It’s a battle on the men’s side. And it’s not going to change to taking spa breaks in the middle of matches. It’s not going to change to having your coach run on to court to help you because you can’t figure out how to change strategy or take advantage of weaknesses or formulate a plan.

Denis Istomin at the grasscourt event in Nottingham became the first player ever from Uzbekistan to win an ATP World Tour title, on Saturday edging American Sam Querrey 7-6(1), 7-6(6).

Bouchard will drop an ****-load of points after this event. Serena is going for a third Slam in pursuit of all four this year.

The shriek-fest that was Sharapova and Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito saw Sharapova fall three times on the grass in a 6-3, 6-4 loss where she was out-hit and out-shrieked.

The latest issue of Sports Illustrated features an interview with Serena where she stirs numerous pots — accusing fellow Wimbledon champ Maria Sharapova of being “boring” and going on and on about her boyfriend, who is an ex of Serena. She also weighs in on the high-profile rape case of a 16 year old, with the subtext that the girl deserved it because she was drunk, the parents were at fault, and the penalty to the rapists was too harsh (which she subsequently apologized for on her website, then paid a visit to the family).

With the win Federer again rises to No. 1 on the ATP Rankings, a feat few predicted after the Swiss fell to No. 3 and his the 30-year mark behind youngsters Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

The result was generally a forgone conclusion as the underpowered Radwanska, facing Williams’ brutal baseline bashing, entered the match struggling with an upper respiratory illness. But the tone of the match quickly changed in the second set when Williams needed to step up to close out the match.

It was Roddick’s fifth title on grass, and through the first six months of the season he is the only American male to win a singles title.

“Last year I didn’t have many chances to win,” Kvitova said. “Serena played so well. I was young and didn’t think I could beat her. I don’t know what was different, because today I felt I could win.”

“I’m thrilled to be in the final,” Sharapova said in her post-match news conference. “I was pretty realistic. I hadn’t been past the fourth round in a few years. So to be at this stage, I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to go for it.”

I’m going with Kvitova through to the final. And Azarenka breaking a racquet or giving a very audible obscenity. Or whacking a ball into the crowd and hitting the queen or George Michael.

“I was playing someone I lost to a little over a month ago on clay in two sets, so I knew she was capable of playing some really good tennis,” Sharapova said of Cibulkova. “A few years ago I also lost to her at the French Open, at the same stage as today. I thought I played really solid and did the right things to win this time.”

“To be honest, I don’t really care what people think or say or do,” said the defiant No. 1 Dane. “I cannot really do anything now. I did my best and it wasn’t good enough.”

“I thought today was a particularly good performance by my side, on my serve again,” said the self-effacing, humble Swiss. “I think I played a great match.”

Sharapova will next face No. 20 seed Shuai Peng, who beat Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6(5). Wozniacki was a mirror-opposite of Sharapova in her 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 27 seed Jarmila Gajdosova, making only six unforced errors.