Wimbledon contemplating night matches?

The BBC, with British television rights to Wimbledon extended until 2017, is in discussions with the All England Club about the possibility of screening more prime time late evening tennis from the Championships.

Rainy weather at this summer’s Wimbledon saw the Centre Court’s retractable roof used more than ever before and one result was a major boost in viewing figures for the BBC who have been broadcasting the Championships on radio and television since 1927.

Now Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, would like to see more floodlit play after 9pm, regardless of the weather. “It’s been very successful,” she said in an interview with Bloomberg. “Inevitably, when play moves into the peak evening, audiences are higher.”

Andy Murray’s fourth round match with Marcos Baghdatis, that famously finished just after the 11pm curfew for night play under the roof, set by the London Borough of Merton, drew a television audience of 8 million.

“It is safe to say that of course we as a broadcaster would love more tennis, and for that tennis to extend, but we are very aware there are constraints on the club,” said Slater, who was in charge of the BBC’s Olympics coverage this summer. “We have conversations with the All England Club, and they evolve their strategy going forward.”

ESPN, the American broadcaster that landed all the television and digital rights to Wimbledon coverage across the United States would also be in favor of night play at the Championships with a five hour time difference to the East Coast.

The All England Club have always been consistent that they regard Wimbledon as a day-time/day-light tournament and the erection of the roof and its’ floodlighting was not intended to herald night play on a daily basis to satisfy the demands of television.

Johnny Perkins, the official spokesman for the All England Club insisted: “At this stage there are no plans,” to add night matches to the schedule. We stick to what we are; an outdoor daytime event with the capacity to play late if we need to.”

Set nighttime tennis would not only impact on the local residents who live close to the All England Club but would also require major changes in London Transport arrangements, policing and the work patterns of those who work at the Championships.

10sballs.com

Sounds like a no to me. 

Jimmy Fallon imitates Roger Federer

LOL Apparently Jimmy and I think along the same lines when it comes to Andy Murray winning a slam.  At times his speech is eerily similar to Roger's.

Babolat becomes shoe brand of Wimbledon

Babolat keeps upping it's sponsorship commitment in pro tennis and announced its new partnership with Wimbledon. Starting in 2013, and for a period of five years, Babolat will become the official shoe brand of The Championships, Wimbledon.


“Wimbledon is an iconic tennis tournament and an international tennis brand. With Wimbledon, we share both being at the origin of tennis and being on the cutting edge of the sport,” said Eric Babolat, Chairman and CEO of Babolat.


As from 2013, Babolat will equip the ball boys and girls during Wimbledon


Babolat is also a major sponsor of Roland Garros and claims to be the number one in racquet sales in the United States, Japan, France, Spain, and Italy. It sponsors racquets and strings for players including Rafael Nadal , Kim Clijsters, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , Li Na and Andy Roddick.


10sballs.com

Roger Federer post championship Q & A

Q. A seventh. Got to feel unbelievable. But how different does it feel because of the circumstances around here? Very unusual today.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think any Grand Slam final, particularly here at Wimbledon, are unusual. You never quite get used to it. Today was unique because of playing Andy. Obviously, you know, being able to play or finish a match under the roof, I don’t think that’s ever been done before here for a final. So that’s been different, as well. And nice, of course.

I know the occasion and how big it was for Andy and myself. I’m happy I got a victory today, but obviously it was a very, very special ‑‑ I mean, yeah, we’ll talk more about it I guess as questions will come.


Q. You have a good memories in Wimbledon, seven titles. Do you feel destiny in Wimbledon?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, yeah, I mean, I guess to some degree. You know, of course I feel better here for some reason. I don’t know why. But it’s very unique and special in many ways, this tournament.

From the get‑go I really felt sort of I’m supposed to play well here, I guess. Over the years I’ve been able to keep up, you know, a great run. Obviously, last couple of years maybe slightly disappointing, but, again, I thought Berdych and Jo both played unbelievable the last couple years against me.

This year I guess I decided in the bigger matches to take it more to my opponent instead of waiting a bit more for the mistakes. Yeah, this is I guess how you want to win Wimbledon, is by going after your shots, believing you can do it, and that’s what I was able to do today.

It’s special.

Q. Can you rate this win among all your Grand Slams?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, honestly this one hasn’t quite sunk in yet for some reason. I guess I was trying to be so focused in the moment itself that when it all happened I was just so happy, you know, that it was all over and that the pressure was, you know, gone basically.

I guess that came due to the tough loss I had here last year. US Open, as well. A couple tough, you know, moments for me the last couple years, you know, I guess. So I really almost didn’t try to picture myself with the trophy or try to think too far ahead really.

So now even right now, I mean, there was so much on the line, so I didn’t try to think of the world No. 1 ranking or the seventh or the seventeenth. So I think that’s going to actually, for a change, take much longer to sort of, you know, understand what I was able to achieve today.

Yeah, it was crazy how it all happened under the circumstances. Yeah, I played terrific.

Q. How hard was it to listen to the same questions done in different ways about will you win a Grand Slam again?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, it didn’t happen the day after I won Australia. Right then things were great. Like they will be tomorrow. Then the day after they are going to go, When is he going to retire, again?

It hasn’t always been like this, the pressers. I think they’ve been somewhat easier for me since I was able to win here three years ago and since I was able to win in Paris. Things are much more easy now in the press room. They’re at peace, even though I understand everyone wants to be the first to have mentioned it or said it first that, Okay, this is the decline.

I also said that I think this is just a temporary thing. That maybe down the stretch, like with Agassi I guess in some ways, you’ll be happy that I’m still playing a few years from now. So I see it more as a steppingstone, a period I have to go through as well. That I’m, you know, going to win 90% of my matches throughout the year, it’s impossible every single year. So you’re always going to go through ups and downs.

But I knew how close I was for the last few years, and some people didn’t quite see that maybe out of different reasons. But I knew and I think the belief got me to victory today, and almost two other ones in the last couple years, as well.

Q. Andy said you were one of the greatest athletes of all time, rating you alongside Pele. Do you consider yourself that way?

ROGER FEDERER: Anyway it’s opinions of people, you know. It’s nice, obviously, having had I’d say a positive effect on the game of tennis in the first place, that I was able to live a dream in the first place, I guess, here in tennis.

And then to represent tennis, you know, across sports has been nice, you know. Not that I feel like obliged to do all the right things or whatever, but it’s nice to be compared to other sporting greats.

If I can help the game of tennis with the image or with, you know, making it more popular, that’s enough for me really. I want to leave the game better off than when I came into this great game, which was already unbelievable with the great rivalries we had: Becker‑Edberg, Courier and Agassi and Sampras. You name it, there were so many other great ones I must have forgotten.

So I think that, for me, is most important, you know. And then the other sports, I mean, that’s so different anyway that you can’t compare.

But I drew a lot of inspirations from other great athletes in other sports. I think like Pete and Edberg and Becker, I don’t know, maybe Jordan, Tiger Woods, you name it, Valentino Rossi. They inspire me to keep on pushing further.

You know, not just being happy with world No. 1 or being happy with a Grand Slam title, but maybe to reach for more. Then obviously I have to drive myself. But you sometimes do need to see someone else do it for a long time so that you feel it is actually possible.

Q. This title and No. 1 didn’t happen in two weeks. It’s a process. Is there a point you can pinpoint when the run up to this actually began?


ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, wonder when. Maybe French Open last year potentially. I played an amazing French Open last year. I was very close against Rafa in the finals. And I think did play actually very well here, as well, you know, against Jo. Things just didn’t turn out well for me here.

I guess it had a little effect on me through Toronto and Cincinnati potentially. But then again, I did play great as well at the US Open. Again, unlucky; Djokovic played well, whatever you want to call it. But things were tough for me there.

So I think it was a time where I just had to believe that things were going to turn around for me, and not just naturally, but work at something. You know, this is where I did take a long break off. Mean, I did play Davis Cup after the US Open in Australia. You know, just took a break.

Because I played a lot of tennis, good tennis, but I wanted to win titles, not just lose in quarters and semis. I think when I came back to Basel, which was a home tournament, things obviously changed for me to winning ways again, I would believe.

Then the confidence rose as I went to Paris and also to London. I think this is when I realized a lot is possible in 2012.

Q. You mentioned Tiger Woods a moment ago. He’s obviously also trying to regain the major tournament magic which you had today again. He tweeted that we saw why you’re the greatest. What are your thoughts on receiving that message from him?

ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I didn’t need to get it through Twitter, I got one from himself. He was very pumped up these last couple days, you know, for me. He was very supportive.

Yeah, it’s nice, you know, when other greats like this do, you know, believe in me. They push me further, even in the rain delay basically when they cheer you on. You know, so it was big.

Yeah, I mean, I wish him the best as well. He knows that. Obviously with all these Facebook and Twitters and all this it’s much more public now.

But it feels great, you know, to receive so much support from such great athletes.

Q. What did he say to you specifically?

ROGER FEDERER: Just happy, you know. Whatever. You can make it up.

Q. What concessions, if any, have you had to make to age in the last couple years? Schedule? Training?

ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, well, people forget sometimes I do have twin girls, you know. That has had a massive impact on my life. My game, I think it’s helped my game more than anything because I think I’m playing some of the best tennis of my life right now, and since a long time now.

But just to be able to juggle everything together has been, you know, a challenge. And I think you learn from mistakes. You try to make it work for everyone involved. Hasn’t always been easy, you know. I admit that.

But, of course, the victory today is a dream come true today for me and my family, you know, seeing them there. Yeah, it’s big.

