So after Nadal's upset in the second round, you know Murray did a lttle dance of joy because his path to the final just opened way up for him.

Again Federer just proves how important the mental aspect of the game is - 2 sets down against Benneteau and he doesn't panic - so impressive.

Djokovic and Federer should make the semis - can't wait for that. Murray and Tsonga would be obvious but there's an American qualifier Brian Baker who has only just got back on tour after being out for 5 years from a variety of injuries - would love to see him get through a couple more rounds.

I think I'll take a Federer vs Murray final with Andy for the breakthrough win .

Womens is still quite open. Possible quarters are Sharapova vs Clijsters, Radwanska vs Kirilenko, Serena vs Kvitova and Paszek vs Azarenka. Would be no huge surprise if any of the 3 Germans made their way through to the semis. Sharapova has been pretty consistent and is confident and healthy. I think a Serena on form will be the only thing that will stop her. I'll keep Sharapova for the win.

Your picks?

It'd be nice to see Murray finally break through, but Federer is my favorite right now.

I won't watch women's tennis. I like Clijster, but I won't watch the women play. Actually, I'd watch them, but not with the sound on. They are ridiculous.

I'd like to see Murray win, but Federer's 31 this year and he's probably edging pretty close to his expiration date as a consistent potential grand-slam winner so I'm pulling for him.

RodeoSchro said:

It'd be nice to see Murray finally break through, but Federer is my favorite right now.

I won't watch women's tennis. I like Clijster, but I won't watch the women play. Actually, I'd watch them, but not with the sound on. They are ridiculous.

Come on. The sexual grunting when the women play is part of the allure

of watching.

phunkdaddy said:

RodeoSchro said:

It'd be nice to see Murray finally break through, but Federer is my favorite right now.

I won't watch women's tennis. I like Clijster, but I won't watch the women play. Actually, I'd watch them, but not with the sound on. They are ridiculous.

Come on. The sexual grunting when the women play is part of the allure

of watching.

It's an embarrassment to sports.

RodeoSchro said:

It'd be nice to see Murray finally break through, but Federer is my favorite right now.

I won't watch women's tennis. I like Clijster, but I won't watch the women play. Actually, I'd watch them, but not with the sound on. They are ridiculous.

I know you're not alone but apart from the top 3 men, I honestly prefer the womens game. I thought it was so ironic that Gilles Simon had a dig at the womens game - he's absolutely the blandest most boring player.

The problem with the shrieking has only really come to the fore because Vika and Sharapova are both healthy and winning at the same time. Sharapova was out for a couple of years so the public were given a reprieve of sorts. Unfortunately for the game, they're talented and ultra competitive and successful for it. I can zone out Sharapova but Azarenka The very best hope for the tour is that the other players step up and beat their asses early and that has not been happening seeing they've won the last 2 Slams. It just sucks that the issue has taken so much away from the deepening and broadening of the tour.

mynameisnotsusan said:

RodeoSchro said:

It'd be nice to see Murray finally break through, but Federer is my favorite right now.

I won't watch women's tennis. I like Clijster, but I won't watch the women play. Actually, I'd watch them, but not with the sound on. They are ridiculous.

I know you're not alone but apart from the top 3 men, I honestly prefer the womens game. I thought it was so ironic that Gilles Simon had a dig at the womens game - he's absolutely the blandest most boring player.

The problem with the shrieking has only really come to the fore because Vika and Sharapova are both healthy and winning at the same time. Sharapova was out for a couple of years so the public were given a reprieve of sorts. Unfortunately for the game, they're talented and ultra competitive and successful for it. I can zone out Sharapova but Azarenka The very best hope for the tour is that the other players step up and beat their asses early and that has not been happening seeing they've won the last 2 Slams. It just sucks that the issue has taken so much away from the deepening and broadening of the tour.

Oh yeah, I do love to WATCH the women but the shrieking is just plain embarassing. As I recall, it started with Monica Seles but I could be wrong.

I know the principle is that when you exert the maximum amount of air, you are getting all you can out of your muscles.

