TennisToday

Andy Murray's Dogs Snub His Wimbledon Trophy

He's lucky they didn't pee on it.

Andy's mother Judy tweeted this photo captioned:

they just know its a replica......zero interest  :-) x

***

I love her sense of humor.

Andy Murray Wins 2013 Wimbledon Title

Wimbledon - Men's Final

2 Andy Murray d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 75 64

FINALLY!

The 77 year drought has come to an end.

The look of disbelief on Andy's face after match point said it all.

It was a mixture of relief and 'wake-me-I'm-dreaming' delight.

I could bore you with stats so let's just hear from Andy:

Winning Wimbledon, I think, is the pinnacle of tennis.

I still can't believe it. Can't get my head around that. I can't believe it.

This one will take a little while to sink in, I'm sure.

***

Andy just turned up the heat on the race for year-end #1.

Since 2004 the Wimby winner has finished the year top of the pile.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Today's win was one for the ages. Great Scot - well done.

Marion Bartoli Wins Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Final

15 Marion Bartoli d 22 Sabine Lisicki - 61 64

WOW.

Two weeks ago NOBODY saw this coming. But what a wonderful story.

And so gracious and humble in her win.

This felt like Schiavone winning the French a few weeks back.

47: The most Slams ever played before winning a 1st Slam.

Post match: Honestly I still can't believe it. I've dreamed about this

moment for so long. For me, winning Wimbledon is beyond my wildest

dreams, let alone with an ace - but I've been practicing my serve for

so long, I guess I saved it for the best moment!

I'm so happy to be holding this trophy.

This has been my dream since I was six years old.

***

A new sporting legend and been christened in France.

Congrats girl! Your life will never be the same.

Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray to Meet in Wimbledon Final

Wimbledon - Men's Semifinals

1 Novak Djokovic d Juan Martin Del Potro - 75 46 76(2) 67(6) 63

2 Andy Murray d 24 Jerzy Janowicz - 67(2) 64 64 63

1 Novak Djokovic VS 2 Andy Murray - H2H: 11-7/Novak

Both great matches. Novak's an instant classic.

In fact, Novak has played in the 2 best matches of the year...

This one and his Sf loss to Rafa at the French Open.

Novak: It was one of the best matches that I've been a part of, one of the

most exciting definitely. I'm privileged to be a winner of this match.

Something tells me a 3rd greatest match of the year is in the offing Sunday.

They last met in the Aussie Open final - Novak won that one in 4.

The last time Andy beat Novak was in the US Open final last year.

Andy also beat Novak the only time they played on grass at the Olympics.

Andy: Novak is playing very well. We've only played once on grass before,

at the Olympics last year. I'll take that thought into my head on Sunday.

Ok, I'm pulling for Andy. Just to get it over with.

Marion Bartoli & Sabine Lisicki to Meet in Wimbledon Final

Wimbledon - Women's Semifinals

15 Marion Bartoli d 20 Kirsten Flipkens - 61 62 (Above)

23 Sabine Lisicki (below) d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 64 26 9-7

15 Marion Bartoli VS 23 Sabine Lisicki - H2H: 3-1/Sabine

***

If you had these two as your finalists please report to the prize office.

There waits for you a million dollar payout!

***

Marion post match: I just enjoy my time this year so much at Wimby

obviously. [I'm] having a lot of fun outside the court as well and

really carry[ing] on this great spirit with a smile.

Such a great character. It's really hard for me not to like her. A lot.

I even told her so at Indian Wells a couple years ago. Long story.

***

Sabine post match: I am overwhelmed, so happy. Steffi Graf texted

me good luck before the match. She told me to go for it.

I fought my heart out for every single point, and believed I could

still win no matter what the score was. In the third set when I was

3-0 down I told myself I had come back against Serena and

I could do it again. It gave me so much confidence.

Well now it makes sense - she had Steffi blowin' up her phone!

***

Both gals have certainly earned their places in the final...

But my Breakfast at Wimbledon will find me cheering for Bartoli.

I sure hope Bond shows up Saturday.

Andy Murray Wins Epic Quarterfinal Match at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's Quarterfinal

2 Andy Murray d Fernando Verdasco - 46 36 61 64 75

Talk about a thriller. An epic thriller. An instant classic for sure.

This is the 7th time Andy has come back from 2 sets down.

I can't even imagine how Henman Hill must have rocked today.

Post match: You're more concerned about losing the match,

not thinking so much that, 'I'm going to lose at Wimbledon.'. You're

concerned how the match is going and that you may lose.

But when you've been in that position a lot of times, you know how

to think through it and not get too far ahead of yourself.

I definitely didn't rush when I went two sets to love down.

I slowed myself down, if anything, and that was a good sign.

***

Andy is trying to get into his 4th straight Slam final.

He was runner-up last year, won the USO and was RU at the Aussie.

Remember: He skipped Roland Garros.