Q. Did you change your tactics at all after the rain delay?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I tried to play more aggressive. Obviously there was a lot of wind involved as well in the first couple of sets. There was sort of a downwind from the right‑hand side of the umpire’s chair, which maybe makes you play more with the elements and less with tactics at times.

And when the wind is gone you get more back into tactics you know, what you can do, what you can’t do.

Yeah, I tried to take it more to Andy, and I was able to do that. I think, yeah, I went to maybe fetch victory more than he did potentially. I don’t know, but I’m happy that closing the roof maybe helped me today, because I wasn’t sure if that was going to help me or not.

Q. I imagine when you were 22 that you felt like a better tennis player than you were at 18. I’m curious, how you feel about that now? Do you feel like you are a better tennis player now than you were than five years ago?

ROGER FEDERER: I hope so. God, I’ve practiced so much that I ‑‑ you don’t want to be worse five years later, you know. (Laughter.)

I feel I have, you know, a great game today. But then again, maybe there were times I had such incredible confidence that you do pull triggers and you pull off shots that maybe today I don’t because I maybe do play a bit more the percentages.

I know how hard it is, you know, to pull off those great shots and I know how easy it is to miss, so I’m more aware of these things.

But I’m so happy I’m at the age I am right now, because I had such a great run and I know there’s still more possible. You know, to enjoy it right now, it’s very different than when I was 20 or 25. I’m at a much more stable place in my life. Yeah, I wouldn’t want anything to change. So this is very, very special right now.

Q. Clearly very emotional for him. You must have felt for him.

ROGER FEDERER: For Andy?

Q. Yes.

ROGER FEDERER: Yes. I mean, are you kidding me? Yeah, I mean, I told him it’s supposed to be easier, this part, than playing the match. It’s hard. I mean, I’ve been there, as well. I think he’s done so, so well, to be quite honest. Because I see him every day. I see him, what he goes through on a daily basis on tour.

At Wimbledon I think he handle is it so perfectly, to be quite honest. I think he’s giving himself so many looks at big titles. Grand Slams I think is what you guys are focusing on the most. I really do believe deep down in me he will win Grand Slams, not just one. I do wish him all the best. This is genuine. He works extremely hard. He’s as professional as you can be.

Things just didn’t quite turn out for him in the finals that he hoped for. But today I’m sure he got another step closer to a Grand Slam title for him. I really do believe and hope for him that he’s going to win one soon.

Roger Federer reigns supreme with lucky #7 Wimbledon title!

Blowing kisses cuteness personified♥

 That look and the tears of joy one of many reasons I love watching this man play

menstennisforums.com


WIMBLEDON, England — Once the Centre Court roof was closed, nothing could stop Roger Federer from winning his record-tying seventh Wimbledon title.


The 30-year-old Federer finally equaled Pete Sampras’ record at the All England Club, and won his 17th Grand Slam title overall, by beating Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday.


Once Murray’s forehand landed wide on match point, Federer collapsed to the grass with tears welling in his eyes. He got up quickly and shook hands with Murray at the net.


Up in the players’ box, Federer’s wife and twin daughters cheered and smiled as Federer took his seat to await his seventh Wimbledon trophy presentation.



Federer is now 17-7 in Grand Slam finals, including 7-1 at Wimbledon. Murray dropped to 0-4 in major finals, with three of those losses coming against Federer.


Besides Sampras, 1880s player William Renshaw also won seven Wimbledon titles, but he did it at a time when the defending champion was given a bye into the following year’s final.


Britain has been waiting 76 years for a homegrown men’s champion at the All England Club, and the expectations on Murray were huge. Thousands of fans watched the match on a huge screen on “Murray Mount,” but left the grounds still waiting for a British winner.


Inside the stadium, Prince William’s wife, Kate, sat in the Royal Box along with David Beckham, British Prime Minister David Cameron and a slew of former Wimbledon champions.


Many of them left a bit disappointed as well.


With his victory, Federer regained the No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic, allowing him to equal Sampras’ record of 286 weeks as the top-ranked player.


At the start of the match, Murray was the one dictating play and winning the tough points. He broke Federer in the first game of the first set, and then broke again late before serving it out. It was the first — and only — set Murray has won in his four major finals.


The second set was much more even, and both had early break points that they couldn’t convert. Federer, however, finally got it done in the final game of the set, hitting a backhand drop volley that Murray couldn’t get to.


Both held easily to start the third set, but then the rain started abruptly, suspending play for 40 minutes. Shortly after they returned, it turned into a one-man show.


With Federer leading 3-2, they played a 26-point, 20-minute game in which Federer finally converted his sixth break point — after Murray had slipped on grass three times.


Federer lost only five points on his serve in that set.

nationalpost

Sorry Andy, guess you'll just have to wait another year for your first one, or you know until Roger retires :P.

