Surviving "Paradise"

Oh, my!  I am still trying to comprehend all that this means for Andy Murray and Great Britain.  The seventy six year drought is over.  Not since Fred Perry has a British man won the men’s title at Wimbledon.   Today, #2 Andy Murray ended that drought in straight sets (yes, straight sets!) with a 6 -4, 7- 5, 6 – 4 victory over #1 Novak Djokovic.  I predicted Djokovic, and I was wrong.  Congratulations to Andy, Great Britain, his mom, his girlfriend, Ivan Lendl (his coach who never won a Wimbledon himself) and everyone else in the Andy Murray camp.  What a different scene from last year, the tearful speech last year after the defeat to the great Roger Federer.  (Wonder if Fed is watching this somewhere?  I still believe Fed will win another major, or two and so on…) but today belongs to Andy Murray.  Djokovic will remain at #1 inspite of today’s loss.  Andy Murray remains at #2.  David Ferrer moves to #3, Rafael Nadal will be ranked at #4, and heaven help us, Roger Federer will be ranked #5 when the new ATP rankings come out tomorrow.  That will all change as the rest of the year goes on.  Roger has already announced an increase in his playing schedule.  Do not be surprised to see some “equipment tweaks” as well.  But today is all about Andy Murray, and his wonderful win at Wimbledon.  The temperature was 83 degrees under blue skies (must be nice, in Atlanta, GA it is raining again and some of the most dreadful weather I have experienced in nine years).  Andy was not going to lose today, that was evident from the start.  After taking the first set, he fell down 1 – 4 to Novak in the second and one had to think, OK, here we go.  But no, Andy came roaring back, leveled the set at 4 -4. then 5 – 5, then broke Novak again and went on to hold serve and take the second set 7 – 5.  The third set, Andy breaks again and he was not to be denied.  He deserved this, as did all of Great Britain.  (I love London, I think I could live in London, it it so cool, but at the end of day,  give me southern California, I like sunshine everyday!).

What a wonderful win for Andy Murray!  I am still trying to digest it all.  After the painful loss last year, he comes back to win Olympic gold on the lawns of the All England Club and then goes on to win his first major in New York at the US Open.  Now he is the Wimbledon Champion.  Really tremendous performance for him and great day for all of those in England who have cheered him on and wished for this moment.  Well done Andy!  Now we look forward to the hardcourt swing in North America which culminates at the US Open.  What will the future hold…gosh, who knows but it is going to be exciting and wonderful to watch!  For now…Andy Murray wins Wimbledon!!!

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Well, in the craziest Wimbledon that I have ever seen (and I have been watching for longer than I care to share!), the women’s final is set.  On Saturday, breakfast at Wimbledon will feature #15 M. Bartoli of France vs. #23 S. Lisicki of Germany for the title.  In the first semifinal, M. Bartoli took care of Belgium K. Flipkens with ease, 6 – 1, 6 – 2.  Sort of like if you blinked, you missed it.  In the second semifinal, S. Lisicki came back from 0-3 in the third and deciding set (just like she did against world no. 1 Serena Williams) to win and advance to her first ever Grand Slam final.  Lisicki won the first set, 6 – 4, Radwanska (world #4) regrouped and took the second set, 6 – 2.  Almost felt like Radwanska was on her way, especially up 3 – 0 in the third set.  It was not to be.  Radwanska had both legs heavily wrapped, and S. Lisicki just had too much power and too many great serves when it really mattered.  A shame for Radwanska, this may well have been her best opportunity to win a Grand Slam with Serena, Sharapova and Azarenka all out.  Anyhow, was not to be for the lady from Poland today.  I hated to see her lose, I root for her and really did not want to see either of these ladies lose this match.  In the other match, well to be perfectly honest, it was essentially over by the time I tuned in.  Congrats to Bartoli.  Wonderful opportunity for her.  She has really tried to reinvent herself, hiring a coach (instead of her physician father who had been her long time coach but will be in attendance tomorrow) and seems recommitted to improving her game and her ranking.  For Lisicki, this is the chance of a lifetime.  She is a wonderful grass court player and has overcome so many challenges and injuries.  Kind of interesting to see these two in the final after all the wackiness that has occurred at Wimbledon this year on both sides of the draw.  Sat. 8:00am on ESPN, be there or be square.  Prediction…um…I think I am going to go with Lisicki.  That win over Serena was no fluke!  We shall see…

