort who could steal a Slam title some day if he gets hot for two weeks.

Wimbledon Day 6: Beck

Curtain Call

Player: Karol Beck
Age: 29
Nation: Slovakia
Current Ranking: 125
Notable Conquest: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (26th seed, Spain)
Today's Result: lost to David Ferrer (7th, Spain) in straight sets


Photo via BBC SPORT

It was a strong tournament for Beck. He went through qualifying, took out a seed and matched his career-best Wimbledon finish. Hopefully, this will be a good springboard into the hard court season.


My Tennis Fantasy

Soderling goes down so my chances at maximum points for Wimbledon are squelched. Does anyone else think his conqueror, Aussie qualifier Bernard Tomic, looks a bit like baseball legend Ted Williams?

Tomic:


Photo via Live Tennis

Williams:


Photo via R&S Sports Collectibles

Wimbledon Day 5: A New Golden Squid

Curtain Call

Player: Simone Bolelli
Age: 25
Nation: Italy
Current Ranking: 116
Notable Conquest: Stanislas Wawrinka (14th seed, Switzerland)
Today's Result: lost to Richard Gasquet (17th, France) in straight sets


Photo via world sports

Bolelli made it to the main draw as a lucky loser. He caught a break in the first round, drawing another qualifier: Martin Fischer (Austria). But his second round victory carries no asterisk. Wawrinka's not as strong on grass as he is on hard courts but he's still made the fourth round of Wimbledon twice. Bolelli deserves high praise for that takedown.


Catching Up with Old Friends

Ivan Ljubicic (Curtain Call, Roland Garros Day 9) - Ljubicic put up a valiant effort against Andy Murray (4th, UK) today. His third round finish matches his career-best showing at All-England. It's an improvement on last year's first round exit, too. As such, he may be in position for a seed at the US Open.

Rebecca Marino (Curtain Call, US Open Day 3) - Marino had a rough day today, losing two doubles matches. First, she and partner Ipek Senoglu (Turkey) lost in ladies' doubles to Natalie Grandin (South Africa)/Vladimira Uhlirova (Czech Republic) in straight sets. Later, she and mixed doubles partner Santiago Gonzalez (Mexico) fell to Rajeev Ram (USA)/Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania), also in straight sets. Perhaps I can cushion the blow for her by awarding her The Golden Squid!


Photo via TennisTweets.com


Image via Tenhand

Marino made it to the second round of the singles draw in her very first Wimbledon. In fact, she made her first appearance in each of the four Slams over the past four months and managed to make it to at least the second round of each. Her ranking has sky-rocketed during that period as well. She was ranked #101 at the end of 2010 but now stands at #44. She is currently the top-ranked Canadian woman to boot. As if that weren't enough, according to her tweets, she uses Hello Kitty Band-Aids. My daughter would be very pleased.

Wimbledon Day 4: Tanasugarn

Curtain Call

Player: Tamarine Tanasugarn
Age: 34
Nation: Thailand
Current Ranking: 108
Today's Result: Maria Kirilenko (26th seed, Russia) in straight sets


Photo via Asian Tennis Federation

Tanasugarn went through qualifying to reach her 15th consecutive Wimbledon main draw. She's had great success at the event in the past: one quarterfinal appearance and six additional fourth round finishes. She and Marina Erakovic (New Zealand), yesterday's Curtain Call, entered the doubles qualifying tournament together but didn't make it through to the main draw.

Wimbledon Day 3: Erakovic Returns

Curtain Call

Player: Marina Erakovic
Age: 23
Nation: New Zealand
Current Ranking: 144
Today's Result: lost to Daniela Hantuchova (25th seed, Slovakia) in straight sets


Photo via women's tennis blog

This is the second Slam in a row in which I've featured Erakovic in this space. Once again, she went through qualifying to reach the main draw. This time, she did manage to win her first round match, a straight-set victory over fellow qualifier, Kai-Chen Chang (Chinese Taipei). She's been in strong form since Roland Garros, making it to the quarters in Birmingham.


Golden Squid Report

Tobias Kamke - Kamke fell short of his third round finish of last year but he wasn't expected to do much against Andy Murray (4th, UK) today. His ranking will suffer a bit but it's still significantly better than it was a year ago: 83 now as opposed to 126 then. So, he should be able to avoid the Challenger circuit this summer and will therefore have opportunities to gain those ranking points back.

Wimbledon Day 2: De Schepper

Curtain Call

Player: Kenny De Schepper
Age: 24
Nation: France
Current Ranking: 234
Today's Result: lost to Olivier Rochus (Belgium) in five sets


Photo via Mens Tennis Forums

De Schepper is another qualifier in his first Slam main draw. His opponent today, the 5' 6" Rochus, is one of my favorites. At 30, he may not have a lot of Wimbledons left.


Golden Squid Report

Greta Arn - Unfortunately, she had to pull out of the tournament with a right knee injury. She had third round points to defend from last year so her ranking will take a hit. Arn is 32. One hopes this is not the beginning of the end.


My Tennis Fantasy

A comment from Timmy regarding my Day 1 post, in which I noted that I selected the top 5 for the Fantasy Tennis Tour:

History is history, something from the past, which many people worship. That is a mistake, look at the current results, not have these top 5 seeds have achieved, but what can they do and how dangerous are they.

Fair enough. Perhaps I should explain that in the Fantasy Tennis Tour, one is limited in the number of times one can select a certain player over the course of the year. Therefore, it behooves one to save the best players for the highest-paying tournaments. As such, my selections of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Soderling for Wimbledon are part of a broader strategy.

I do think surface comfort is an essential consideration in making picks for any tournament. One of the great things about the world's current top 5, though, is that all are strong on all surfaces - part of why they're camped out at the top of the rankings, no doubt. The Big 3 have all been pretty solid this year and it's no stretch to imagine all will make it at least to the semis. Murray, while not in quite as strong form as those above him, can be trusted to do his darnedest to get to that stage, too. Assuming those four all make it, I can get maximum points for the tournament if I can also select one more quarterfinalist. Soderling, who deserves better than the flash-in-the-pan treatment he gets from the press, is the safest bet in my mind.

Wimbledon Day 1: Ruben Bemelmans of Genk

Curtain Call

Player: Ruben Bemelmans
Age: 23
Nation: Belgium
Current Ranking: 163
Today's Result: lost to Julien Benneteau (France) in five sets


Photo via ATP World Tour

Bemelmans went through qualifying to reach his first-ever Grand Slam main draw. Just saying his name with his city of birth - Ruben Bemelmans of Genk - is almost enough to make one want to learn Flemish. Seriously, try it!

Seeing the June sun shining on a natural grass court is good for the soul. The retractable roof was put to good use as well, allowing for a full day's schedule on Centre Court even if that didn't quite work out for the rest of the grounds. Tomorrow will be unavoidably jam packed as a result.


My Tennis Fantasy

Once again, I played it safe and went with the top 5 seeds: Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Soderling. All five have strong history on grass. Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain sure looked like he was going to make things interesting in his match with Murray today but the Great Scot won the last 15 games of the match to squelch that idea. For what it's worth, Nadal is my pick to win.