I don't think she has it mentally anymore to last two weeks...I have my doubts that Roger does, too.

Tomas is gone, which is a surprise...Isner is, too...that's not a surprise as he has lost it as of late. Since I'm rooting for Roger, the easier route for him the better.

Great match! I have followed Ernests for awhile but he has always caved despite his obvious talent. So thrilled with that win for him today! I dunno about Roger winning another major either. He has the physical conditioning but I'm not sure he is as hungry as he was - as you said it's mental. What a fantastic career he has had though. I will sure miss him when he finally calls it quits.

Ernests seemed ready to break through a couple years ago, then nothing...I'm glad he won in that it gives Roger an easier path...he will be hard pressed to NOT make the semis at least. He seems more focused than at the French and I do believe his game, even now, can beat Djoker or Rafroid on grass...love to see him get this one more wimbledom and move back to #1.

and so happy Jamie Hampton won....and McHale, she should have won today, now it's onto tomorrow to finish first round. Roger?? don't care if he wins or not....don't know the men to much. Feel bad for Isner, and Harrison getting Novak in the 2nd round...d*mn. Love Wimbledon.

so I will certainly be rooting for her, but it will take a lot against Maria when she's hot and I doubt Kim can pull it off with retirement on the near horizon. I really haven't followed the younger American ladies with the exception of Sloan Stevens but I'd love to see them win and get to know them. Isner's just a big server ... but he'll do better at the US Open.

Rafa and Serena.

But I wouldn't mind seeing Sharapova win. I've grown to like her again on this comeback tour of hers.



Rooting against: Federererer

Looks like David Goffin might be the real thing...beat Tomic, the #20 seed.

now, can we please let Nadal know how much I HATE his serve ritual?? pull pants out of b*tt crack, lift shirt off both shoulders, wrap non existent hair strand around each ear, wipe nose, then hit the ball.....ugh so annoying or is it just me??

GO NADAL!

He needs to be called for time infractions...it will throw him off and he'll lose, which is what all decent people want!

today for example....Federer is playing, winning easily and Sloane Stephens is playing a 3rd set and they're not covering it live.... D*mn, I want to see the Americans is that so wrong?? Great, Sloane just won and no live coverage. and for Sloane. edit for correct spelling of her name.

Dang it, Pam Shriver and sometimes Chris Evert just talk through the whole women's matches.....shut up already. Ugh.

Problem solved

I do like the sounds of the ball being hit, and slammed, and the crowd noise, mute doesn't give me that aspect of the match......just saying.

not when you have the choice to turn the volume off.

and I think the world is falling in love with Heather Watson....she's a QT, to bad she had to beat an American.

And was Chrissie then and once known as that, she'll always be known as that.

and she was always "Chrissy".

to everyone else. It'll always be Chrissie because she was a kid when she started and grew up in the public eye.

and it was said she really preferred Stephanie. Those nick-names stick, especially in the public eye.

love her....and so happy her marriage to what's his name....oh yah, Andre. LOL....wow who ever would have thought they'd be married and, STILL married. Have always loved her tennis, and the wild man........he's ok. Now that he's married to her, I will tolerate him. She was one of the best.

Clearly she was good enough prior to that, but the rules were very strict back then...you had to be 16 and her father wouldn't try for an exemption..she said it was good because she's seen what happened to a lot of kids who started on the circuit at 13 or 14...burnt out real fast.

was good for couple of years....and Jennifer Capriati?? she was another young one wasn't she??

Andrea Jagger is the most famous, I think...walked away while she was still young.

she's looking pretty good....

yikes....it's exciting. Center court:

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/index.html

He only let Nadal get one hit in!

I wonder if he'll go far, if he's really turned a corner in his career or if this was his peak.

she's down 5 - 2 in the 3rd....but wow, I think we're gonna see some good things from this teenager..... Ah shoot, she just lost. She's an up and comer.

I am really liking some of the newer women players.

2 sets to love down - 6-4, 7-6 - to the 29th seed, Benneteau ...

Doesn't look good for him...he needs to focus and he's not.

2nd major upset on the men's side?? Yikes.

so I am a bit behind however, where in the heck is he? Looks to me like he isn't even interested today.

I went through all this with Agassi, thought I would never be such a fan (I was late to the Agassi bandwagon and missed all the crap) and I was so sad when he retired.

This is hard to watch. I am just now at the beginning of the 3rd set so..........I won't be back until I know what happens.

Could be either an amazing comeback or a major upset.

You know, at 30 years of age, you're gonna have days when you just can't get it together...happens to all the players...fortunately this was an out of sorts day for Roger and he still prevailed...I believe they still keep the first Sunday completely tennis-free at Wimbledon, so he has a nice long rest until Monday.

