Serena Fights Through, Collins Canned at Wimbledon

Matches suspended Monday were (2) Rafael Nadal leading (28) Robin Soderling 2-0 in the fifth; (4) Novak Djokovic leading Nicolas Kiefer 7-6(4), 6-5; (6) Nikolay Davydenko leading Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-5, 3-0; (16) Lleyton Hewitt leading (22) Guillermo Canas 6-4, 3-6, 3-1; and (19) Jonas Bjorkman leading Wayne Arthurs 6-2, 6-1, 4-3.

Nadal thought he had wrapped up his match in the third set with a forehand winner on match point, but the replay showed the ball out and the Swede Soderling stretched the match to a fifth set before play was called for the day.

Roger Federer moved ahead in the draw without playing a match when opponent Tommy Haas withdrew from the tournament citing an abdominal injury.

Matches scheduled for Tuesday are (3) Andy Roddick vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu, (2) Rafael Nadal vs. Robin Soderling (to finish), (12) Richard Gasquet vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, (4) Novak Djokovic vs. Nicolas Kiefer (to finish), (20) Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Janko Tipsarevic, (6) Nikolay Davydenko vs. Gael Monfils (to finish), (16) Lleyton Hewitt vs. (22) Guillermo Canas (to finish).

Serena Williams Fights Through Pain for Wimbledon Victory

Most women's matches were completed Monday at Wimbledon despite the rains, with favorites Justine Henin and the Williams sisters leading the winners.

The world No. 1 Henin eased past No. 15 Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2, while No. 7 Serena Williams defeated No. 10 Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-2, and No. 23 Venus Williams squeaked by Akiko Morigami 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

"Definitely one of my strong points is I'm a tough competitor and a huge fighter," said Venus Williams, who broke when Morigami served for the match. "In my experience, I just always feel like it should go my way. So I guess experience helps."

Serena Williams battled cramps to beat Hantuchova, collapsing onto the turf at 5-5 in the second set. Crying and screaming in pain, she received treatment before rain saved the American, sending her to the locker room. When play resumed Williams swung away while Hantuchova appeared tentative.

"I was going to die trying," Serena said. "I figured my heart wouldn't give out, anyway. But I've never dealt with such pain. I can't believe I won. I just kept thinking to myself -- one more game, one more game, until finally there were no games left. I was definitely saved by the rain. I couldn't move before that. I had a very acute muscle spasm. I think I was crying at one point. So in the break I was having a lot of ice on it, a lot of massage, drinking a lot of fluids -- tons of fluids."

Serena will meet Henin in the quarterfinals.

"I was a bit surprised the match was so quick, I was ready to have a good fight," Henin said of her match. "I've done my job perfectly so far and am just going to try to keep it going."

Other winners Monday were (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Radwanska), (6) Ana Ivanovic (d. Rezai), (11) Nadia Petrova (d. Ruano Pascual), Tamira Paszek (d. (12) Dementieva in three), and (14) Nicole Vaidisova (d. Azarenka).