But as an avid weightlifter who lifts for power and tries to hit max weights every time, I can tell you that if I ever shrieked on a lift, it would be because I was trying to do something I'd never done before.

Surely that's not the case on every tennis shot!

RodeoSchro said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

I know you're not alone but apart from the top 3 men, I honestly prefer the womens game. I thought it was so ironic that Gilles Simon had a dig at the womens game - he's absolutely the blandest most boring player.

The problem with the shrieking has only really come to the fore because Vika and Sharapova are both healthy and winning at the same time. Sharapova was out for a couple of years so the public were given a reprieve of sorts. Unfortunately for the game, they're talented and ultra competitive and successful for it. I can zone out Sharapova but Azarenka The very best hope for the tour is that the other players step up and beat their asses early and that has not been happening seeing they've won the last 2 Slams. It just sucks that the issue has taken so much away from the deepening and broadening of the tour.

Oh yeah, I do love to WATCH the women but the shrieking is just plain embarassing. As I recall, it started with Monica Seles but I could be wrong.

I know the principle is that when you exert the maximum amount of air, you are getting all you can out of your muscles.

But as an avid weightlifter who lifts for power and tries to hit max weights every time, I can tell you that if I ever shrieked on a lift, it would be because I was trying to do something I'd never done before.

Surely that's not the case on every tennis shot!

Yes, you can take air in and out of your body without engaging the vocal cords!

I work next to a tennis court and the grunting is just ridiculous.

RodeoSchro said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

I know you're not alone but apart from the top 3 men, I honestly prefer the womens game. I thought it was so ironic that Gilles Simon had a dig at the womens game - he's absolutely the blandest most boring player.

The problem with the shrieking has only really come to the fore because Vika and Sharapova are both healthy and winning at the same time. Sharapova was out for a couple of years so the public were given a reprieve of sorts. Unfortunately for the game, they're talented and ultra competitive and successful for it. I can zone out Sharapova but Azarenka The very best hope for the tour is that the other players step up and beat their asses early and that has not been happening seeing they've won the last 2 Slams. It just sucks that the issue has taken so much away from the deepening and broadening of the tour.

Oh yeah, I do love to WATCH the women but the shrieking is just plain embarassing. As I recall, it started with Monica Seles but I could be wrong.

I know the principle is that when you exert the maximum amount of air, you are getting all you can out of your muscles.

But as an avid weightlifter who lifts for power and tries to hit max weights every time, I can tell you that if I ever shrieked on a lift, it would be because I was trying to do something I'd never done before.

Surely that's not the case on every tennis shot!

Seles was the instigator and I remember Capriati stopped a match once and said to the umpire "Make her stop"

Seles blamed her loss in her only Wimbledon final in part for having to reduce her grunt.

It's definitely a habit - much like Nadals butt picking/nose touching on every single point. I wished he'd stop that too. Not gonna happen

I've been watching quite a bit in mornings. X Games is getting in the way this weekend.

Very surprised by the Nadal exit and disappointed that Venus went out so fast.

Pretty good tennis all around, though.

I like both men's and women's tennis. The women's matches may be more competitive farther down the rankings, but the men still do more crazy stuff on the court.

NDRU said:

Yes, you can take air in and out of your body without engaging the vocal cords!

I work next to a tennis court and the grunting is just ridiculous.

The biggest concern is a new generation of young players screaming their heads off. It needs to be addressed at the junior level so it doesn't become ingrained.

Cerebus said:

Very surprised by the Nadal exit and disappointed that Venus went out so fast.

Pretty good tennis all around, though.

I like both men's and women's tennis. The women's matches may be more competitive farther down the rankings, but the men still do more crazy stuff on the court.

Yeah, it's just the kind of match that Nadal usually wins - other dude was just totally in the zone in the 5th set. And he just lost his next round - bummer.

mynameisnotsusan said:

NDRU said:

Yes, you can take air in and out of your body without engaging the vocal cords!

I work next to a tennis court and the grunting is just ridiculous.

