This is an “old guys” Wimbledon: Fed, Roddick, Ferrero, Haas, Hewitt, Djokovic (a young veteran, that), and Andy Murray (another young veteran). Wonder if all the changes in the sport (string technology, slowing down of surfaces), etc) benefits veterans, or players that play veteran style (Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) more than it does the new guard…

June 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Ha ha, very good stuff by Andrew re young veterans. Lol !

June 30th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Hopefully, the battle royale for supremacy would be between
Her Majesty, Queen Venus-VII and Her Majesty, Queen Serena-X ! The grass’d bear the brunt of this hopefully-to-come epic battle, which’d end with the triumph of Her Majesty, Queen Venus-VII !!!!!

June 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Pam Shriver is one catty old B.

Yesterday she cuts up Petrova’s dress- I hope she loses so we don’t have to see her dress anymore. Today she cuts up Safina and her tennis shirt saying it doesn’t fit right or something like that. I’m no fan of Safina and it looks like she eats a lot of cakes and pies but I think Pam should just have said, Safina has a fat stomach and it’s sticking out of her shirt.
It is not Pam’s job to be the Anna Wintour of tennis. I don’t remember hearing her criticizing that disastrous tie-dyed blue outfit of Serena’s when she looked like two pounds of baloney in a one pound bag.
God, women’s tennis is awful except for a few bright stars. I will not be watching the Williams final.

June 30th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

vared I don’t know if I will either. If by chance that Dementieva or Safina cause an upset and get through to face one of the W sisters (or each other even!) then I will definitely tune in. But like JCZ said, I find the W sisters matches awkward for some reason. I must be strange to compete like that for GS titles. But they do deserve kudos for their accomplishments – I mean wow! What can you say? The other girls need to serve better and compete mentally at a higher level.

June 30th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

Andrew Miller: I found your post interesting & amusing as well :-) Anyway, good point! I was actually thinking about the same, since when you look at previous years, you could find lots of “elder” names who did well on this particular tourney (for example Schüttler or Björkman)…

June 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

“Her Majesty, Queen Venus-VII and Her Majesty, Queen Serena-X!” Please, don’t make me vomit.

June 30th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

From a yahoo article – “Nothing should be taken away from the excellence of the Williams sisters on the London grass, but their sheer dominance has done nothing for the spectacle of the event.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/ten_experts/post/Wimbledon-Slice-Day-8-Time-to-step-up?urn=ten,173860

I have to agree; when matches become predictable, and especially when they become routs on a regular basis (every player can have one rout here and there, which is different), it can become kind of boring or deadening- even when the tennis, as displayed by the sisters, is excellent/dominant. It takes the excitement out of watching for most spectators.

I hope the women’s semis are not quite as lopsided.

BTW, in Serena’s presser she was asked if fans are getting their money’s worth when matches are over so quickly (she said yes), and yet she also said she is “ready” to play 5-setters from the quarters on. Interesting…

June 30th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Skorocel:

“I was actually thinking about the same, since when you look at previous years, you could find lots of “elder” names who did well on this particular tourney (for example Schüttler or Björkman)…’

Wimby seem to bring out the best in some of the older players.

June 30th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

Hey tennisbebe, don’t vomit or you’d have to clean it yourself. ;)

July 1st, 2009 at 3:24 am

Anyone watching this Serena/Elena match? Go Elena!!! Yes a mini break in TB.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 am

1st set Elena! Thought this would be the better of the 2 SF’s and it’s certainly started out that way.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 am

Good hold from Serena. The crowd is a little quiet.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 am

thanks tenisbebe, I did not see this article. This match needs a third set.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am

Boy, Elena’a serving is falling off these last 2 service games and Serena is giving her less pace to work with, mixing it up. Serena breaks!

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 am

Serena breaks, by the Hawkeye. Who says hawk eye is not good for tennis ?

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am

Yeah – go HE!!

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am

Uh oh. 15-40 Elena.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 am

C’mon Serena hold. Wow elena is aggressive.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 am

Oh my, a 2nd serve ace from S to save one.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am

Duece…lucky serena

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 am

Elena, more aggressive here..uh ha..ACE !

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 am

Serena’s definitely gotten less aggressive with her shots.

July 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 am

Eventually !!!..we have the third set

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am

Ahhhhhh! Elena misses the gimme shot for the game to tie it up. Controlled aggression Elena. Serena holds and takes the 2nd. Woo hoo! A 3rd set!

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am

serena very poor approach shot

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am

Yes. And Wow! that was a smokin BH from Elena to end the game.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am

Wow! Elena breaks. Let’s see how tough she is and if can hold.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am

Serena is just waiting for demantieva errors. She needs to step it up.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am

She definitely got some in that last game….those 2 short balls that Elena should have had.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 am

Solid game from serena. She hold.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:25 am

Only the 2nd dropper of the match & it worked.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 am

This match can go either way. maybe it now time for Elena to win her forst GS.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 am

easy hold for serena

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 am

Elena holds. She is serving first in this set..an advantage. Serena needs not to slip up here

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 am

Good hold for Elena at 40-0. I think Elena breaks here.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 am

match point elena

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 am

Serena really doesn’t need to be looking to go to net. Ever.