I sweated that one out, not as much as he did but wow.

Go FED!

You know, I don't follow anything but tennis and really I don't follow it that closely but I want one of the RF hats! Great logo, great player.

Anyone want to hazard a guess who he might meet in the final, if he actually makes it that far? David Ferrer?

I wouldn't be surprised if any of the remaining men on that side make it...even Andy Roddick!

LOL, not crazy about Andy. Not crazy about his past antics but it would be good to see him win something. I really thought when he started he would be a big player. At least he does not hop around like Roland Garros (it was there wasn't it when he got such bad leg cramps). It was kinda silly even though they do hurt like mad.

I would really like to see Del Potro win again but I do like DF a lot.

Del Potro, that is...I still don't think Andy Murray will ever get his head together enough to win it.

I don't know what it is but he just can't seem to get it done. You are probably right, it is his head. He really muscled up a few years ago and I thought at that point he would really start to be a threat but he just never quite makes it.

I am really glad Del Potro is back.

I still miss Guga. Don't know where that came from but for some reason I always think of him when I think of Del Potro. They are not from the same country are they?

Murray is getting to the point where his best years will soon be behind him...

Del Potro still hasn't quite recovered from that surgery...without it I was sure he'd be winning more slams.

Del Potro from Argentina, I was thinking it was the other way around or that they were both from Brazil. Sorry, not really that lazy that I could not look them up myself, I was actually just wondering aloud!

He was HOT before that surgery. His win at the US Open was pretty awesome.

The men's game needs more at the top, because Roger will only maybe win one more...Rafroid will start declining after this year and that only leaves Djoker.

I don't like him beating Federer but I would rather he did than Nadal. I do like Nadal but from the very start I could not imagine his body could last. That and I can't stand the way he picks his undies out of his butt constantly.

I am just thrilled with anyone who does not play like Sampras. As far as I am concerned, as long as they don't bore me stupid I can get behind them.

It is always so interesting to watch what comes up when the old guard starts to fail. Still waiting to see how the women shake out.

He got it because of his antics on court and off.

Haven't heard it used in a while.

I like watching matches from the 70's and 80's more...it's all about power now...the game has really changed.

since they are all caught up with it and there seems to be more strategy than there was when it was all power serving. I wonder what is next? The strategy of earlier years is fun to watch.

There aren't any left of those...I should find this article about how the top players have their racquets strung with such precision these days...about how even being off so slightly affects them...the technology has changed the game so much...the surfaces sure haven't.

I always liked watching him. Del Potro maybe Argentina? I'm guessing on that.

I always mix up those countries down there...the names confuse me too much when they take their mother's maiden names as their middle names!

...... I don't see him being a threat at all.

And he won Eastbourne last week...his game is suited for grass, however, I don't think he has it in him to make one more run.

but he doesn't believe he has a chance anymore. It's too bad because that final against Federer at Wimbledon a few years ago was classic.

Not sure why it didn't show up that way!!!!

they line up one right under the other......When I looked at "My Posts", I could see that you replied directly to me.

DU3 is on the fritz!

both have made it to Wimbledon semi finals. Del Potro and Ferrer just don't shine there.

After Tsonga's meltdown at the French, I wonder if he has it mentally...Murray doesn't.

since they both made the semi-finals last year, and aren't coming up against anyone more experienced in that half of the draw. But I'd expect both of them to lose to Djokovic or Federer. Del Potro's Wimbledon career has been 3 2nd round losses, and 1 4th round loss (last year).

But he hasn't recovered from writs surgery...Murray has made the semis, then folded badly...I thought Tsonga might break through after last year, but thise year I haven't been impressed...I still think it'll be someone else...time will tell, though!

but I don't see him winning Wimbledon. Frankly Andy Murray has a better chance, but I don't see him as strong enough mentally to do it (although he's had wins against Roger he's never going to beat Novak when he's on).

Roger...2008 US Open and 2010 Aussie.

But nice comeback. That's what champions do.

Roddick is done, after playing a very good first set, losing to Ferrer. Ferrer looked really great in the final three sets, but I just can't get into him for whatever reason. I guess Andy will come back for one more Wimbledon, but he just can't string together a complete match anymore.

And Serena went deep into the third set to pull out a victory against Zheng. She just isn't playing well and still looks like her fitness is a problem.

She almost lost to a player not known as a grass-court player.