No but in all seriousness I did feel sorry for the guy he played really well especially given this was his first ever Wimbledon final (handled the pressure a lot better then I thought he would).

Most of my tears consisted of happiness though.  Cried right along with Federer as he dropped to the ground on that last point.

And how cute were his twin daughters waving and blowing kisses to their daddy as he posed with his 7th Wimbledon trophy.  Adorableness ♥♥.

So that's number 17 overall & a return to number one ranking.  Not bad for an old (30 year old) guy eh?.

Congrats Roger!.  Knew you could do it!.  17 and counting :).  You are and still remain the Greatest of All Time.

Still on such a happy high at the moment might comeback and add some more coherent thoughts on the match another day.  For now I am busy simply basking in the joy.

Roger Federer in the finals of Wimbledon for the 8th time!

WIMBLEDON, England — For Roger Federer, it's Wimbledon final No. 8.


For Andy Murray, it's No. 1 — and the first for a British man since 1938.


Federer, a 16-time Grand Slam champion, beat defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 Friday under the closed roof at Centre Court to reach a modern-era record eighth final at the All England Club. He is now one victory from equaling Pete Sampras' record of seven titles.


"I have one more match to go. I'm aware of that," said the 30-year-old Federer, who is 6-1 in Wimbledon finals. "Still, it's always nice beating someone like Novak, who has done so well here last year, the last couple years."


The next challenge will come Sunday against Murray, who is the first British man to even reach the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin 74 years ago. Murray, also trying to become the British man to win the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the second semifinal.


If Federer does win Sunday in his 24th Grand Slam final, he would also take the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic and equal Sampras' record of 286 weeks as the top-ranked player.


"There's obviously a lot on the line for me in terms of winning here, the all-time Grand Slam record, world No. 1," Federer said. "I'm also going into that match with some pressure, but I'm excited about it. That's what I play for."


Federer and Djokovic went for winners on almost every point. But it was Federer who got the key points when they mattered in the third set.


"It's hard to fire bullets the whole time, so you try to also find some range. If he tees off first, it's hard to defend obviously," said Federer, now 1-0 against Djokovic on grass. "It's just not as easy to take that many balls out and come up with amazing shots time and time again. That's why I kept on attacking."


At 4-4, Djokovic had his chance with only his third break point of the match. Federer held with three service winners.


Moments later, while serving to stay in the set — and, essentially, the match— Djokovic gifted Federer a pair of break points by blasting an overhead long with much of the court open. He saved one, but Federer's overhead smash on the second gave the Swiss great the third set, and put him on the way to the final.


"(I) had unfortunately a bad service game on 5-4, and obviously he uses his opportunities when they're presented," said Djokovic, who had reached the last four major finals. "So you have to be always consistent. I wasn't."


The win improved Federer's semifinal record at the All England Club to 8-0. His only loss in the final came in 2008, when Rafael Nadal beat him 9-7 in the fifth set.


"I hope I can keep my nerves," said Federer, looking toward the final. "I'm sure I can. Then hopefully win the match. But we'll see about that."


William Renshaw and Arthur Gore also played in eight Wimbledon finals but that was when the defending champion received a bye into the following year's title match. That rule was changed in 1922. Renshaw won seven titles and Gore three.


On Friday, Federer had the only break of the first set to take the lead, and Djokovic returned the favour in the second set to even the score.


The third set proved decisive, and Djokovic fought to stay in it right from the start. After holding easily, Federer gained a break point when Djokovic sent a forehand long. Although the Serb saved it, and eventually held to 1-1, it was the beginning of the end for him.


The next three games went quickly and on serve, but Federer then earned a pair of break points in the sixth game. Djokovic again saved them, the first after a 24-stroke rally that ended with Federer's forehand going wide.


"He was the better player. In the important moments he was aggressive, hitting from both sides," Djokovic said. "Obviously, that's what you expect when you play against Roger at the final four of a Grand Slam. I knew that."


Murray later played Tsonga under an open roof on Centre Court, and under intense pressure to succeed in front of the British public.


"Big relief," Murray said. "I just got to try to keep it together for the final."


Only minutes after the match ended, British Prime Minister David Cameron called the victory "great news."


"I'll be watching the final on Sunday and like the rest of the country, will be getting right behind Andy Murray," Cameron said in a statement. "I wish him the best of luck."


Murray got off to a fast start, serving well and winning the first two sets easily. And after losing the second, he hung on in the fourth, breaking in the final game with a forehand return winner.


"At the beginning was tough because he played well," Tsonga said. "I mean, he didn't give me one chance, one chance to go to the net. He didn't miss one serve. He was really, really good."


The 25-year-old Murray was playing in the Wimbledon semifinals for the fourth straight year. Now he made it to that elusive final, and on Sunday he'll be facing an opponent who beat him in straight sets in the 2008 U.S. Open final and the 2010 Australian Open final.