What a match though holy cow.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 am

Close but no…

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am

Dementieva running FH cross court is dangerous

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am

Kimmi Says:”Dementieva running FH cross court is dangerous” That was a beautiful shot.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 am

danger serena

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am

Talk about pressure serving to save your butt!

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am

Wow wow, serena is a fighter

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 am

Elena is not going away either.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am

Those were the two best points I have seen in a long time in woman’s tennis. And Sarena holds to level 6-6 in the 3rd.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am

Looks like Sarena now wins, securing 2 Williams in the final.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am

Wow serena. great shots to win that break point. can she serve for it….

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am

TF – Wait, Serena’s 1st serve has not been there the past couple service games & Elena is attacking her 2nd well.

July 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am

oh no..double fault

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 am

TF – you’re doing it again!

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 am

Best women match so far. Great semi final match.
demantieva was soooooo close

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 am

Great match!! Finally, Elena missed that BH down the line which she loves at MP. Congrats Serena. Good job Elena!

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am

What a choker this Dementieva is! I’d be happy for her to win that darn grandslam title, but when one’s afraid of winning, then what can you do? Congrats to Serena on a job well done!

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:08 am

Well Kudos to both players. Elena did not fold mentally after she lost the 2nd & hung tough in the 3rd. Hopefully she’ll take away alot of positives from this.

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 am

Shaky,
I will stop the day I get 3rd time wrong in my getting-ahead cruise.
I have to say both played amazing tennis !

July 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am

Was venus too good or was it Safina too bad…how can a number 1 player get only 2 games in a semi final match of a grand slam. Disgraceful.

Another williams sisters final and looks like it will be another venus victory.

July 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Did i say, safina gets 2 games…It is actually one game…6-1 6-0 shame shame shame.

I feel for demantieva, she played very well and still lost.

July 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm

Did Venus put a beat-down on Safina or what! WOW. That match reminds me of Serena v. Sharapova at the AO. Those Williams sisters will do that to anyone they perceive to be an enemy. I suppose Venus perceives Safina to be Serena’s enemy.
___________________
Skorocel: I was hoping that Dementieva would win Wimby this year — she sure disappoints and you’re right she is a choker. It almost seems that she’s afraid to take that final step, always holding back. For what, or when, I’d like to know — the time is now Elena. One of the four things Shakespeare says that comes not back is: ‘the lost opportunity’. Elena had her window of opportunity and she blew by choking. sheesh.

July 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Dementieva showed some mettle and gave us one good women’s semifinal. I wish she’d've won so we’d see a different final than last year, but somehow this Williams sister final seemed destined.

Back to the drawing board, or dressing room, or whatever for Safina. It’s disappointing for sure. But I am surprised she even made it this far considering, like her brother before her, she feels grass is her worst surface.

She is consistent though – AO finals, FO final, Wimbledon semis, Madrid and (i think?) Rome titles on clay, etc. So that’s why she’s stayed at the top, that consistency. She hasn’t played a lot more than Serena, only 2 more tournaments. So it’s not like she’s wracking up points that way either. She just can’t seem to come through on the big occasions just yet. But I hope she will in the future, for her own sake (I can take her or leave her, though she is a fighter, which I admire).

July 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Venus would win her 6th Wimbledon! BEST OF LUCK VENUS and WORST OF LUCK SERENA!

July 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

6-1 6-0?! If Jankovic is a disgrace to No. 1 ranking, then Safina is the queen of disgraces! LOL Dinara, that was priceless!

July 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Von: Exactly! I mean, I didn’t see the entire match (saw mainly the 1st and 3rd set), but still, I could clearly see how tense she was in the important moments… For example, that matchpoint which the Russian had on Williams’ serve – even though Serena hit a pretty solid volley, it was more than possible for Elena to make a winning pass, yet she dumped it to the net… What a pity! Don’t know about you, but personally, I consider Dementieva’s game to be the most attractive from all the Russians. She’s got phenomenal groundstrokes, great movement, and also an appropriate physique (which is so required on the WTA tour these days). Heck, even her serve (which used to be a liability) has improved over the years! BUT, when you don’t have it sorted between the ears, then it’s not gonna work… Pity!

July 2nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm

Match between Serena and Elena could have gone either way, it was that close. I would not put it too down on demantiueva. I thought she played very well thrughout. There was not too much loss of concentartion from both in this match. Very few points have been lost rather than won. I think this is the best I have seen her play a close fought match.

Her serve especially impresses me, her second serve was so hard and properly placed too. It was consistent ..serena had ahard time to return it. Hope she gets another oppoturnity in a grand slam and win the big matches this time. She is a darling.

July 2nd, 2009 at 3:40 pm

Kimmi: purely in terms natural pulchritude, she’s definitely one of the most beautiful on tour.

July 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Kimmi: I too was surprised by how much Elena had improved her serve; as we know, that’s always been a weakness. But with it firing like that, there’s no reason she won’t be a real force during the hardcourt season. This is one girl I’d love to see win her first slam.

July 2nd, 2009 at 3:56 pm

Ironically, grass may have been a great chance for Dementieva because the court gives so much on the slice serve, which she basically does all the time on second serves. But she won the Olympics on hard courts, and here best results have all been on hard courts. I’d love to see her…win that is.

July 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm

correction: Just saw a replay of that MP which Elena had on Serena’s serve… Should read “hit a pretty solid FH approach shot”

July 2nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm