Nadal struggling

Men:
Nadal struggled again playing five sets when surely he knows three will do. He also got upset when warned for coaching and took injury breaks. But surely he won't lose to Mathieu?

Fed gets Melzer, Murray gets Querrey and Roddick gets Lu. The only real matchup is Hewitt vs Djokovic. C'mon! Is anyone still interested in Tsonga, Berdych or Soderling?

Federer’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Federer vs Melzer, Berdych vs Brands
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Hewitt vs Djokovic, Lu vs Roddick
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Querrey vs Murray, Tsonga vs Benneteau
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Nadal vs Mathieu, Ferrer vs Soderling
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Sharapova will play Serena which would have been a nice match a few years ago but now will be a real upset if Moody Maria plays any further part in the tournament. Clijsters vs Henin is the real Belgian group of death matchup and the eternal question remains: Is Kim too nice to win the big matches? Probably.

Bepa vs Lady Ja Ja should be good but probably won't be. The Woz to dismantle Kvitova. Zakopalova to continue her run to the title and Radwanska should be around for a while longer at Li Na's expense. Also Bartoli plays Pironkova apparently.

Jankovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Clijsters vs Henin, Zvonareva vs Jankovic
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Venus vs Groth, Pironkova vs Bartoli
Winner: Venus

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Serena vs Sharapova, Li vs Radwanska
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Wozniacki vs Kvitova, Zakopalova vs Kanepi
Winner: Wozniacki

Rodionova dumps Kuznetsova

Men:
John Isner won some match on court 18. Should be a crowd on court 5 today because he's first up again. Wonder how long he can last?

Most of the men played five sets in honour of Isner and Mahut yesterday. It's the only way to explain Nadal taking five against Haase. Murray was in a hurry to meet the Queen and was the exception.

Federer’s Quarter
Mathes to watch: Lopez vs Melzer, Federer vs Clement
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Mathes to watch: Monfils vs Hewitt, Kohlschreiber vs Roddick
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Bye bye: Nieminen, Dolgopolov
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye bye: Mahut
Mathes to watch: Youzhny vs Mathieu, de Bakker vs Isner
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Aussie Rodionova celebrated the new Australian female Prime Minister Julia Gillard by taking down the slumping Kuznetsova in her typical spiteful way. The Kuz wouldn't shake hands afterwards.

Hantuchova managed to lose to Strycova, Zakopalova toppled Rezai; Sharapova, Azarenka and Serena rolled and Pennetta joined them.

Jankovic’s Quarter
Mathes to watch: Clijsters vs Kirilenko, Henin vs Petrova
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Mathes to watch: Kerber vs Groth, Venus vs Kleybanova

Winner: Venus

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Olaru, Chakvetadze
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Jovanovski, Zheng
Winner: Wozniacki

Isner and Mahut go the distance

Men:
There's only one match that anyone's talking about and that's on court 18 and will continue for the third straight day. Even Fed was watching. Nothing else matters, sorry Davydenko.

Federer’s Quarter
Bye bye: Troicki, Becker
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye bye: Llodra, Dent
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Nieminen vs Murray, Dolgopolov vs Tsonga
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Mahut vs Isner, Youzhny vs Mathieu
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Shvedova's nice form evaporated and Oudin's problems continue. Henin, Clijsters, Venus and Kirilenko rolled while Dani Threesethova finished off King. Jankovic took her time.

All Serena's curtsey practice comes to nothing as the Woz gets the gig while the Queen of throat ball shoving gets banished to court 2.

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Sprem, Flipkens
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Peer, Makarova

Winner: Venus

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: King
Matches to watch: Olaru vs Sharapova, S Williams vs Chakvetadze
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Jovanovski vs Azarenka, Zheng vs Kvitova
Winner: Wozniacki

Who tipped Stosur?

Men:
James Blake took his fight to the commentary booth but forgot it on court. Ferrero and Verdasco led the Spanish exodus and Nadal showed them up beautifully. Murray's in form too.

Federer’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Troicki vs Melzer, Berdych vs Becker
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Roddick vs Llodra, Djokovic vs Dent
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Bye bye: Verdasco, Almagro
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye bye: Ginepri, Ferrer
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Sharapova, Serena and Wozniacki rolled. Rodionova broke English hearts and then backed up and crushed them again just to make sure they're broken. Welcome back Chaky, too bad it's Serena next. Stosur joined Schiavone on the sidelines - seriously why can't she play on grass?

Cornet performed the increasingly normal swan dive and Rybarikova went down fighting to Rezai.

Jankovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Clijsters vs Sprem, Wickmayer vs Flipkens
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Peer vs Kerber, Venus vs Makarova

Winner: Venus

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: MLDB, Petkovic
Matches to watch: Hantuchova vs King
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Benesova, Rybarikova
Winner: Wozniacki?

Ana Ivanovic out as expected

Verdasco and Wozniacki are just friends apparently. It's probably the beard.

Men:
Davydenko's finally back and Tursunov's rubbush. The mighty Federer took a while to get going and better smarten up if he has any interest in the title. Clement showed Tipsarevic the door.