Also today, the Bryan brothers won a tough five set semifinal match in the doubles.  If they win the final, they will hold all four Grand Slam titles for this year ( a record).  You go boys!

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

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What an amazing day at Wimbledon.  Nice weather in London, weather in Atlanta, awful, raining buckets!  Great day for watching some wonderful tennis.  So, first 8 Del Potro over 4 Ferrer, 6 – 2, 6 -4, 7 -6.  Del Potro took a nasty fall early in the first set, already suffering from a hyperentended knee injury, had to catch your breath and wonder?  He was OK after a visit from the trainer and moved on in fine form.  Next 1 Djokovic vs. 7 Berdych.  Looked like it could be close early, first set goes to Djokovic in a tie break, 7 – 6.  After that, Nole cruises 6 -4, 6 – 3.  Berdych is just not there yet.  2 Andy Murray, the hometown favorite vs. unseeded F. Verdasco of Spain.  Verdasco takes the first two sets, 6 – 4, 6 – 3.  Um…is the hometown boy in trouble?  Turns out no, as Murray goes on to win in five sets, taking the third, fourth and fifth, 6 – 1, 6 – 4, 7 – 5.  Had to feel for Verdasco, he really looked like he might make it happen.  Now, to the historic quarterfinal, two Polish men competing in the quarters of a Grand Slam for the first time in history, L. Kubot vs. 24 Jerzy Janowicz (remember that name!).  Janowicz is 6′ 8″ tall, has a serve that usually arrives at about 140 mph and moves around the court like a cat.  He won in three sets, 7 – 5, 6 – 4, 6 – 4.  They embraced at the net when the match was complete, exchanged shirts ( a soccer tradition) and Jerzy was so overcome with emotion, he really could not communicate his feelings in his post-match interview.  You have to love this guy!  He did not have enough money to travel to Australia to compete in the qualifying round.  He has lived in his car in Europe as he has traveled around trying to compete on the ATP tour.  He was once ranked way outside the top 100 (his opponent Kubot has a ranking of 130) and he is now #24.  Remember, this match was supposed to feature Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, or at the very least one of them.  There is no greater Federer fan than myself!  So, for me to be so excited to see this young Polish player move on at this tournament should speak for itself.  He is a marvel and now, he is my favorite!  You go Jerzy!  What an amazing story!

Tomorrow, we will enjoy the ladies semifinals.  S. Lisicki vs. A. Radwanska and K. Flipkens vs. M. Bartoli.  Who could have ever predicted this?  But on Friday, we will also enjoy some more magic, the men’s semifinals: Djokovic vs. Del Potro and Murray vs. Janowicz.  All of Great Britain is pulling for Murray to win and finally have a “British” champion for the first time since Fred Perry in over 45 years.  (Interesting, since Murray actually hails from Scotland)  Others would like to see Del Potro break through and win his first major since he upset Roger Federer at the US Open.  Me, I am pulling for this young man from Poland, Jerzy Janowicz!  In a Wimbledon that has been unlike any other, why not!  Can’t be Federer, so I want Janowicz!  Stay tuned….the action continues tomorrow am on ESPN, Breakfast at Wimbledon starts on the 4th of July!  Happy early 4th to everyone and thank you to all of our wonderful men and women in uniform!

