Surviving "Paradise"

It was a manic day of action at Wimbledon on Saturday.  That is not supposed to happen until Monday.  No play on the middle Sunday of Wimbledon, that is tradition.  So manic Monday involves coverage of Centre Court action on ESPN and all the other action on ESPN2.  But, the weather has caused issues, so today’s action was fast and furious.

On the men’s side, #1 seed Novak Djokovic rolls on with an easy victory over Chardy of France, 6 – 3, 6 – 2, 6 – 2.  He certainly appears to be headed into the final to likely meet Andy Murray.  Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  David Ferrer took five sets to survive Dolgopolov, winning 6 – 7, 7 – 6, 2 – 6, 6 – 1, 6 – 2.  Ferrer is a dogged competitor, but this is not clay.  I do not expect him to make it into the final.  #20 seed Youzhny advanced over V. Troicki in straight sets, 6 – 3, 6 – 4, 7 – 5.  Del Potro advanced over Zemlja but hyper-extended his knee in the process.  How will this affect him moving forward into week two?  B. Tomic (the spoiled brat from Australia whose father is banned from the tournament after assaulting his practice partner) appears to be handling himself well, perhaps maturing a bit and took out R. Gasquet in four sets.  Surprise result in that matchup.  Tomic is very talented, just has not handled himself well in other areas of his life so far.  Perhaps that will change?  #7 Berdych advanced over #27 K. Anderson in four sets and the ageless wonder, Tommy Haas (35) won over Lopez in four tough sets.  Way to go Tommy!!

On the women’s side, Serena Williams continues to show her dominance.  She was broken (once) but prevailed in straight sets over the forty two year old (yes, that would 42 year old!) K. Date-Krumm, 6 – 2, 6 – 0.  Date-Krumm of Japan first played at Wimbledon in 1989.  She actually left the sport for twelve years and then returned.  Remarkable.  Still, Serena looks invincible.  Kvitova came back in the third set, down a break, in the match that was postponed from yesterday to advance over Makarova.  Li Na of China (one of my favorites) won in three sets over K. Zakopalova, 4 – 6, 6 – 0, 8 – 6.  Laura Robson, the darling of Great Britain advanced in three sets.  S. Lisicki ousted Sam Stosur in three sets.  The #4 seed A. Radwanska won over Madison Keys of the USA to reach the coveted round of sixteen.  So, two American women remain, no American men.

No tennis on Sunday (tomorrow), the middle Sunday as is the tradition at the All England Club.  Monday will be crazy, but then again, this year’s Wimbledon has already been off the charts crazy.  All Centre Court action will be covered live on ESPN.  Other action will be seen on ESPN2.

Gotta say looks like Djokovic vs. Murray on the men’s side.  On the women’s side, Serena vs.?  Maybe Kvitova, Radwanska, Lisicki, maybe even Li Na?  Who knows…but, it is just is not the same…Roger Federer out, even Nadal and numerous others out due to injury and withdrawals.  Really disappointing!

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There are simply no words.  Roger Federer, defending Wimbledon champion, holder of 7 Wimbledon titles, 17 Grand Slams, and so on and on, was sent packing today in the second round by the 116th ranked player in the world, Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6 – 7, 7- 6, 5 – 7, 6 – 7.  SHOCKING!  Also heartbreaking for Federer fans, probably more painful for Fed fanatics than even for Roger himself.  Of all the tournaments, the hallowed grounds of the All England Club, it’s history and tradition and all that it represents in tennis are particularly meaningful to Federer.  This match came on a day when the carnage was unlike any other day in tennis history.  All in all, seven former number one players in the world went out today, either due to injury or defeat.  Earlier, Maria Sharapova lost to L. De Brito (ranked #131 in the world) in straight sets, 6 – 3, 6- 4.  Is Serena Williams smiling somewhere in London?  Also, #2 seed Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw due to the injury she suffered in the nasty fall she took in her opening match.  Azarenka has never given a walkover in her career until today.  American John Isner retired in his match due to a left knee injury.  J. Tsonga retired in the third set of his match against Gulbis, reason given was knee injury.  M. Cilic also withdrew on the men’s side of the draw due to injury.  Both Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic were ousted in straight sets and L. Hewitt also fell on the men’s side.  Just an incredible day of upsets and shocking withdrawals at Wimbledon today.