On deck for Tuesday are (14) Nicole Vaidisova vs. (4) Amelie Mauresmo, (23) Venus Williams vs. (2) Maria Sharapova, (3) Jelena Jankovic vs. (18) Marion Bartoli, (6) Ana Ivanovic vs. (11) Nadia Petrova, and (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Tamira Paszek.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Wimbledon weather forecasters are calling for rain through Thursday, so don't expect matches to be caught up by then. The continued rain will make the men's draw an endurance test, favoring the fit over the fat...Roger Federer needs just three wins to claim his fifth straight title at the 'W'...Could the Wimbledon roof, scheduled for completion in 2009, be finished in time for the 2008 meetings? There's a good chance after this week...David Nalbandian checked out after the second set, that according to Marcos Baghdatis during an ESPN interview...If Nikolay Davydenko finds Wimbledon so boring, why bother playing?...John McEnroe and Boris Becker were presenters during the Concert for Diana Sunday at London's new Wembley Arena...Best headline from The Guardian: "Davydenko takes a break from yawning to slam Wimbledon": "Wimbledon has been awash with dissatisfaction -- from denunciations of British tennis to complaints about the pricing of food, not to mention frustration at seeing only two days of uninterrupted tennis -- and yesterday the world No4, Nikolay Davydenko, called the championships "the world's most boring tournament". "There's hardly anything to do apart from tennis," Davydenko told the Sovietsky Sport newspaper. "You constantly find yourself yawning, there's no entertainment here."...Tommy Haas withdrew from Wimbledon before his match with Roger Federer due to an abdominal muscle injury...Venus Williams has boyfriend/PGA Tour golfer Hank Kuehne with her at Wimbledon...From tennis writer Charlie Bricker: "Bud Collins, the 78-year-old icon of American tennis, has been fired by NBC Sports after 35 years of hosting interviews, doing play-by-play and forging a bond with millions of tennis fans over the years. Collins confirmed his firing Monday morning, but declined extensive comment, saying only that, "I've had 35 wonderful years with NBC and I hope to remain in tennis." Those close to Collins said he was very hurt by his termination. He was fired on June 22, shortly before the start of Wimbledon. A source said he arrived in London to find a message from Ken Schanzer, head of NBC Sports. Collins will continue to work for the Boston Globe, his employer for 44 years. "I've walked these hallowed grounds for 35 years," said Collins, who is working here as a sort of broadcast lame duck." -- Classy Ken!...Three days after starting the match, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra of France finally wrapped up a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(9), 14-12 win over Amer Delic and Bobby Reynolds of the U.S. in men's doubles at Wimbledon. "It's fun to play a match that is that tight, if it was in one day and you can build up to that," Delic said. "But it's been so hard having the rain delay, stopping and coming back the next day, starting a little bit and the rain comes back."...Aussie Wayne Arthurs announced his retirement at Wimbledon...From the Brisbane Times: "It might not only be the players counting the cost of the rain delays. The All England Club revealed that they had baulked at paying the prohibitive cost of insurance against inclement weather at this year's tournament. With Centre Court ticket holders given a full refund on Saturday because there was less than one hour's play -- Mauresmo took 58 minutes to complete her victory over Italian Mara Santangelo -- it has been reported that single days could cost the club ?1 million ($2.36m) in lost revenue."...Mark Petchey speaking to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Wimbledon: "The grass is 100 percent rye now. It grows straight up instead of that mix they used to have, which interlocked with other grasses like a mat and laid down so that when the ball struck, its tendency was to skid. And, no question, the ball is bigger and heavier."...Former Pete Sampras coach Paul Annacone speaking to Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme on a Sampras tour comeback: "It is romantically interesting for all of us and I would love to see it. We have talked about it a number of times but I do not see it happening any time soon. I would never say never but it would shock me if it did happen. Pete does not seem too interested. There is a lot involved in doing that and he is doing just fine just now. I speak to him periodically and he is very happy with his life. He is playing a couple of senior events and has a couple of exhibitions with Roger (Federer) lined up."...From PR Inside on Pat "Smokin'" Cash: "Australian tennis player PAT CASH has let slip about his past drug use -- after he confessed to baking marijuana cookies in his sporting heyday during a U.K. radio interview. The sporting ace -- who has previously admitted to smoking cannabis on his way to winning the 1987 Wimbledon tennis championships -- made the contentious revelation during a live interview with fellow tennis star Michael Stich, while they were discussing fellow tennis stars' hobbies on BBC Radio Five Live. Cash said: "The only think I used to bake was a bit of hash cookies in the old days." But bosses at the station are not impressed and have since warned the star to be more cautious on air. A spokeswoman for Radio Five Live says, "Pat has been asked to be more careful on air."...From Tennisnews: "Wilson announces the departure of the Bryan brothers -- Wilson announced the departure of the Bryan brothers by send a public thank you to the brothers for partnership that spanned nearly 25 years. Their contract ends following this year's Wimbledon Championships. The brothers will begin playing with Prince rackets."

Also see:

Tough 6 Months in the Past for Former No. 1 Mauresmo at Wimbledon
http://www.tennis-x.com/vachblog/2007-07-02/60.php

FAMILY MAN WITT JOINS WILLIAMS TENNIS CLAN
http://www.tennis-x.com/vachblog/2007-07-02/61.php

Amer Delic Takes the Big Stage
http://www.tennis-x.com/vachblog/2007-07-02/62.php

Can Serena lose the title now?
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2007-07-02/182.php