"I've had experience playing Roger in the finals of slams before," Murray said. "I'm going to use that to my advantage and learn from my mistakes and also the things he did well."


In Murray's only other major final, the 2011 Australian Open, he lost to Djokovic — again in straight sets.


"Hopefully," Murray said, "I can go one better on Sunday."


VancouverSun

I feel sympathy for Andy Murray I really do but when it comes to choosing between Roger and any other opponent it's always going to be Roger.

I think that Andy actually has a whole lot more pressure then Roger, it'll be interesting to see how he handles it.  He has a history of crumbling under it.  Bring on Championship Sunday!.

Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon Kids Clinic

Martina Hingis weighs in on rain delays at Wimbledon

Former world tennis number one Martina Hingis suggests rain delays at Wimbledon could give players a big advantage.


The retired Swiss player told Sky News: "Sometimes it favours the player and on the other hand it might change the game as well. It depends on whether you like playing indoors or outdoors but it definitely changes the game a little bit."


"It helps during the tournament if you can just put your feet up, you know you're done and ready to go to the next match."


"I remember the year I won there were not that many matches played. I guess some of these things they just happen and fall in place and you end up winning. In a way you just get a little bit lucky."


The five-time Grand Slam winner has tipped Novak Djokovic to win the men's tournament, but could not pick a winner from the ladies' singles.

newssky.com

Wonder if she truly couldn't pick or just didn't want to say given the choices she (like myself) has never been a big fan of Serena Williams.

Roger Federer eases into the semis at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer earned a record 32nd Grand Slam semi-final berth and moved closer to a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title when he beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday.


Federer’s opponent Friday will be defending champion Novak Djokovic, who beat Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.


Federer has a 14-12 edge against Djokovic, who is ranked No. 1. They’ve met in Grand Slam semi-finals five times in the past two years, with Djokovic winning four of those matches.


They’ve never played each other at Wimbledon.


“A nice matchup,” Federer said.



“I’m looking forward to that,” Djokovic said. “It’s always a pleasure playing against Roger. Obviously he’s a great champion. He has been so dominant and consistent in these Grand Slams, and he’s really an ultimate challenge on grass courts.”


Federer had been tied with Jimmy Connors for the most major semi-finals. He reached the final four at Wimbledon for the first time since 2009, when he won the title.


Against the No. 26-seeded Youzhny, Federer showed no sign of the back ailment that prompted him to seek treatment during the first set of his previous match. In the second game he converted his fifth break-point chance, and pulled away from there.


A brief rain delay couldn’t slow Federer, and neither could Youzhny, who seemed pleased at times just to win a point. Late in the first set, when he hit a running scoop forehand cross-court for a winner, he raised both arms and grinned as the crowd roared.


When Youzhny failed to convert a rare break-point chance in the third set, he let out a primal scream that had fans laughing. The Centre Court audience included Prince William and wife Kate, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Rod Laver, all sitting in the Royal Box.


“I think it helps when royalty shows up, and other legends of the game come and see me play,” Federer said. “It’s inspiring.”


Federer improved to 14-0 against Youzhny, his best record against any opponent. Federer has lost only three of the 35 sets they’ve played.


“My game maybe suits up well against his,” Federer said.


The No. 3-ranked Federer seeks to match the record of seven Wimbledon titles set by William Renshaw in the 1880s and tied by Pete Sampras in 2000. If he wins the title, he’ll reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic and tie Sampras’ record for most weeks at the top.


Djokovic, playing on Court 1, closed out his quarter-final victory a few minutes after Federer and had only a little more difficulty. The Serb lost his serve for the only time in the fifth game but immediately broke back.


Serving at 4-all, he fell behind love-40 but erased all three break points, then broke to take the set and the lead for good.


Mayer, seeded 31st, did his best to stay in the match with his unorthodox style. He dug out a between-the-legs volley during one rally. A subsequent scrambling sequence required him to dive and hit a spectacular backhand volley, then rise and put away another backhand volley.


But Djokovic dominated with his aggressive play, hitting 50 winners to 14 for Mayer. He slammed an ace to close out the win, then threw a fist and let out a scream, ready for his showdown with Federer.


NationalPost.com

Martina Hingis Interview at Wimbledon pt 1 & 2

Roger Federer Wimbledon Memories

Kim Clijsters bids farewell to last Wimbledon

London – Four-time Grand Slam title winner Kim Clijsters said goodbye to Wimbledon for the final time on Monday, taking away a lifetime of memories from a tournament she likened to Disneyland.


Clijsters's ninth and final Wimbledon before she retires for good after the US Open ended in a dispiriting 6-1, 6-1 loss in the fourth round to German eighth seed Angelique Kerber out on Court Three.


“It all started from when I was a youngster, being at home, watching Wimbledon during summer holidays in Belgium, watching it on TV,” said Clijsters.