The biggest story if of course Roger Federer.  This comes on the heels of Rafael Nadal’s early exit to a guy named Steve, (Steve Darcis, ranked #135 in the world)   Mr. Darcis ironically had to withdraw today as well, speculatively due to a shoulder injury sustained on a fall in the victory over Nadal.  For Federer, the 36 consecutive quarterfinal appearances in Grand Slam tournaments has ended.  It was his earliest loss in a major since 2002.  It was the first time he has lost to a player outside the top 100 since 2005.  And finally, it was the earliest exit from Wimbledon by a defending champion since 2003 (Leyton Hewitt).  Sigh…yes, I am sad.  But do not listen to all the chatter that this is the end.  Has an era ended?  Well, the era of Federer dominating tennis ended several years back.  But this is not the end for Federer.  His press conference was painful to watch as was the look on his face as he approached to net to shake the hand of the victorious and overjoyed Stakhovsky.  Federer did not play badly, he was not Federer at his best, but he had his chances, especially in the fourth set.  Alas, Stakhovsky played the match of his life and deserved the victory today.  Roger was gracious as always, but the pain was there, not doubt about it.  So we will now watch to see who will get to join the party with Djokovic and Murray (who advanced in straight sets today) as the tournament continues without the great Swiss.  Will be watching to see how both Federer and Nadal plan out their summer season as the hardcourt tournaments leading up to the US Open get underway.  Perhaps Federer will tweak some things and surprise us.  Nadal, it remains to be seen what the true status of his fragile knee(s) spells for his hardcourt campaign.  This is not the end (even though the media would like us to think it is) for Fed.  Yes, father time is a factor that cannot be denied, not for him, not for any great athlete (not for anyone for that matter).  But is isn’t over.  Roger Federer will play another day and Roger Federer will win another day.  Remember I said this when it happens!

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There are simply no words.  Roger Federer, defending Wimbledon champion, holder of 7 Wimbledon titles, 17 Grand Slams, and so on and on, was sent packing today in the second round by the 116th ranked player in the world, Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6 – 7, 7- 6, 5 – 7, 6 – 7.  SHOCKING!  Also heartbreaking for Federer fans, probably more painful for Fed fanatics than even for Roger himself.  Of all the tournaments, the hallowed grounds of the All England Club, it’s history and tradition and all that it represents in tennis are particularly meaningful to Federer.  This match came on a day when the carnage was unlike any other day in tennis history.  All in all, seven former number one players in the world went out today, either due to injury or defeat.  Earlier, Maria Sharapova lost to L. De Brito (ranked #131 in the world) in straight sets, 6 – 3, 6- 4.  Is Serena Williams smiling somewhere in London?  Also, #2 seed Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw due to the injury she suffered in the nasty fall she took in her opening match.  Azarenka has never given a walkover in her career until today.  American John Isner retired in his match due to a left knee injury.  J. Tsonga retired in the third set of his match against Gulbis, reason given was knee injury.  M. Cilic also withdrew on the men’s side of the draw due to injury.  Both Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic were ousted in straight sets and L. Hewitt also fell on the men’s side.  Just an incredible day of upsets and shocking withdrawals at Wimbledon today.

The biggest story if of course Roger Federer.  This comes on the heels of Rafael Nadal’s early exit to a guy named Steve, (Steve Darcis, ranked #135 in the world)   Mr. Darcis ironically had to withdraw today as well, speculatively due to a shoulder injury sustained on a fall in the victory over Nadal.  For Federer, the 36 consecutive quarterfinal appearances in Grand Slam tournaments has ended.  It was his earliest loss in a major since 2002.  It was the first time he has lost to a player outside the top 100 since 2005.  And finally, it was the earliest exit from Wimbledon by a defending champion since 2003 (Leyton Hewitt).  Sigh…yes, I am sad.  But do not listen to all the chatter that this is the end.  Has an era ended?  Well, the era of Federer dominating tennis ended several years back.  But this is not the end for Federer.  His press conference was painful to watch as was the look on his face as he approached to net to shake the hand of the victorious and overjoyed Stakhovsky.  Federer did not play badly, he was not Federer at his best, but he had his chances, especially in the fourth set.  Alas, Stakhovsky played the match of his life and deserved the victory today.  Roger was gracious as always, but the pain was there, not doubt about it.  So we will now watch to see who will get to join the party with Djokovic and Murray (who advanced in straight sets today) as the tournament continues without the great Swiss.  Will be watching to see how both Federer and Nadal plan out their summer season as the hardcourt tournaments leading up to the US Open get underway.  Perhaps Federer will tweak some things and surprise us.  Nadal, it remains to be seen what the true status of his fragile knee(s) spells for his hardcourt campaign.  This is not the end (even though the media would like us to think it is) for Fed.  Yes, father time is a factor that cannot be denied, not for him, not for any great athlete (not for anyone for that matter).  But is isn’t over.  Roger Federer will play another day and Roger Federer will win another day.  Remember I said this when it happens!

