Nadal is not facing a radically depleted or wounded Roger Federer in the final. Federer won all 10 sets he played in picking up his 5th Halle title. Marcos Baghdatis and Nichols Kiefer stand out as solid wins in the quick transition from clay to grass. The Fed has also posted straight set wins over Robin Soderling, 2002 Wimbledon Champion Lleyton Hewitt, 2004 Wimbledon semifinalist Mario Ancic, and the enigmatic talent of Marat Safin. Nadal made a similarly quick and impressive transition from clay to grass, but he did so with the wind of victory at his back not the sting of humiliation. Federer has looked sharp at Halle and at Wimbledon.

Thanks NBC, and thanks Wimbledon. Thanks for again banding together to try and ruin the sport. If that’s your combined intent, your combined goal, you are really doing a helluva a great job!

Wimbledon rain aside, how the hell does either Rainer Schuettler or Arnaud Clement have to opportunity to get to the semifinals of another Grand Slam? Weren’t these guys long gone, washed up years ago? Hasn’t the strength of the tour improved enough over the years to prevent such players from getting this far?

“I was too nervous to play well in the beginning,” Safin said. “I got a service break and played better. I had to calm down. I was too nervous to make anything happen.”

“I would never sit here and say she’s the favorite when I’m still in the draw,” Serena said. “That’s not me. I always believe I’m the favorite. Even if I’m not the favorite, I’m always going to believe that I am.”