The biggest concern is a new generation of young players screaming their heads off. It needs to be addressed at the junior level so it doesn't become ingrained.

they seem to think it's a sign of trying hard. And nobody is telling them it has nothing to do with anything I complained to the coach, and she was not going to do anything, but I could see she knew exactly what I was talking about and kind of felt the same.

If you are a pro, I say whatever works when the stakes are high is what you should do. I just happen to think it's stupid and annoying!

Comeback continues: Baker's game improving with each match

WIMBLEDON, England -- Brian Baker must feel as if has truly arrived. He put together such a comprehensive performance at Wimbledon on Saturday, he broke his opponent's spirit.

There was much to like about Baker's third-round match against Benoit Paire, the clever and talented Frenchman, at least at the start. This would be a matchup of Baker's textbook groundstrokes against the ingenuity of Paire, who solidified his grass-court credentials with a straight-set thrashing of Alexander Dolgopolov in the second round.

Paire, however, could use a few lessons in competitive drive. His desire seems to weaken when his game flies off the rails, and for anyone witnessing Baker's 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win on Court 3, that was a shame. From the standpoint of pure tennis, the two appeared to be on even terms.

Baker is no longer a mystery to tennis fans, his comeback story now a part of essential Tour conversation. Put simply, it took him six years to get back in the game after multiple surgeries, the worst of which was a Tommy John elbow procedure that had him seriously wondering if he'd ever swing a racket at full strength again.

Just 12 months ago, in a what-the-heck decision to resurrect a dormant career, he was playing the qualifying of a $10,000 Futures event in Pittsburgh. Something clicked, however, and rather hastily. He gained some attention by reaching the final of Nice in May, and then he reached the second round of the French Open, giving Gilles Simon a five-set challenge before bowing out.

Having gone a full seven years without stepping on a grass court, Baker had no idea what to expect. Ranked 126th in the world and denied a Wimbledon wild card (a decision some found a bit cruel), he entered the qualifying and "played three really good matches," he said. "By the time that was over, I felt like I had my footing on grass. It helped me tremendously."

Then came the second round of Wimbledon, when an inspired Baker blew veteran Jarkko Niemenen off the court, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4. "I'd be lying if I sat here and said I expected all this to happen right now, when I was going through all those surgeries," he said after that match. "It's been such a pleasant surprise. But I never gave up hope that I'd be able to come back."

As much as people talk about Baker's backhand, a real thing of beauty, he can handle himself around the net. When he broke Paire's serve for a 5-4 lead in the first set, it came when he raced in behind a forehand, flicked a difficult forehand half-volley, then answered Paire's searing backhand with a backhand volley winner.

Paire began to lose his composure in the second set, blasting his chair with his racket after Baker broke for a 3-2 lead, but he got a bit of luck with Baker serving at 4-5 and 15-40. Paire cracked an apparent backhand winner that was called out, but the Hawk-Eye replay told a different story, and suddenly the set was over.

As Baker raced to a 4-1 lead in the third, Paire's body language descended into a prolonged, unbecoming snit. He was cited for an unsportsmanlike conduct warning after blasting his bag with his racket during a changeover. As the lopsided set ended, Paire gave every indication of tanking the final point, horribly netting a backhand drop shot.

Baker, who committed exactly one unforced error in that set, wasn't about to give Paire any reason to believe. He ran off 18 of 19 points at one stage, and although the Frenchman rallied his spirits to a degree, the issue seemed well decided.

"Yeah, he was a little ... you could tell that in some games he'd take off a little bit, then slap a couple of winners in a row and get back into it," Baker said afterward. "It's difficult playing a guy like that, because it's hard to get into any kind of rhythm. But I try not to pay much attention to that. I just try to concentrate on being successful out there, and I did that."

Over on Court 12, the matter of Baker's next opponent was being decided. Lukas Rosol, conqueror of Rafael Nadal, was contesting Philipp Kohlschreiber in a match virtually no one thought he could win. The 100th-ranked Rosol is a journeyman, and nothing more, and sure enough, he was banished in three sets by the 30th-ranked German.

"I think I played doubles against Kohlschreiber a long, long time ago, but never in singles," said Baker. "So it will be a new experience for both of us. He's obviously a very good player. That's going to be a real test."

It's remarkable, though: Baker has reached the point where a victory in that match is well within the realm of possibility. "This is hard to put into words," he said. "it's kind of crazy, what's going on. I'm trying not to get wrapped up in it. I don't want to be all happy and 'Oh my gosh, I'm in the fourth round of Wimbledon!' The big thing for me is that in key moments of a match, I'm confident that I don't have to step outside my comfort zone. My game's good enough."

His story, so thoroughly improbable, is even better.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated....z1zK8teIi7

NDRU said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

The biggest concern is a new generation of young players screaming their heads off. It needs to be addressed at the junior level so it doesn't become ingrained.

they seem to think it's a sign of trying hard. And nobody is telling them it has nothing to do with anything I complained to the coach, and she was not going to do anything, but I could see she knew exactly what I was talking about and kind of felt the same.

If you are a pro, I say whatever works when the stakes are high is what you should do. I just happen to think it's stupid and annoying!

mynameisnotsusan said:

Cerebus said:

Very surprised by the Nadal exit and disappointed that Venus went out so fast.

Pretty good tennis all around, though.

I like both men's and women's tennis. The women's matches may be more competitive farther down the rankings, but the men still do more crazy stuff on the court.

Yeah, it's just the kind of match that Nadal usually wins - other dude was just totally in the zone in the 5th set. And he just lost his next round - bummer.

I heard that - in straight sets even, I think. Nadal is like,

Nadal just seemed out of sorts in general. Trying to put his shoulder to dude during the changeover is low class, which not usually his style.

I thought the grunting had something to do with increased core strength moving through the body into the swing. I read about it once, but I don't remember the theory exactly. Something small, like 3%, more strength is generated by the grunt. Something like that.

mynameisnotsusan said:

NDRU said:

Yes, you can take air in and out of your body without engaging the vocal cords!

I work next to a tennis court and the grunting is just ridiculous.

The biggest concern is a new generation of young players screaming their heads off. It needs to be addressed at the junior level so it doesn't become ingrained.

That's right. Maria Sharapova said she has never NOT screamed on every shot. That's probably because she grew up watching Monica Seles.

Cerebus said:

I thought the grunting had something to do with increased core strength moving through the body into the swing. I read about it once, but I don't remember the theory exactly. Something small, like 3%, more strength is generated by the grunt. Something like that.

I understand the concept. But by grunting on every shot, aren't these girls telling us the only game they have is a power baseline game? Either that, or they're shrieking on shots that don't need shrieking.

mynameisnotsusan said:

NDRU said:

they seem to think it's a sign of trying hard. And nobody is telling them it has nothing to do with anything I complained to the coach, and she was not going to do anything, but I could see she knew exactly what I was talking about and kind of felt the same.

If you are a pro, I say whatever works when the stakes are high is what you should do. I just happen to think it's stupid and annoying!

I am NOT watching that!!!

NDRU said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

I am NOT watching that!!!

It's not just stupid and annoying - it's funny too

I did actually laugh at the video... but not until the point was over and I realized it was a joke.

So, does the grunting every point say that the women only have a baseline game? I don't know. I don't think so, but I don't know. It seems like, on the average, the women serve and volley and come to the net much less than the men, though. And in general there's less play at the net in the age of the "power game".

For me, I guess the tone of the noise matters. Sometimes it doesn't bother me at all. Sharapova annoys the crap out of me. And when I was watching Azarenko this morning I had to turn the sound down. But sometimes the men's sexual "uhhhh"s on their points are far more annoying than the women's grunts/screams.

Cerebus said:

But sometimes the men's sexual "uhhhh"s on their points are far more annoying than the women's grunts/screams. :lol

Absolutely. It's all horrific though.

Cerebus said:

I did actually laugh at the video... but not until the point was over and I realized it was a joke.

So, does the grunting every point say that the women only have a baseline game? I don't know. I don't think so, but I don't know. It seems like, on the average, the women serve and volley and come to the net much less than the men, though. And in general there's less play at the net in the age of the "power game".

