The All England Club’s slippery turf has not been kind to knees, ankles and the mighty at Wimbledon this year. After winning his 8th French Open – in straight sets, Rafael Nadal fell in the first round to Belgian Steve Darcis. Roger Federer faded in four to Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky in the third round. Maria Sharapova said so long in the second round, losing in straight sets to qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal. Fifth seeded Sara Errani suffered a straight sets beat-down by Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig in the first round…
The carnage continued with a long list of walkovers. Injury claimed Victoria Azarenka, John Isner, Marin Cilic, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and this year’s Rafa-slayer Steve Darcis, just to name a few. Sunday’s traditional day of rest couldn’t get here fast enough.
When the smoke cleared Saturday, the Rounds of 16 were set. Those left on the Men’s side:
- Novak Djokovic vs. Tommy Haas
- Bernard Tomic vs. Tomas Berdych
- David Ferrer vs. Ivan Dodig
- Andreas Seppi vs. Juan Martin del Potro
- Lukasz Kubot vs. Adrian Mannarino
- Jerzy Janowicz vs. Jurgen Melzer
- Fernando Verdasco vs. Kenny De Schepper
- Mikhail Youzhny vs. Andy Murray
Needless to say, most anticipate a Djokovic vs. Murray final. But with slick conditions and last week’s exodus, truly anything could happen. Those left on the ladies side:
- Serena Williams vs. Sabine Lisicki
- Laura Robson vs. Kaia Kanepi
- Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Tsetana Pironkova
- Roberta Vinci vs. Na Li
- Monica Puig vs. Sloane Stephens
- Marion Bartoli vs. Karin Knapp
- Petra Kvitova vs. Carla Suarez Navarro
- Kirsten Flipkens vs. Flavia Panetta
Serena Williams has dominated at Wimbledon and odds-makers consider her a four-to-one favorite to win the Championships, coming off another French Open crown. But you can’t count out German Sabine Lisicki who comes alive every year on grass at the All England Club.
Coming off their second French Open title, Bob and Mike Bryan continue their march through the Wimbledon Men’s Doubles field, now into the third round. Still to play her third round match, Liezel Huber is the only American woman still alive in the Women’s Doubles draw with partner Sania Mirza. Vania King and partner Jie Zheng and American doubles team Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears were defeated in their third round matches.
