Somebody had to break Ivo Karlovic’s serve. It looked for days that a sledgehammer would be required, but all it took was a tennis racket – in the skilled right hand of Roger Federer. Karlovic, the Leaning Tower of Zagreb, was toppled like a pile of bricks after Federer got his eyes fixed firmly on the ball. At 6-feet-10, the mighty Croat seemed to be dropping grenades from … [Read more...] about LEANING TOWER OF ZAGREB TUMBLES AT LAST, DONE IN BY FEDERER’S RETURNS
Tournaments
TWO-WOMAN SORORITY SENDS FOES TO THE BOTTOM, LIKE ANOTHER WILLIAMS’ TITANIC
Before Venus and Serena came along, the most celebrated tennis player by the name of Williams was a Philadelphian: Richard Norris Williams, II. Quite a handle, but he preferred that his pals call him Dick. Dick almost didn’t make it much past his 21st birthday because he happened to be riding on a steamship called the Titanic that didn’t make it past the interruption of its … [Read more...] about TWO-WOMAN SORORITY SENDS FOES TO THE BOTTOM, LIKE ANOTHER WILLIAMS’ TITANIC
A GERMAN REVIVAL, THEN THE ROOF CLOSING GIVES BIG W LONGEST DAY
They closed Wimbledon’s retractable Centre Court roof for the first time. Why? A Monday afternoon sprinkle that was soon over, but the folks at the All England Club were itchy to play with their new $140 million toy. The weather was acting too nice in this corner of the world that has long been known as the tropical rain forest of Southwest London. Sunny day followed sunny … [Read more...] about A GERMAN REVIVAL, THEN THE ROOF CLOSING GIVES BIG W LONGEST DAY
MAIDEN OF MARIETTA, MELANIE OUDIN, MAKES HER DEBUT
And so it’s no longer Venus and Serena and nobody for the U.S. Well, she was Little Miss Nobody prior to the 6th day of Wimbledon when Melanie Oudin knocked off ex-No. 1 (current No. 6) Jelena Jankovic as the grass sizzled on another hot day – and so did she. A year ago Melanie lost in the second round of the juniors. This year she dodged 2 match points in the opening … [Read more...] about MAIDEN OF MARIETTA, MELANIE OUDIN, MAKES HER DEBUT
RUSSIANS EVERYWHERE DOMINATE THE TOP TEN, BUT DON’T FORGET THE SISTERS SLEDGEHAMMER
Sister Serena has said she sometimes wakes up feeling that she’s a Russian. Probably because in her business she’s surrounded by so many of them. Five in the current Top Ten. Sixteen in this Wimbledon draw, and 6 others who didn’t make it all the way through the qualifying tournament. However, only one Russian doll has conquered the Big W — Maria Sharapova as a … [Read more...] about RUSSIANS EVERYWHERE DOMINATE THE TOP TEN, BUT DON’T FORGET THE SISTERS SLEDGEHAMMER