For me, I guess the tone of the noise matters. Sometimes it doesn't bother me at all. Sharapova annoys the crap out of me. And when I was watching Azarenko this morning I had to turn the sound down. But sometimes the men's sexual "uhhhh"s on their points are far more annoying than the women's grunts/screams.

Definitely Sharapova only has a baseline game and really only has one game plan - hit every ball as hard as I can. Azarenka I think volleys well but she's happy to stay back too. I think it's the same for both sexes - serve and volley has almost gone from the game because the return game has gotten so much better, you'll just get passed all day.

So the ladies quarterfinalists are

Sabine Lisicki vs Angelique Kerber - 2 Germans who took out Sharapova and Clijsters

Agnieska Radwanska vs Maria Kirilenko - I don't think either have the game to win - even though Radwanska has stepped up and had a really strong, consistent year.

Serena Williams vs Petra Kvitova - the real final is right here - Serena has come through some tough matches. Hopefully both ladies are on form and it's close.

Tamira Paszek vs Victoria Azarenka - Paszek has had a great couple of months - maybe she can do like Errani at the French and come through. Probably not though, Azarenka just killed Ivanovic.

Mens Quarters

Djokovic - Florian Mayer - Mayers happy to be here

Federer - Mikhail Youzhny - Fed is 13-0 against him. Hopefully he's not affected by back.

David Ferrer - Andy Murray - this could be tough for Andy

Tsonga - Kohlschreiber - should be close as well

Women's Semis

Angelique Kerber vs Agnieska Radwanska - Kerber is playing great, hope she can take out A Rad.

Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka - If Serena plays like she did against Kvitova, she'll win. Anything less and Azarenka has a small chance.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Mens Quarters

Djokovic - Florian Mayer - Mayers happy to be here

Federer - Mikhail Youzhny - Fed is 13-0 against him. Hopefully he's not affected by back.

David Ferrer - Andy Murray - this could be tough for Andy

Tsonga - Kohlschreiber - should be close as well

Women's Semis

Angelique Kerber vs Agnieska Radwanska - Kerber is playing great, hope she can take out A Rad.

Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka - If Serena plays like she did against Kvitova, she'll win. Anything less and Azarenka has a small chance.

He's Andy Murray and it's Wimbledon, I'm just expecting him to lose.

Would love to see Federer/Tsonga make it through to the finals, but Federer is probably (if things go as they should this round) get another beat down from Djokovic. I'm not sure about the other half of the draw, I just know I'd like to see Tsonga in a final (if Murray loses.... which he will ).

I would rather have seen Williams/Azarenka in a Finals match, so I guess I'm hoping for Williams/Kerber.

Cerebus said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

Mens Quarters

Djokovic - Florian Mayer - Mayers happy to be here

Federer - Mikhail Youzhny - Fed is 13-0 against him. Hopefully he's not affected by back.

David Ferrer - Andy Murray - this could be tough for Andy

Tsonga - Kohlschreiber - should be close as well

Women's Semis

Angelique Kerber vs Agnieska Radwanska - Kerber is playing great, hope she can take out A Rad.

Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka - If Serena plays like she did against Kvitova, she'll win. Anything less and Azarenka has a small chance.

He's Andy Murray and it's Wimbledon, I'm just expecting him to lose.

Hey, come on now - he's not Tim Henman.

He has a 5-5 head to head with Ferrer and 4 of those losses were on Clay so really he should come through.

He leads his head to head with Federer 8-7 and is not too bad against Djokovic 5-8

He was 5-13 against Nadal so he has to be feeling pretty good that he's out

Would love to see Federer/Tsonga make it through to the finals, but Federer is probably (if things go as they should this round) get another beat down from Djokovic. I'm not sure about the other half of the draw, I just know I'd like to see Tsonga in a final (if Murray loses.... which he will ).

He's 5-1 over Tsonga. Just sayin'

I would rather have seen Williams/Azarenka in a Finals match, so I guess I'm hoping for Williams/Kerber.

