Day 7 Photos!

Williams Sisters Move Closer to An All Williams Final!

June 30th, 2008

London, England

With the Middle Sunday gone and the Williams sisters moving closer to an All Williams Final, Wimbledon is abuzz with activity as today the Round of 16 matches were underway. Both Venus and Serena were scheduled to play on Court 2. Venus was up first against Alisa Kleybanova, who took out Daniela Hantuchova earlier in the tournament. Venus started off good, but her play slowly detiorated, but she wasn't ever in trouble of losing. Venus coasted to a 6-3, 6-4 victory and moves on. Younger sister, Serena was facing off against fellow American, Bethanie Mattek in the Round of 16. Serena, like Venus started off well and faltered slightly in the second set. But in the end, she too moved on with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova did not have as much luck however. Both failed to reach the Quarter-Finals, making it the first slam since the Australian Open in 1997, that no top 3 seed has reached the Quarter-Finals. Jankovic had been bothered by a injured knee, and lost to Tamarine Tanasugarn, 6-3, 6-2 all the way out on Court 18. Kuznetsova fell to rising star, Agnieszka Radwanska, who also defeated Kuznestova in the 3rd Round at the Australian Open, 6-4, 1-6. 7-5.

Others to make the Quarter-Finals include Jie Zheng, Nicole Vaidasova, Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva. Tuesday is Quarter-Finals day for the women at Wimbledon. The heavy favorites, the Williams sisters look to move into the Semi-Finals of a slam together for the first time since Wimbledon 2003.

Results:

Centre Court:

(14)Agnieszka Radwanska d. (4)Svetlana Kuznetsova - 6-4, 1-6, 7-5

Court 1:

(18)Nicole Vaidasova d. (8) Anna Chakvetadze - 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-3

Court 2:

(7)Venus Williams d. Alisa Kleybanova - 6-3, 6-4

(6)Serena Williams d. Bethanie Mattek - 6-3, 6-3

Court 3:

Jie Zheng d. (15)Agnes Szavay - 6-3, 6-4

(21)Nadia Petrova d. Alla Kudryavtseva - 6-1, 6-4

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Lost Round of 16 (Tanasugarn)

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Lost Round of 16 (Radwanksa)

5. Elena Dementieva - Quarter-Finals

6. Serena Williams - Quarter-Finals

7. Venus Williams - Quarter-Finals

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Lost Round of 16 (Vaidasova)

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)

Day 6 Photos!

Venus Soars On, Jankovic Troubled With Injury!

June 28th, 2008

London, England

The Saturday before the Middle Sunday where all play is suspended for a day of rest featured the defending champion back in action trying to reach the second week of her favorite Grand Slam. Williams was facing off against little known Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Court 1. Venus started off strong, imposing her will on her opponent and finishing plenty of shots with winners and coming to the net to attack short balls and put away volleys. Sanchez to her credit changed her strategy a bit in the second set and caused more errors from Williams as she pushed the defending champion to a 7-5 second set victory. Williams had praising words for her opponent at the press conference calling her smart and tough. Williams now moves on to the Round of 16.

Jelena Jankovic was in action today as well, trying to get to the Round of 16 where she faltered last year. Playing against talented Caroline Wozniacki, Jankovic at one point hyper extended her knee and had to take an injury time out after the second set. Wozniacki had taken the first set 6-2, Jankovic taking the second 6-4. The third set showed how tough or how good of an actress Jankovic can be as she dictated play and won easily 6-2. Many question Jankovic's injury if it really is legitimate. As she progresses through the tournament everyone will see.

Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova continued moving futher into the draw with their victories today. The players are all going to have a day off tomorrow and return on Monday when all of the Round of 16 matches are being played. Then on Tuesday, the women will return to play their Quarter-Finals matches. It should be an interesting beginning of the week.

Results:

Centre Court:

(2)Jelena Jankovic d. Caroline Wozniacki - 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

Court 1:

(7)Venus Williams d. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez - 6-1, 7-5

Court 2:

(5)Elena Dementieva d. Gisela Dulko - 7-6(2), 7-5

Court 3:

(21)Nadia Petrova d. (16)Victoria Azarenka - 7-6(11), 7-6(4)

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Round of 16

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round of 16

5. Elena Dementieva - Round of 16

6. Serena Williams - Round of 16

7. Venus Williams - Round of 16

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Round of 16

9. Dinara Safina - Lost Round 3 (Peer)

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost Round 2 (Kleybanova)

Day 5 Photos!

Ivanovic Says Goodbye, Serena, Kuznetsova Move On!

June 27th, 2008

London, England

A day after Maria Sharapova was shown the door, the world number 1, Ana Ivanovic was too escorted away from Wimbledon a loser. The Roland Garros champion hasn't looked comfortable at all on the grass and in her last two matches especially it showed that she wouldn't be a favorite for the title. Last years Semi-Finalist, this year it seemed too much pressure was on her young shoulders. Jie Zheng took every oppurtunity to defeat the Serbian and it worked, Zheng won the match 6-1, 6-4 and now moves on to the Round of 16.

Serena Williams was facing a tough opponent in 2006 champion, Amelie Mauresmo. The two have mostly had battles in the past, especially the unforgettable one back in the Semi-Finals of Wimbledon in 2004. However, both players are different today then they were back then. Serena is trying to re-establish herself as a threat for the title and Mauresmo is just trying to get some match play in as she hasn't been the same since 2006. The first set was tight and hard fought as expected, but Serena just pushed a bit harder to win the tiebreak, 7-6(5). The second set was a blowout as Mauresmo lost her edge and Serena powered through to a 6-1 victory. Serena now faces Bethanie Mattek in the Round of 16, and really seems to only have one hurtle, Kuznestova of Radwanska in the Quarter-Finals. Besides that, it seems Serena is a good choice to make the Finals.

Nicole Vaidasova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Agnieszka Radwanska all advanced today. Vaidasova will now take on Anna Chakvetadze in a match to re-establish each players game. Kuznetsova takes on the woman who defeated her in the Third Round at the Australian Open, Radwanska which should be a good match.

Tomorrow Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic return to action as they will both try to reach the Round of 16 and step closer to a meeting that everyone seems to be waiting for between the two in the Quarter-Finals.

Results:

Centre Court:

(6)Serena Williams d. (29)Amelie Mauresmo - 7-6(5), 6-1

Court 1:

Jie Zheng d. (1)Ana Ivanovic - 6-1, 6-4

Court 2:

(4)Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova - 6-2, 6-4

Court 3:

(14)Agnieszka Radwanska d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 6-3, 6-2

Top 10 Seeds:

1. Ana Ivanovic - Lost in Round 3 (Zheng)

2. Jelena Jankovic - Round 3

3. Maria Sharapova - Lost in Round 2 (Kudryavtseva)

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round of 16

5. Elena Dementieva - Round 3

6. Serena Williams - Round of 16

7. Venus Williams - Round 3

8. Anna Chakvetadze - Round of 16

9. Dinara Safina - Round 3

10. Daniela Hantuchova - Lost in Round 2 (Kleybanova)

Day 4 Photos!