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Wimbledon day one shocker, Rafael Nadal (after all the controversy over him being seeded so low at #5) goes out in the first round to a guy named Steve, Steve Darcis from Belgium (ranked 135th in the world), 6 – 7, 6- 7, 4 – 6.  WOW?  Take nothing away from Mr. Darcy, excuse me, Mr. Darcis, he played a beautiful match.  But Nadal has now lost at Wimbledon in the earliest of rounds for the second year in a row.  Last year it was to a guy named Lucas (Rasol) in round 2, this year, one and done.   He did not look like he was fully healthy, yet it has only been fifteen days since he won his amazing and record setting 8th French Open title.  So…an early exit for Rafa at Wimbledon and good news for both Roger Federer and Andy Murray, two guys seeded in that same side of the draw.  No longer will we dream of a Rafa-Roger quarterfinal, but perhaps we can look forward to a Roger-Andy semifinal, a rematch of last year’s final?  Federer looked tres Federer like in dismantling Victor Hanescu in 69 minutes, 6 – 3, 6 – 2, 6 – 0.  He celebrates the ten year anniversary of his first Wimbledon win in 2003,  He started play today in the first match on Centre Court as last year’s men’s champion (#7 Wimbledon title), and much to my relief, he did wear his trademark headband, even with the new shorter do.  Federer took care of business today with 32 winners, 7 aces, and only 6 unforced errors.  Andy Murray looked to be in great form as well, taking care of B. Becker of Germany, 6 – 4, 6 – 3, 6 – 2.  Other winners on the men’s side today include John Isner, Leyton Hewitt over Stan Wawrinka, J. Tsonga, M. Cilic, M. Youzhny and V. Troicki.  Current number one Novak Djokovic and yes, the #1 seed, will take the court tomorrow as will #1 seed and world number one Serena Williams.

On the women’s side, Maria Sharapova advanced in straight sets as did Victoria Azarenka.  Azarenka took a scary fall in the second set (the grass courts are very slippery on the early days of play) and grimaced in pain as trainers and her opponent rushed to her aid.  She eventually returned after being treated by a doctor and with her right leg wrapped, finished the match.  Still, one has to wonder how serious her injury is and how it will impact her play for the rest of the tournament.  #5 seed Sara Errani was upset by young M. Puig.  Wozniacki, Ivanovic and Kvitova also advanced on the women’s side today.

So now, I have to raise the issue…the GOAT.  John McEnroe earlier today before play began was on the verge of abandoning his loyalty to Roger Federer as being the GOAT and ready to proclaim Rafael Nadal the GOAT.  Um…wonder how he is feeling right now?  Seriously, Rafa is the greatest clay court player ever.  But, he has only won two Wimbledon titles, and eight of his 12 majors are on clay.  He does have an Olympic gold medal (Federer only has a silver).  Now, he clearly struggles with his knees due to his style of play.  He is a clay court specialist and has had success on other surfaces.  But, Federer has seven Wimbledon titles, five US Open titles, four Australian titles and one French Open title.  Had he not played in the era of Nadal’s dominance on clay, how many French Open titles might Roger hold as well?  He lost at least four finals at the French Open to Nadal.  Also, Federer has won the ATP year end title a record five times.  So, I have to say, in my completely Fed fanatic biased opinion, Federer is the GOAT!  No disrespect to Rafa, but Fed is the greatest!

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