Yeah, me too. I was thinking about Serena and for me the main reason that separates her from the rest is that in a crucial part of a match under extreme pressure when she needs to, she'll serve an ace. Virtually every other player - when the pressures on, they'll double fault or give Serena a shaky second serve and she'll kill it. Hope she wins. It would give her and Venus a combined 10 singles titles - just amazing!

mynameisnotsusan said:

He's 5-1 over Tsonga. Just sayin'

Yeah, but he's going to have to play Djokovic to get there. And Tsonga may not even make it out of this round, let alone the Semis.

And regarding Henman, Murray hasn't made it to the finals at Wimbledon, either. At least he's made it to some Grand Slam finals, but not the one that you KNOW matters most to him. I don't expect he'll be doing so this year, either. Unfortunately for him he plays in the same era as some of the greatest to ever play. Until they get hurt or retire they're going to be in his way.

Everything clicking for Serena Williams in Wimbledon semifinal win

Serena Williams fired 24 aces in her semifinal win over Victoria Azarenka.

WIMBLEDON, England — It had to end with an ace. It just had to.

With her biggest weapon on full display, Serena Williams fired a Wimbledon record 24 aces on the way to her seventh Wimbledon final, defeating Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals on Thursday. And for the second straight match, the four-time champion showed once again why, at her best, she is head and shoulders better than the rest of the field.

Just as the defending champion Petra Kvitova did in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Azarenka played well enough to beat 99 percent of the field. She was only broken twice in the match, protected her serve well, and even when Serena looked like she would cruise in the second set after breaking Azarenka’s serve early, the Belarusian kept fighting, breaking back to level the set and then consolidating to even the set at 4-4. Intense from the first point and fighting to maintain her belief, Azarenka — who would assure herself of the No. 1 ranking if she won — kept pressing, holding her serve to force a tiebreak.

But if Azarenka played well enough to beat the 99 percent, Serena is very much the one percent. She is possessed with the on-court riches that other players would kill for. When she’s in the zone and playing at her full capabilities, she is simply better than everyone else in every department. Serve? Best in the game. Movement? Second to none. Power? No one can match its consistency. Return? Just look at the one she hit on break point at 2-1 in the second set. Novak Djokovic would have clapped his racket. But just like the one percent — yes, that one-percent — it can all fall apart quickly. But not today.

That’s what Azarenka was up against today and though she fought valiantly — and in my eyes proved that it would take a player of Serena’s caliber to beat her — the match never seemed as close as the scoreline. What can you do when you’re stuck watching 24 aces fly past you on the baseline (accounting for more than half of Serena’s total winners). Only one service game went by without at least one ace off Serena’s racket, and she punctuated five games alone with an unreturnable bullet, walking nonchalantly after every single one.

“Actually during the match I thought I didn’t serve well,” Serena, ever the perfectionist, told reporters. “I thought, Gosh, I got to get more first serves in. I don’t think my first‑serve percentage was up there.”

“I thought my serve was off, and apparently clearly it wasn’t, so… Maybe I should be off a little more,” she laughed.

Serena had spent four rounds playing with an air of uncertainty. Earlier last week she made it clear that the loss to Virginie Razzano in the first round of the French Open, her only career first-round loss at a Slam in her career, had shaken her to the core. She was pushed by Zheng Jie in the third round, escaping with a 9-7 win in the third set (where she set the previous Wimbledon record with 23 aces), and she survived Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5 in the third two days later. But since “weeding out the riff raff” as she told reporters, the insecurity has dissipated. Her win over Kvitova in the quarterfinals has righted the ship, and she’s back to being the confident champion that we’re so used to seeing at the majors.

After her semifinal triumph her celebration was of pure joy and exultation and not (as it had been in the first week) one of relief or survival.

This is a rejuvenated Serena, and she’s one match away from finally completing the comeback from illness and injury that, in deference to her greatness, we’ve come to expect.

“Maybe I don’t belong in a relationship,” Serena mused. “Maybe I don’t belong somewhere else. But I know for a fact I do belong on this tennis court.”

After that display of pure power and precision, no one’s arguing.

2 dream semis tonight, can't wait!

Djokovic vs Federer

Tsonga vs Murray