As for Roddick, he still should have done better...Ferrer is good, but grass doesn't suit his game...Andy was always fragile mentally, and now that he's approaching 30, even more so.

nt

Neither have I.

with a lower back problem...they were saying it has happened before and they (his trainers) know how to care for it...anyway, after he pulled out of that Aussie warm-up (he had made it to the semis, I think), he had no problems throughout the Australian Open.

Malisse should've been easier than that. With the rain delays he should have tomorrow off to recoup though, right?

All the men would have as they do the women's quarters today...as if is, only 3 of the 8 men in the quarters get a day's rest. I can't recall the weather being this bad there for quite some time.

and it was very cold/some rain. Some bizarre cold front was coming through ... shops put out their sweaters and it was awesome (cheap, thick wool!). It kind of reminds me of the climate back in Wisconsin where I grew up - you just don't know what's going to happen in the summer.

Oh my.......2nd serve 108 MPH ACE did her in. Go Serena or Kim.

They did a whole show on the grunting.

And I'm glad Sharapova is gone, too

is Kim losing so easily.

She was playing well up until this point so for me it was very unexpected.

My favorite on the men's side is Brian Baker. Just love his story

But I still want Roger to win!

Petra not so good but at least she showed resolve, which is lacking...she and Serena is the best quarter match-up, I think.

D*mn, I wanted Kim to go out in glory.....she's retiring now after the olympics, and we won't see again. Have always loved her game. She's done with tennis now. edit to correctly spell Pam's name.

That'll be her last tournament.

I don't expect that to happen this time but it's a good one to be her final. I'll miss her.

Tsonga is actually a really good player and Fish has been having some medical issues this year

I don't know anything about this Baker, will have to read up on him

Del Potro lost...EASILY to Ferrer...anyone watch it? Was Juan Martin hurting...on grass he should have done better.

I haven't been watching this morning - non-Federer day ... but that is interesting.

Sort of watched a little, but not into it that much, although a couple of the women's matches have been exciting...the men's? Eh.

Two easy, non-dramatic wins...I don't know much about Meyer, thought he might give Djoker a match...or, I hoped he would...Roger was crusing...I think Roger could beat Djoker Friday, not sure if he will, though.

with Nadal out. Only has to beat one of the two. But.....beating Djock is a tall order.

Woohoo!!! They win!!!

We've got another screamer, a little better tone quality and a tad more lyrical then Maria, but non the less I will be muting the sound for my viewing pleasure. Come on Serena.

Do they really have to scream that much each time they hit it??

It's outstandingly annoying. I wonder what the other players think of it.

Federer up 2 sets to 1, and 4-2 in the 4th. Djokovic just doesn't look special today.

happy Roger won, now if Andy could just win, would be great for Andy to win a major in his home country of England....something Tim Henman could never do....

Wimbledon is definitely his best surface. I would be happy for him, but I won't be cheering for him on Sunday. Not while this guy is on the other side of the net -



(Roger's first grand slam victory - Wimbledon 2003)

Just saw the scores...hate to see Andy win...this really is Roger's last shot...shoule be interesting Sunday.

although obviously either match could've had a different winner - they are all top players. But I'll be really nervous on Sunday. I'd really like to see him tie Pete - and I also think this is his last shot at it. I think he knows that too - apparently he had his family at Centre Court earlier in the tournament to take pictures.

I can't believe he's been playing professional tennis so long. I remember watching him as early as the late 90s - but when I was digging around earlier looking for a photo of the first Wimbledon I found references to him finishing school at 16 and really being considered a prodigy in his early teens. He turned pro in 1998 (at 17) and had his first major in 2003. Considering all that he could retire at any time really. I have been trying to prepare myself but it is hard.

Then I think he lost in the next round...I remember him looking all hairy with that very long hair...even then commentators were talking about how good he was and could be.

My goodness - this is gonna be a great Final!!

Not real sure who I'm rooting for though. Probably Andy.....

he's won 8 times in their 15 meetings (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=F324)

But he's never played him in a Wimbledon final so I'm hoping he will be nervous. He has the ability to beat him now that Roger has slowed down a bit.

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if Andy won Sunday.

They both will really want it and both will be feeling a lot of pressure. Hopefully it will be a good match.

It's been years.....and I've tried to find how long it has been.....and can't find a thing about how long it's been, so, if someone could be a dear and find that out, it'd would be so grateful. Thanks so much.

However, Virginia Wade won in 1977...so that's only 35 years if you include women.

and he has always gotten a warm reception on Centre Court. He will be the favorite because he's won 6 of these - he is so very, very good on this surface. Interesting article about Sampras picking Federer to win this one - Pete seems to like him: http://www.tennis.com/articles/templates/news.aspx?articleid=18671&zoneid=4.

Bring this home!