He'll play Jerzy Janowicz - H2H: 1-1. Jerzy won their last match.

It has the makings of yet another Centre Court thriller.

Sloane Stephens Thru to Quarterfinals at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Fourth Round

17 Sloane Stephens d Monica Puig - 46 75 61

Sloane is the last American standing - in either singles draw.

Nobody saw that coming.

This is Sloane's 2nd Slam Qf (both this year): 1-0.

She will next face 15 Marion Baroli (a former finalist) - H2H: 1-0/Bartoli.

Post match: It will definitely be tough.

She [Bartoli] plays really well on grass. She made the finals here.

Obviously, she's a good player. I'm going to have to go out,

do my best, compete, give 100%, and see how it goes.

Novak Djokovic Thru to Quarterfinals at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's Fourth Round

1 Novak Djokovic d 13 Tommy Haas - 61 64 76(4)

Novak is thru to his 25th Slam Qf (17th straight): 19-5.

Remember he is looking for a 2nd title at SW19 to add to his 2011 trophy.

He will have a tough Qf against 7 Tomas Berdych - H2H: 13-2.

That may not seem too tough but consider the 2 losses.

Their most recent was a Berdych win in Rome this year.

And the other loss was their only match on grass: Sf here at Wimby in '10.

Post match: I lost to him the only time we played on grass back in 2010.

I think that I am playing really, really good tennis at this moment.

Maybe even better than 2011, when I won this tournament.

I am confident on the court and trying to maintain this level.

I hope I will succeed.

***

Considering this has been an upset riddled Wimby - nothing is certain.

Photo: From Novak's Facebook just days before the start of Wimbledon.

David Ferrer Thru to Quarterfinals at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's Fourth Round

4 David Ferrer d Ivan Dodig - 67(3) 76(6) 61 61

One more match win and David will have been to the Sf's at all 4 Slams.

On top of that this is his 7th straight Slam Qf.

With Federer's loss David will move up to a career high of #3.

On Wednesday he will face 8 Juan Martin Del Potro - H2H: 6-2/Ferrer.

Post match: He's a very great player. It's going to be difficult.

I need to play my best tennis to beat Del Potro. And on a grass court

I think it is more difficult. He plays better than me on grass. Last year

I beat him, but I think I played my best match on a grass court.

***

I'd like him to get that Sf result (or better) on his resume.

Sabine Lisicki Upsets Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Fourth Round

23 Sabine Lisicki d 1 Serena Williams - 62 16 64

Add another big upset victim to this 2013 version of Wimbledon.

I mean, it's been one big-ass shock after another.

Nobody on this planet thought Serena would not take this title.

BUT... Sabine owns reigning French Open champs at Wimby.

Make it 4 years running: Fran in '10, Li Na in '11, and Maria last year.

Post match: Of course it gave me a little more energy knowing she won

the French Open and I've beaten the French Open champion three times

in a row in my last three appearances. It was a good omen.

They always happen to be on the side of the draw I'm on.

Maria Sharapova Upset in 2nd Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Second Round

Larcher De Brito d 3 Maria Sharapova - 63 64

It was a very whacky Wednesday at Wimbledon. VERY.

And Maria fell victim to to the day joining a list of upsets & retirements.

And when the hell has one seen her slip on court that many times?

Post match: I don't think I've ever fallen three times in a match before

in my career so that was a little strange, but that's certainly not an excuse.

I think today I've seen a lot of players fall and take a few hits and

a few injuries. I think that's just part of the game, part of what we

have to deal with as tennis players.

Roger Federer Upset in 2nd Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's Second Round

Sergiy Stakhovsky d 3 Roger Federer - 67(5) 76(5) 75 76(5)

Roger likes his records so maybe he wanted to take worst loss ever too.

Debatable of course but he is the GOAT and GOAT on grass.

Not to mention 7-times champ including last year.

So yea, I think this eclipses both of Rafa's losses the last two years.

Sergiy post match: You're playing the guy and then you're playing his legend,

which is following him because he won it seven times. He's holding all

possible career records here, I think, winning matches and everything.

You're playing two of them. When you're beating one, you still have the

other one who is pressing you.

You're saying, ‘Am I about to beat him? Is it possible?

***

And Roger sounds a little crabby in his post: I still have plans to play for

many more years to come. It's normal that after all of a sudden losing

early after being in the quarters 36 times, people feel it's different.

You guys hyped it up so much: me playing Rafa, and we're both out.

So there's a letdown clearly. Maybe it's also somewhat a bit disrespectful

to the other opponents who are in the draw still. I think it sends a

message to you guys as well that maybe

you shouldn't do that so often next time around.

Rafael Nadal Upset in 1st Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's First Round

Steve Darcis d 5 Rafael Nadal - 76(4) 76(8) 64

Well, Rafa had to come back to earth at some point.

But crashing down this bad was not something anybody expected.

I mean, who throught he could actually LOSE points after this fortnght???