Federer’s Quarter
Bye bye: Tipsarevic, Falla
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye bye: Ram, Tomic
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Verdasco vs Fognini, Almagro vs Seppi
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Soderling vs Ginepri, Kiefer vs Ferrer
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Venus and Jankovic wore matching dresses and both sprayed matching errors but still won easily. Ivanovic shocked no one.

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye bye Voegele, Riske, Robson
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Goerges, Ivanovic, Voracova

Matches to watch:
Winner: Venus

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: S Williams vs MLDB, Chakvetadze vs Petkovic, Hantuchova vs King
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Benesova vs Pavlyuchenkova, Rybarikova vs Rezai
Winner: Stosur

Mr Federer please report to the Centre Court

Men:
Good to see Davydenko and Tursunov back but they are traditionally unlikely to challenge. Fed's up first. Old warriors Clement and Tipsarevic to go for five sets?

Federer’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Federer vs Falla, Tipsarevic vs Clement
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Roddick vs Ram, Fish vs Tomic
Winner: Hewitt

Women:
Safina and Martinez Sanchez join Dementieva on the sidelines. Oudin and Bondarenko the Lesser get seeded and Dubois and Pivovarova are Lucky Losers. Nice for them but unlikely to change anything.

Jankovic should put the much-hyped Brit Laura Robson in her place but there will be many hoping Jankovic is taught a lesson instead. Nice to see Ana Ivanovic given a tough test to harden her up (or put her out...).

Jankovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Voegele vs Kirilenko, Wickmayer vs Riske, Jankovic vs Robson
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: MJMS, Safina

Matches to watch: Goerges vs Bartoli, Peer vs Ivanovic, Voracova vs Groth
Winner: Venus

Wimbledon 2010 - The Slacker's Guide to who might win

Ok so it's actually called The Championships and it's held at SW19 but everyone calls it Wimbledon so if I publish a guide to The Championships no one will read it apart from a few tennis snobs purists (hi there!). Do they really still hold it on grass?

Men:
Nadal is again snubbed as the meaningless top seed but Federer's (usually) the grass court king. There will be some interest in Murray and Soderling looms (he's a loomer) but this is all about the top two. Roddick? Sooo last year. Djokovic? Already an afterthought. Hewitt? Hmmm.

Federer’s Quarter
Seeds: Robredo, Lopez, Berdych, Wawrinka, Davydenko, Melzer
Players to watch: Tipsarevic, Clement, Ball, Tursunov, Becker, Anderson
Winner: Federer

Djokovic’s Quarter
Seeds: Montanes, Monfils, Hewitt, Cilic, Ljubicic, Kohlschreiber, Roddick
Players to watch: Chela, Dent, L Mayer, F Mayer, Fish, Tomic, Gabashvili, Llodra
Winner: Hewitt

Murray’s Quarter
Seeds: Verdasco, Benneteau, Tsonga, Fererro, Querrey, Simon
Players to watch: Fognini, Dolgopolov, Malisse, Nieminen
Winner: Murray

Nadal’s Quarter
Seeds: Soderling, Bellucci, Baghdatis, Kiefer, Ferrer, Gulbis, Isner
Players to watch: Chardy, Sela, Mathieu, Blake, Nishikori
Winner: Nadal

Final: Federer vs Nadal

Winner: Roger Federer

Women:
Venus and Serena Williams as usual. Take your pick.

Henin, Clijsters and Sharapova will make the headlines but no one actually expects them to win. Dementieva is out as if that makes a difference and fellow Russians Kuznetsova and Safina are woeful. Wozniacki always looks good but still can't make her final breakthrough. Azarenka can't concentrate long enough to win seven matches. Jankovic is all talk and Ivanovic will probably go out in the first round.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Seeds: Safarova, Hantuchova, Sharapova, Li Na, Kuznetsova, Errani, A Radwanska
Players to watch: MLDB, Chakvetadze, Petkovic, Tanasugarn, Cibulkova, King, Strycova, Vesnina, Olaru, Cornet, Rodionova, Keothavong
Winner: Serena

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Seeds: Pavlyuchenkova, Zheng, Cirstea, Azarenka, Pennetta, Rezai, Dulgheru, Stosur
Players to watch: Rus, Benesova, Dellacqua, AMG, Zakopalova, Rybarikova, Watson
Winner: Stosur

Jankovic’s Quarter
Seeds: Clijsters, Kirilenko, Henin, Petrova, Wickmayer, Zvonareva, A Bondarenko,
Players to watch: Voegele, Riske, Oudin, Hlavackova, O’ Brien, Robson, Lertcheewakarn
Winner: Wickmayer

Venus Williams’ Quarter
Seeds: Schiavone, MJMS, Bartoli, Peer, Safina, Kleybanova, Shvedova

Players to watch: Pironkova, South, Molik, Goerges, Ivanovic, Groth, Kerber, Mirza, Zahlavova, Szavay
Winner: Venus

Final: Stosur vs Venus Williams

Winner: Venus Williams

Sandra Zahlavova

Sandra Zahlavova's great run in Hertogenbosch ended at the hands of Petkovic but the qualifier's great form continues. At 24 years of age she is now entrenched in the top 100 and will finally play her first Wimbledon. It's about time. Now hope for a kind draw.

Sam Stosur finally remembered she is a top ten player after dropping the first set to Baltacha and rocketed through the rest of the match and the last British male subcumbed to Dolgopolov, while the evil shrieker downed Saint Kim. Surely Henin will ease off now to save her strength for The Championships?

Lleyton Hewitt beat Roger Federer

Lleyton Hewitt sucked it up deep to beat Roger Federer on grass at Halle and enjoy a brief laugh at all those doubters who snigger at their rivalry although whether he can repeat the dose for The Championships is another question. Still, it's good for the li'l Aussie battler. Fed's losing more and more matches these days. Is it a sign of the inevitable decline? Or is he just framing his great victory in three weeks time?

The Sharapova express ran out of steam against Li Na but presumedly she got all the practise she needed before The Championships. And Li got the trophy she needed to remind everyone of her existence.

Sam Querrey won in London picking up another trophy on yet another surface. Now if only he can keep interest in the big tournaments.

Sharapova beat Karatantcheva (again)

Nadal, Murray and Roddick crashed at Queens. Sharapova cruised, Wickmayer choked and who is this Alison Riske? Hewitt and Federer are destined to meet in the Halle final.

Maria Sharapova and Sesil Karatantcheva have both come a long way from their early career spat that saw the young Karatantcheva promise to kick her butt but fail to do so. Since then Sharapova has soared to three Majors and fame and superstardom while former junior champion Karatantcheva has gone down enduring a drug suspension and slow progress back up the ranks. Her morale has plummeted, she admitted to financial problems and switched countries. But just like before Sharapova won easily. Good to see some things don't change.

Nadal overcomes his nemesis!

The raffish Lord Soderling dished it out to Nadal and it was mighty to watch. His brutish forehand hammered the ball time and time again, usually going in. But Rafa weathered the storm like a good pirate and traversed the baseline (and beyond) back and forth returning with demonic power and efficiency. And then he would pause and turn defence into attack (he even ventured into the net) and eventually his Lordship faltered, worn down by the inefficiency of his power game. And the match was Rafa's. Such things are tennis. He makes a good champion though, doesn't he?

Forty Deuce apologises to Stosur in a great piece.

Schiavone Slams Stosur

So the written off Francisca Schiavone slams Sam Stosur and takes the French Open. Good for her. She now rockets into the top ten and immortality while Stosur can reflect on the fact that you can beat Henin, Serena Williams and Jankovic but not beat a journeyman like Schiavone. Headcase indeed, she was a shadow of the player we saw in recent days while Schiavone played smart and ignored nerves to play the game of her life. Nerves? Well Stosur had to practice in private yesterday in case people wanted to watch her. It's not a good omen when you're uncomfortable on the world stage.

Rafa verses nemesis. Redemption or more pain? Redemption. Sorry Sod. Should be good though.

Robin Soderling the Fed slayer; Berdych breakthrough

Huber dumps Black Ouch.

French Open Men:
The French Open is Soderling time again. Le Sod took down Fed and looks a lock for facing Rafa in the final. Redemption or another bitter loss for Nadal?

What's Berdych doing in a semi-final of a Major? Answer losing to Soderling.

Bye Bye: Federer, Youzhny
Matches to watch: Almagro vs Nadal, Melzer vs Djokovic

Women:
Wozniacki stuffed it and how nice for Schiavone. Do you think Petrova actually believed in that first set and then had her dreams cruelly snuffed by the tennis gods and Elena the (almost) Great. Presumedly the winner of Serena / Stosur will win it all. Sorry Elena.

Bye Bye: Wozniacki, Petrova
Matches to watch: Jankovic vs Shvedova, S. Williams vs Stosur

Stosur slays Henin

French Open Men:
Djokovic (mostly) cruised against Ginepri, Gabashvili blew several chances against late bloomer Melzer. Verdasco wilted under the pressure of the Spanish challenge of Almagro and what's Belucci doing still in the tournament? Well, until recently. Can anyone stop Nadal?

Fed’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Federer vs Soderling
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Youzhny vs Berdych
Winner: Youzhny

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Gabashvili, Ginepri
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Bellucci Verdasco
Winner: Nadal

French Open Women:
Sam Stosur finally came of age and took it out on Justine Henin who wilted badly in the final set. Was this the same nervy head-case who normally blew leads and preferred doubles so she didn't have to shine in the limelight? Should be a good match-up with Serena Williams who woke up and thrashed poor Peer. Now Stosur's out of the doubles too which is good news for her.

Groth's big adventure is over thanks to Shvedova and Jankovic showed Dani the door.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Henin, Peer
Winner: Stosur

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Hantuchova, Groth
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Schiavone vs Wozniacki
Winner: Wozniacki

Venus’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Dementieva vs Petrova
Winner: Dementieva