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Oh my, in the Wimbledon that was, Wimbledon 2013.  What can you say?  It is just pure madness!  The ladies took the court today under cloudy skies and sure enough, there was a rain delay.  Anyhow, this Wimbledon has me so undone I almost cannot keep up.  After today, the  semifinals are set and not one of the women have ever won a Grand Slam.  Some may think that is great.  I do NOT!!  First up, the last American standing, Sloane Stephens, falls to M. Bartoli of France in two sets, 6 – 4, 7 – 5.   So #15 seed Bartoli moves on to face…K. Flipkens of Belgium.  Yes, she defeated the 2011 Wimbledon champ, P. Kvitova in three sets today, 4 – 6, 6 – 3, 6 – 4.  She is endorsed by the great Kim Clijsters who has retired and is expecting her second child.  (By the way, congrats to Kim!)  Flipkens was previously ranked 200+ in the world and is now the 20th ranked player in the women’s rankings.  So #15, Bartoli vs. #20 Flipkens on Thursday in one of the women’s semifinals.  Moving on, #4 seed A. Radwanska defeated #6 seed Li Na in three sets, 7 – 6, 4 – 6, 6 – 2.  I really like both of these players so I am disappointed only one of them moves on.  Radwanska will face S. Lisicki, the #23 seed who took out the queen, Serena Williams, and continued to build on her momentum today with a two set victory over K. Kanepi,  6 – 3, 6 – 3. 

The women’s semifinals are set: #4 Radwanska vs. #23 Lisicki and #20 Flipkens vs. #15 Bartoli.  I mean seriously, if this was like the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, would any of you have this in your semifinal brackets on the women’s side?  NOT!  So, predictions?  To quote John McEnroe…”you cannot be serious”!  I just don’t know…Radwanska and Lisicki are two contrasting styles and it could be very interesting.  The other match, I do not have a clue. Bartoli was the runner-up in 2007.  Flipkens is a new and rising star on the scene.  So, tomorrow we get the men’s quarterfinals.  They are a whole other story…we will deal with that tomorrow.  I am still trying to figure out where are Roger and Rafa???

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Manic Monday at Wimbledon.  Coverage on both ESPN and ESPN2.  The carnage continues as the #1 seed and overwhelming favorite on the women’s side, Serena Williams fell to S. Lisicki of Germany, 2 – 6, 6 – 1, 4 – 6.  Lisicki’s game really blossoms on the grass courts, huge serve, great movement.  Serena played well, Sabine just took it from her.  So, down goes another favorite in this Wimbledon that has been unlike any other.  Also advancing on the women’s side into the quarterfinals, Li Na, American Sloane Stephens, A. Radwanska, P. Kvitova, K. Kanepi, M. Bartoli of France, and K. Flipkens of Belgium.  On the men’s side, Djokovic ousted the thirty five year Tommy Haas in straight sets, 6 – 1, 6 – 4, 7 – 6 and Andy Murray took care of M. Youzhny, 6 – 4, 7 – 6, 6 – 1.  Also moving on, Del Potro, Ferrer (in four sets), and two Polish fellows, Janowicz and Kubot.  Verdasco of Spain will join them at the quarterfinal party.

So, the women’s quarterfinals are set and will line up tomorrow as follows: Li Na vs. A. Radwanska, S. Stephens vs. M. Bartoli, P. Kvitova vs. K. Flipkens, and S. Lisicki vs. K. Kanepi.  Predictions?  This year, not a chance!

The men’s quarters will take place on Thursday: Djokovic vs. Berdych (prediction, Djokovic), Janowicz vs. Kubot (this was the section where we all thought we would see Roger vs. Rafa, alas not to be), Ferrer vs. Del Potro, and Verdasco vs. Andy Murray.  Predict Murray and Djokovic to make it through.  Otherwise, dangerous to assume anything this year at Wimbledon.  Still miss the regulars (Fed and Nadal), and also hats off to thirty five year old Tommy Hass and his effort at Wimbledon this year.

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