“You just kind of felt the magic coming through the television. Then as I got older, when I was able to be here for the first time as a junior, it was just very special. This was like Disneyland to another child. It was such a beautiful thing.”


But the 29-year-old believes her best memory will be of seeing her father Lei, a former Belgian international footballer, spending a fruitless four days at the All England Club, waiting for the rain to stop.


The picture of her father's frustration is even more poignant as he lost his battle with cancer in January 2009.


“I think he was here for three or four days, and I don't think he saw me play for one minute because it rained for three days in a row,” said Clijsters.


“He sat on the side of the courts on the wooden benches. He sat in the rain and waited for the ballkids or the groundsmen to take the covers off because he wanted that seat because he thought that would bring me luck.


“So he just sat on that seat. The next day again he rushed over to that seat. So that's one of the funny ones that I have.”


“Playing Steffi Graf here (in 1999) was for me definitely one of my dreams come true as a young up-and-coming player. To be playing her in her last Wimbledon was very, very special.”


Clijsters never won Wimbledon, failing to get beyond the semi-finals, which she reached in 2003 and 2009.


That blemish was more than wiped out by her ascent to the world number one spot and her capture of four Grand Slam tiles Ä the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010, as well as at the 2011 Australian Open.


This year was her ninth visit but she missed the 2007, 2008 and 2009 tournaments when took her first retirement, getting married and starting a family with husband, Brian Lynch.


Their daughter Jada was born in February 2008.


Despite her defeat on Monday, Clijsters said she didn't feel particular sadness at her departure from the competition.


“I was thinking about the match still. Wasn't so much about the last time,” she said.


“I just had the feeling that there was absolutely nothing I could have done to have won that match. I felt my opponent was better on every level.”


Kerber, who now has a tour-leading 44 wins this year, goes on to face fellow German Sabine Lisicki, who knocked out top seed Maria Sharapova, for a place in the last four.


Kerber reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final by thumping 19 – winners to Clijsters' 10

iolsport

Roger Federer into the quarters at Wimbledon despite back troubles

Federer looked far from his best amid cold and blustery conditions on Centre Court, but he still managed to record a 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 success against the world No 75 that sets him up for a last-eight clash against Mikhail Youzhny or Denis Istomin.


Part of the reason behind Federer's laboured victory was a back injury for which he needed off-court treatment after the eighth game of the first set.


Federer looked determined to get back to the warmth of the locker room early on.


The Swiss handed his opponent two break points but Malisse wasted them by netting a forehand and returning wide.


The problems did not stop there for Federer as he offered Malisse another chance to break in the fifth game but an ace rescued the six-time champion.



Malisse seized the initiative, breaking Federer to move 6-5 ahead, but the Swiss struck back immediately by returning a bullet forehand just over the net to draw level.


Luckily for Federer, Malisse's game imploded in the tie-break as he made three unforced errors to hand the third seed the set before the rain came.


Comical scenes followed as the players emerged from the locker room but they were ordered back when it started raining again.


Following an inspection the players returned 35 minutes after the tussle was first suspended, and despite light drizzle, the roof remained open.


Federer was still not moving perfectly, but he adapted his game to allow him to take a grip on the match.


The Swiss avoided getting involved in baseline rallies and instead opted for softer drop shots to prevent him from putting his injured back to the test.


The tactic worked as Federer engineered a break point in the third game and Malisse completely mis-timed a forehand to send the ball flying into the stands about seven yards from the Royal Box.


Federer broke again and survived two Malisse break chances to wrap up the second set in quick fashion.


Federer wanted to wrap the match up in three sets, but the Swiss, and a shivering crowd on Centre Court, were stunned as Malisse fought back, breaking with a forehand in the opening game.


Malisse had two more chances to break in the fifth but he wasted them. It did not matter, however, as the Belgian was already a break up and he served out for the set.


A superb backhand from Malisse gave him an immediate break in the fourth set but Federer levelled the match when his opponent spooned a forehand wide at 40-30 behind in the fourth.


Federer, who now seemed to be moving better than before, broke again in the sixth game when Malisse netted and the crowd favourite clinched victory with a powerful ace three games later.


telegraph.co.uk

Martina Hingis likes Roger's chances at winning his 7th Wimbledon title

Written by Martina Hingis

With Rafael Nadal out of these Championships, Roger Federer now has a great opportunity to win Wimbledon for a seventh time. Nothing is guaranteed, though, as we saw when Roger had to come from two sets down in his third-round match against Julien Benneteau. I have such admiration for Roger and the way that, after all those years on the tour, he’s still fresh and hungry and ambitious to win titles, and he could be the main beneficiary of Nadal’s defeat in the second round.


Roger has had a mental block when it comes to playing Nadal. That’s because Nadal’s game can really hurt Roger, with those cross-court balls into his backhand. 