This is his first loss at a Slam in the 1st round.

This was only Rafa's 3rd loss this year AND Steve's 2nd 2013 match win.

This loss may have also hurt Rafa's shot at year-end #1.

It's tough to finish on top of the pile with no points from 2 Slams.

Was it the knee? He refused to mention it in his presser. So probably.

UGH.

Post match: Two weeks ago I was in a fantastic situation,

winning a fantastic tournament [at Roland Garros]. Two weeks later,

I lost here in the first round. That's the positive and the negative

thing about this sport. It is tough losing in the first round.

Pierre -VS- Maggie May

Some London paper fun ahead of Wimbledon.

Though I think Novak's dog is cute I certainly prefer Andy's.

No contest.

Jamie Hampton Gains Her 1st Ever WTA Final - At Eastbourne

WTA Eastbourne - Women's Semifinal

Q Jamie Hampton d 5 Caroline Wozniacki - 67(8) 75 63

Jamie beat Caro once in the juniors now she can boast an official WTA win.

The win will push Jamie to new heights - the top 30.

Her qualifying days will now be a thing of the past.

And hello American hopeful pressure.

Poat match: I didn't come just to play the qualifying. I try to enter every

tournament & think to get deep in the tournament, & look to win the title.

So coming off my Roland Garros run I had a good amount of confidence,

and I was hoping to get deep into this tournament this week too.

***

US hopeful vs US hopeful: Jamie just drew Sloane in Wimby 1st round.

So there's that bummer US hopeful news from London today.

Rafael Nadal is Seeded 5th for 2013 Wimbledon

The seedings have been released for the coming Championships and...

Rafael Nadal has been placed as the tournaments 5th seed.

Wimbledon ignored giving Rafa a deserving discretionary bump.

Most in the tennis world think he should at least be the 4th seed.

There is one word to use here: dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

Let's see... Rafa is a 2-time champ and 3-time runner-up.

4th seed David Ferrer has been a quarterfinalist exactly once.

Moreover, Rafa has beaten David all 4 times they've played this year.

AND - we don't even need to compare their 2013's. It's no contest.

Well, as payback I hope Rafa gets placed in Murray's quarter...

Only then will Wimby get that they've made a serious blunder.

It's worth repeating: dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

***

Photo: Rafa's first practice yesterday at Wimby,

 

Rafael Nadal Will NOT Getting a Special Protected Seeding at Roland Garros

Rafa & Serena share a presser laugh in Madrid ahead of play next week.

So all the talk and rumors of Rafa's seeding at Roland Garros can stop.

They announce today that he will not get a protected seeding.

French Open tournament director Gilbert Ysern told L'Equipe today:

Considering what Nadal represents in Paris,

i.e. the best player in the tournament's history,

it seemed incongruous that he arrives in Paris with the number 4 or 5 bib.

But it was said to be fiddling. What was supposed to be a strong symbol,

a tribute, was seen as messy business.

Whatever. Here's how I see it:

I believe Novak, Andy and Roger should remain the top 3 seeds.

I think Rafa should swap places with Ferrer and be seeded #4.

And I doubt you'd get much of an argument from Ferrer about it either.

It solves the problem of Rafa meeting the top 3 in the quarters.

Nobody wants to see this happen so hopefully he'll land in Ferrer's section.

Here's what I do know: Wimbledon will not make this mistake.

Wimbledon Gets Dressed for the Olympics

SW19 looks ready. But that color is gonna take some time to get adjust to...

Photos: Getty Images

The Wimbledon Champions for 2012

Men's Champion - Roger Federer

Women's Champion - Serena Williams

Men's Doubles - Robert Lindstedt & Jonathan Marray

Women's Tennis - Serena & Venus Williams

Mixed Doubles - Lisa Raymond & Mike Bryan

Roger Federer Wins Wimbledon 2012 Title

Wimbledon - Men's Final

3 Roger Federer d 4 Andy Murray - 46 75 63 64

#7 at Wimbledon. And... #17 in the Slams.

GOAT: Anybody who still doubts it - just stop it.

The win also sends him back to #1.

Meaning, he tied Sampras twice today - 7 titles & most weeks at #1.

And he'll own that latter record all by himself a week on. Post match:

It equals me with Pete Sampras, who's my hero, so it feels amazing.

I repeat: Anybody who still doubts it - just stop it.

Post match: I feel better here than anywhere else.

I don't know why. It's a unique and special place.

It will take me a long time to understand what I've achieved here today.

My twin girls have helped my game.

I'm playing some of the best tennis of my life.

Today is a dream come true for me and my family.

***

Roger & Serena just made the Olympics much more interesting.

Like Serena, he just won Wimbledon at over 30 years old.

Like Serena, a singles gold medal is one of the few title they're missing.

Like Serena, he has a gold in doubles.

Like Serena, he his suddenely a heavy favorite to win.

Photo: Getty Images