OF GOLDEN BEARS, GOLDEN SETS AND A WEEK TO REMEMBER
OF BELLES AND BOOBS: When asked about the suggestion to pay men more than women, Serena Williams said, “I don’t deserve less ’cause I have boobs and they don’t. The conversation’s totally over for me. That was so 2000; this is 2012. Who is still thinking like that, like honestly? Get with the program.”
BATTLE OF THE FEEL-GOOD COMEBACK STORIES: When has a major had such a great pair of comeback stories about American men? Tennessee’s Brian Baker, once a great prospect, was off the circuit for seven years and endured four surgeries. Mardy Fish’s absence was for just under three months. But his heart condition, which required a two-hour procedure on May 21, was serious. Both are into the fourth round. Fish will face Jo-Willie Tsonga in a replay of their fourth-round U.S. Open match won by the Frenchman. Baker will play German Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Nadal-slayer Lukas Rosol. If both Americans win, they would face each other in the quarters.
ANOTHER MARATHON: In the second-longest match in Wimbledon history, Californian Sam Querrey (who now lives in Dallas) lost to Croat Marin Cilic 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 17-15 in 5:31. The fifth set took 2:07. The match took less than half the time of the Isner-Mahut marathon in 2010.
CELEB SIGHTING: Golfer Jack Nicklaus, who has three grass courts at his Florida home, was again at Wimbledon, this time in the Royal Box. Also on hand was Dustin Hoffman, who sat with Justin Gimelstob in the front row, chatted with Ilie Nastase and with his fellow L.A. resident Vijay Amritaj and had a good old time laughing with Serena’s mom, Oracene.
MACKAY CEREMONY: A private remembrance for the late Barry MacKay was held for about 70 family and friends in Sausalito on Wednesday, June 27. His longtime friend and agent Donald Dell spoke, and Harold Hecht aired a moving video remembrance. There will be another small remembrance for MacKay at the U.S. Open.
GOLDEN GIRL TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Kazakstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova was a qualifier at the French Open and went on to reach the fourth round. She’s a wildcard at Wimbledon and is now into the fourth round, where she will face Serena. Oh yes, she became only the second known player in the Open Era to record a “golden set” (winning all 24 points in a set) in her 6-0 6-4 third-round win over Italy’s Sara Errani.The only previous player to record a golden set was American Bill Scanlon at Delray Beach in 1983. Shvedova held the previous women’s record for the most consecutive points won, winning the first 23 points against American Amy Frazier at Memphis in 2006. BTW: Serena said she had no idea what a “golden set” was and that she was looking forward to playing Shedova and said, “Hopefully I’ll be able to win a point in the set. That will be my first goal, and then I’ll go from there.”
CURIOUS QUESTIONS:
- A reporter asked Sharapova, “Are you eager to wipe out your reputation as a clay-court specialist?”
- A British reporter asked Roddick, “Straight to the point. Lots of speculation with the way you walked off court. You think you may not be back here next year? Are you able to give us a definitive answer yet?”
- Young Brit Heather Watson was asked, “Do you feel pressure or maybe future responsibity? Hasn’t been since 1977 and Virginia Wade that a British woman won a Grand Slam title. Are you able to divorce that all from all that?”
- Watson was also asked, “We’ve seen you cry in the past. We’ve seen you over the moon. Where are you now?”
- Lukas Rosal was asked, “What’s it been like being a celebrity at Wimbledon, at least for 48 hours?”
MURRAY TIME?: Now that his nemesis, Rafa Nadal, is back in Spain, will Andy Murray win Wimbledon?
HEADLINES
DJOKOVIC CUTS SHORT TALK OF REVOLUTION BY OUSTING STEPENEK
WHEN WIMBLEDON SERVED UP A MIRACLE
ANYONE CAN HIT A LUKY STREAK
KARLOVIC: ONLY REASON MURRAY BEAT ME IS BECAUSE WHOLE COUNTRY WANTS HIM TO WIN WIMBLEDON
ALL ENGLAND CHEAT SLUR
I’M JUST TOO OLD TO CHANGE MY WAILS SAYS SCREAM QUEEN SHARAPOVA
UMPIRES TO GUN FOR GRUNTER
THE LADIES HIT BACK IN SW19 SEXISM ROW
MURRAY IN CHEAT STORM
YOU CAN’T TELL ME THAT IN A COUNTRY OF 50 OR 60 MILLION YOU CAN’T FIND TEN GOOD TENNIS PLAYERS
BRIT GIRLS ARE LOSERS IN THIS REALITY SHOW
TANGLED HEATHER
IT’S HEATHER AND HELL FOR BASHED BRIT
BAD HEATHER WARNING
TANGLED HEATHER CUT DOWN AT THIRD HURDLE
FISH FEARS HE COULD BE REELED IN
RODDICK’S LEGACY: Andy Roddick’s up-and-down year continued. Coming into the grass-court season he was on an awful losing streak, but then the pride of Austin won the Eastbourne warm-up tournament and a couple of rounds at Wimbledon. Then – after losing to Spaniard David Ferrer – he blew a kiss to the Centre Court crowd. Red flags rose. He was pressed again and again by a British reporter on whether he was going to retire. Roddick gave no hints. When Roddick’s pal Mardy Fish was asked about his legacy, he said Andy was “the alpha male in our generation, certainly the biggest name by a good distance.” Fish added that Roddick was, “One of the best grass-court players to ever play. Certainly could be one of the best grass-court players to never win Wimbledon … [he lost] three finals, all to Federer.”
CZECH IT OUT: Czech and Czech-Americans have had an incredible impact on Wimbledon. There’s the defending woman’s champ Petra Kvitova and the singular Martina Navratilova with her nine singles crowns. Ivan Lendl is remembered for his dedicated but ultimately futile effort to prevail at the AELTC. Jan Kodes won in ’73. Tomas Berdych reached the 2010 final and Boris Becker’s Jewish mother was held by the Nazis during World War II in a Czech labor camp. And then, of course, there was Jana Novotna. The Czech is known more for weeping on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after her collapse in the 1993 final, rather than her poignant win in 1998. Of Novotna’s tears, Simon Barnes wrote, “Novotna played a game of tennis for everyone who has ever made an absolutely ghastly mistake. Or, to put it another way, for the entire human race.”
TATTOO OF THE TOURNAMENT: Reuters reported that “the tattoo which covers most of Luka Rosol’s left leg was inspired by the Maori haka, the ritual war dance made famous by New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team.”
GO FIGURE: Within 24 hours Nadal, Djokovic and Federer all lost sets …A no-fly zone was implemented over Wimbledon for the first time since 9/11 … For the first time, Mike Bryan hit four serves in one game … Rosol lost 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 in the first round of the Aussie Open to Philipp Petzchner and 7-6, 6-0, 7-6 in the second round of the French Open to Juan Monaco, and in the third round at Wimbledon to Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3, 7-6.
QUOTEBOOK
“It was outrageous. The credibility of the tournament went down for me.” – Ivo Karlovic on being called eleven times for foot-faulting in his loss to Andy Murray.
“He looked hungry. He looked crazy.” – John McEnroe, of Rosol in the fifth set against Rafa.
“He looked as puzzled as anyone else as to where on earth this excellence had sprung from.” – The Telegraph on Lukas Rosol.
“It’s like some Czech B team beating Real Madrid.” – Rosol on his win.
“In a summer of floods, it’s nice to see the grounds bathed in sunshine.” – David Mercer.