I think Roger has much more of a gameplan in his matches with Novak Djokovic. He knows what he has to do to beat him and he creates opportunities against him at the grand slams. Roger beat Djokovic in the semi-finals of last year’s French Open, and at the last two US Opens he’s held match points against him in the semi-finals.

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Rafael Nadal looked exhausted, physically and mentally fatigued, in his match against Lukas Rosol. I think winning in Paris, beating Djokovic in the final, took so much out of him. He was fine for an hour against Rosol, but then he looked so tired. Rosol played a great match, but Nadal was a long way off his best. I hope fans understand with Nadal. It would really help the players if there was an extra week between the French Open and Wimbledon, with the gap increased from two weeks to three.


That would make a big difference as after a grand slam, you are so tired because of the stresses, the city, everything and you need to mentally relax. So, if you go deep into the French Open, you often feel as though you don’t have time to properly prepare for Wimbledon. I’m sad for Nadal, but this was the first time that he had lost that early at a slam for seven years. I wish I could have had a record like that.

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Caroline Wozniacki is struggling for momentum and confidence at the moment, and I think that can be traced back to playing too much tennis – going from one tournament to another without taking a break. She is such a great player and lovely girl and I was sad to see her go out in the first round. I’m sure that her team and many fans felt the same. I’m not sure whose decision it was for her to play so many tournaments – maybe that was hers, or the people around her – but it now seems as though she is fresh and hungry again.


Thetennisspace.com

Roger Federer survives another grueling 5-setter at Wimbledon

Roger Federer avoided another giant killing Friday at Wimbledon, coming back from two sets down to defeat No. 29 seed Julien Benneteau 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-1 to advance to the fourth round, keeping alive his bid for a seventh title and giving himself a chance to extend his record streak of 32 consecutive major quarterfinals.


The world No. 3 defeated Benneteau almost exactly 24 hours after his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, was stunned by Lukas Rosol in one of the biggest upsets in the history of tennis.


It will go down as just another win for the all-time winningest Grand Slam champion, but he was as close to defeat as possible without facing a match point. 


Five times in the fourth set Benneteau was two points from victory. He didn't get to match point on any of those opportunities.


"I'm very fortunate," Federer said after the match.


He was broken at 4-4 in the first set, then never recovered from a mini-break in a second-set tiebreaker. After Federer won third set in 27 minutes, it felt like he'd sail to a five-set victory, much like he did in coming back from an 0-2 deficit against Juan Martin Del Potro at the French Open.


Benneteau didn't waver. When he saved three break points at 0-40 at 3-5 in the fourth, a murmur ran through the pro-Federer crowd at Centre Court. 


Could it happen again? Federer hadn't lost before the quarterfinals at Wimbledon since 2002. He hadn't been ousted in the third round of a major since the French Open two years later. 


There hasn't been a Wimbledon final without either he or Nadal in a decade.


Federer was forced to serve to stay in the match twice and then held off Benneateu rallies in the fourth-set tiebreaker. 


By the time the fifth set started, it was all but over. The Frenchman had to call for a trainer for cramping at 1-2 and was never in a return game. 


Federer lost just four points on his serve in the final set in coming back from a two-set deficit for the eighth time in his career.


The win puts Federer and top-seeded Novak Djokovic on a collision course for a semifinal. They're the only top 16 seeds remaining in their half of the draw.

Yahoo Sports

Kim Clijsters into the 4th round at Wimbledon after Zvonareva retires

Kim Clijsters reached the fourth round of Wimbledon on Friday when 12th-seeded Vera Zvonareva retired with an apparent respiratory problem when trailing 6-3, 4-3.


Zvonareva was coughing loudly during the match and the 2010 finalist was in tears as she needed a medical timeout at 2-1 in the second set. The trainer took her pulse and she was examined with a stethoscope before resuming play, but had to retire four games later.


Clijsters said, "I think she was having difficulties breathing" and that it's "sad to see her end the tournament this way."


The Belgian is playing in her last Wimbledon as she plans to retire after this year's U.S. Open. She will next play No. 8 Angelique Kerber, who beat Christina McHale of the United States 6-2, 6-3.

ndtv sport

Kim Clijsters eases into 3rd round of Wimbledon with comfortable win

Kim Clijsters eased into the third round of Wimbledon by beating Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday on Centre Court.



Clijsters never faced a break point and broke her opponent three times, including in the final game to wrap up the win in one hour, five minutes.


The match took place underneath the retractable roof on Centre Court after rain showers interrupted play earlier in the day.


Clijsters is playing in her final Wimbledon tournament, having said she is retiring from the sport after this year's US Open.


telegraph.co.uk

I'm very impressed with the way Kim is playing, very controlled and focused throughout nice to see.

If her body holds up she might be able to make a run at the title yet (and what a story that would be!).  Since her 2nd comeback I've learned never to count her out.

