Rafael Nadal & Lukas Rosol by Getty Images
This week’s edition of World Tennis News reviews the highlights from the first week of action at the All England Club as the world’s finest players do battle to become Wimbledon Champion.
Wimbledon was rocked on day four as 100th ranked Lukas Rosol stunned two-time Champion Rafael Nadal in five extraordinary sets in the second round to hand the Spaniard his earliest loss at a major for seven years.
The Spaniard had reached the final on his last five visits to The All England Club but was unable to fend off the onslaught of power hitting from the 26 year-old Czech who claimed a 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory in front of a shocked Centre Court crowd.
Rosol had never won an ATP level grass court match before his first round victory but brought down to earth in round three with a straight sets defeat to German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic has eased into round four for the loss of a single set as he aims to become the eighth man in the Open Era to defend the Wimbledon title. The Serbian World No.1 is looking for a 13th consecutive Grand Slam quarter final when he faces compatriot Viktor Troicki.
Six-time Champion Roger Federer was two points from defeat on six occasions in his third round escape from two sets down against Julien Benneteau. Federer is aiming for his 850th career match win against Xavier Malisse in round four and is guaranteed a return to the No.2 ranking after the tournament but could return to the top spot with a seventh title.
Fourth seed Andy Murray has reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the 19th time and for the fifth consecutive year at Wimbledon. The British No.1 continues his quest for a first Grand Slam title when he meets Marin Cilic in the last sixteen – the pair has faced off at the other three other major championships with Murray holding a 2-1 lead in those clashes.
US qualifier Brian Baker is breaking new ground as the 27 year-old reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. After six years of injury and multiple surgeries the former junior star was unranked 12 months ago but after a superb comeback will claim a place in the top 100 after the tournament.
Baker will face off against 27th seed Kohlschreiber for a quarter final berth as he aims to become the third American qualifier in the Open Era to reach the last eight at SW19.
Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey battled out the second longest match in Wimbledon history in round three. The 16th seeded Croat and unseeded American fought on court two for a marathon five hours and 31 minutes before Cilic – who struck 85 winners - emerged with a 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-7(3), 17-15 win.
World No.1 Maria Sharapova has come through a testing draw as the 25 year-old seeks a second Wimbledon crown eight years after her victory as a 17 year-old. Her 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-0 second round win over 2010 semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova was her longest ever match at Wimbledon.
The Russian next faces hard hitting German Sabine Lisicki in round four.
Australian Open Champion Victoria Azarenka has eased into round four. The Belarusian was a semi-finalist 12 months ago and is into the last 16 of a major for the 12th time. The 22 year-old next faces a big hitting battle with Ana Ivanovic.
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska has eased into the fourth round with minimal fuss and will look to reach her third quarter final at SW19 when she faces Italian qualifier Camilla Giorgi. The Pole, a former junior Wimbledon junior Champion, is the only player in the top 10 yet to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.
Reigning champion Petra Kvitova has not dropped a set in her title defence after a slow start in her opening match on Centre Court where she fell 1-4 behind against Agkul Amanmuradova. The Czech has reached the last four at three of the last four Grand Slams but could face a blockbuster quarter final meeting four-time Champion Serena Williams.
Sixth seeded Williams has reached the last 16 at Wimbledon for the 11th time in 13 appearances. She was forced to serve to stay in the match three times in narrow third round victory over former semi-finalist Jie Zheng in which she blasted a record 23 aces.
US Open Champion Sam Stosur endured yet another early exit at SW19 as the fifth seed was beaten 6-2 0-6 6-4 by Arantxa Rus in round two. Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki missed two match points against Eastbourne winner Tamira Paszek before falling in a three hour first round battle.
Playing in her ninth and final Wimbledon Kim Clijsters has navigated a tricky draw to reach the fourth round without the loss of a set. The Former World No.1 has seen off Jelena Jankovic and Vera Zvonareva (by retirement) to setup a fourth round meeting with eighth seed Angelique Kerber.
Five-time Champion Venus Williams has not announced it to be her final Wimbledon but the 32 year-old looked well below her superb best as she fell quickly to Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 in the first round.
Yaroslava Shvedova created Wimbledon history by winning all twenty four points of a 15-minute golden set against French Open finalist Sara Errani. The rare feat had never been achieved in a Grand Slam and was the first recorded in professional women’s tennis.
The Kazakh wild card won the second set 6-4 against the Italian 10th seed to book a last 16 meeting with Williams.
Updated ATP/WTA Statistics will return on Monday 9th July after the completion of The Championships, Wimbledon 2012.
Singles
CENTRE COURT - SHOW COURT - 2.00 PM START
Andy Murray (GBR) [4] vs Roger Federer (SUI) [3]
Wheelchair Tennis
COURT 3 - 12.00 PM START
Lucy Shuker (GBR) / Jordanne Whiley (GBR) vs Jiske Griffioen (NED) / Aniek Van Koot (NED)
COURT 14 - 12.00 PM START. Second on...
Marc McCarroll (GBR) / Gordon Reid (GBR) vs Stephane Houdet (FRA) / Nicolas Peifer (FRA) [2]
We asked some fans who visited the #mybritishtennis area underneath No.1 Court at Wimbledon to do their best impression of a line judge.