Roger Federer in the groove eases past Fognini into 3rd round at Wimbledon

Fair warning to the rest of the men's draw: Roger Federer wants his trophy back. Novak Djokovic, the reigning champion, and Rafael Nadal will no doubt have something to say about that, but if Federer maintains this sort of form, good luck to anyone who dares stand in his way.


Three years have passed since he won an epic final here against Andy Roddick and his crown has slipped a little after losing in the quarter-finals to Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the past two years.


Those defeats meant he was consigned to Court One on the opening Monday, but Federer was back on his beloved Centre Court on Wednesday and performed as if he had never been away.


Few men can make Federer bow on a court that has been a second home to him since the first of his six Wimbledon titles in 2003, but before dismantling the injury-cursed Italian Fabio Fognini in straight sets, he obliged for Prince Charles, who was watching from the Royal Box for the first time since 1970.


This was a display fit for a future king, Federer pipe-and-slippers comfortable throughout. Fognini's big day on Centre Court was over in a flash, Federer wrapping up a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour and 14 minutes.


The numbers before the match did not give Foginini, the world No68, many reasons to be optimistic; while he was playing only his eighth match at Wimbledon, Federer was playing his 68th.


By the end of it, he had his 61st win and the only time he looked remotely flustered was when he fell awkwardly trying to reach a deep shot from Fognini in the second set. His wife, Mirka, briefly looked worried in the stands but she need not have worried. It takes more than that to knock Federer off his stride.


Doing so was far beyond the capabilities of Fognini anyway, although a murmur of disbelief spread around Centre Court when the Italian led 30-0 on Federer's serve in the first game of the match. Federer merely responded with a couple of aces, instantly quelling any thoughts of an unlikely upset, and then swiftly broke for a 2-0 lead when a Fognini forehand landed long.


That, you suspected, was that, and so it proved. Although Fognini battled gamely, occasionally producing some inspired shots, Federer was simply far too good. Piercing forehand after piercing forehand sent Fognini running from side to side and at times he was reduced to the role of admiring spectator, on one occasion standing aside in resignation as Federer polished off a point almost lazily.


Yet if Federer was bored by the lack of any real challenge, there was no danger of him losing focus and he wrapped up the first set in 24 minutes.


Federer broke immediately at the start of the second and Foginini cut a forlorn figure. When Fognini served and Federer contemptuously flicked a backhand return that dropped deliciously over the net, it was confirmation that while the pair were sharing a court, they were operating on different planets.


Federer's control was so complete that he did not even have to face a single break point and the contest ended with a whimper, Fognini double-faulting on match point, perhaps eager to bring his torture to an end.


Greater challenges await Federer, although his draw is kind. Until a likely semi-final against Djokovic, that is. That can wait, though. For now, simply revel in another afternoon watching a genius go about his work.

TheGuardian

Kim Clijsters last Wimbledon bid off to a good start

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Kim Clijsters' last Wimbledon got off to a good start when she beat former top-ranked player Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-4 in the first round.


Clijsters is playing at the All England Club for just the second time in six years and has said she is retiring after this year's U.S. Open — this time for good, having returned to the sport in 2009 after a two-year break.


The 47th-ranked Belgian looked to have recovered fully from recent injuries, breaking the 18th-seeded Jankovic five times — including at love in the final game to clinch the victory.


She improved her record to 8-1 against Jankovic.

SFGate.com

Roger Federer easy start on day 1 of Wimbledon

Third seed Roger Federer booked his place in the second round of Wimbledon as he eased to a 6-1 6-1 6-1 victory over Albert Ramos.


The Swiss player could not have hoped for a better start to his bid to equal Pete Sampras' record of seven titles at the All England Club as he crushed his Spanish opponent in just one hour and 19 minutes.


Clay-court specialist Ramos, whose only previous match on grass was a defeat in the first round of Wimbledon qualifying two years ago, was totally overwhelmed by the 16-time grand slam winner.


Federer's only slip in the first set came on his own serve, which he dropped in the fifth game, but it was otherwise a stroll for the world number three.


It was clear from the early stages there was no hope for Ramos, who could not match Federer in any department on Court One.



Federer kept his firm grip on the contest through sets two and three, with Ramos only able to win his standard single game per set. In the third set it came after he had fallen 5-0 behind.


Federer finished with a love service game and an ace down the centre on match point was a suitable illustration of how one-sided the clash had been.


"I thought I played a great match," Federer said.


"Maybe Albert Ramos is not the most experienced grass-court player out there, that's for sure, but I was able to take advantage of it and I played a very clean match from start to finish.


"It's always nice to save energy, if you want to look further into the draw. It gives you good confidence as well, being able to close out matches easy.


"I fought hard to get as many breaks as I could and try to focus on my own service game and things worked out perfectly today."


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