WIMBLEDON 2014

... But lol as lex predicted earlier, BZS' low bouncing slices and volleys are totally driving her nuts.

never doubted I'd return to a scoreline like this

Until that saved break point on the previous game I don't think I'd heard Kvitova bark all tournament! Arpf!

lol she barked a lot in her match against venus

Thanks for getting this done quickly Petra so I can go to bed. Pls win it all, goodnight.

So nice to see Petra peaking at the end of a match for once!

Men's QFs!

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (26) Marin Cilic
(3) Andy Murray vs. (11) Grigor Dimitrov
(5) Stanislas Wawrinka vs. (4) Roger Federer
(8) Milos Raonic vs. (WC) Nick Kyrgios

H2Hs -

Djokovic leads Cilic 9-0 (2-0 this year, never played on grass)
Murray leads Dimitrov 3-1 (Dimitrov leads 1-0 this year, never played on grass)
Federer leads Wawrinka 13-2 (Wawrinka leads 1-0 this year, never played on grass)
Raonic leads Kyrgios 1-0 (at this year's RG!)

omg KYRGIOS! first time i've felt comfortably jingoistic about a player in like, forever

Want to thank the good men and women of Wimbledon who gave Nadal the people who play the type of Tennis that suits him least.

Felt so happy for Kyrgios - was mostly watching WC, in half-despair as Nadal broken him for the 2nd, then happiness that he won the 3rd.

Love to see him in the SF but I don't know about the recovery here.

Sorta want Stan to win it all.

Kvitova was great despite sorta falling asleep halfway through the 2nd.

She should win it all. Big but here..

Only person left in the draw I can see Kvitova losing to is Halep. Everyone else, the match-up goes her way.

Can't see Fed losing before the final (unless Kyrgios somehow peaks again in the SF, if he gets there, which I can't imagine). Top half is by far the most interesting now.

I kind of see Fed losing to Stan next. If Raonic makes the final I may stick my head in an oven though.

I can see that too. Whoever wins that match reaches the final.

If Fed reaches the final its a great chance for the 8th Wimbledon. Don't trust Djoko w/Becker. Murray's game has slipped a fraction (which is enough). Actually think if Dimitrov reaches the final he has the best chance of the three to beat Fed.

I think Dimitrov will beat Murray but he won't beat Djoko.

If Murray gets through I reckon he beats Djoko.

Wawrinka's not totally awful on grass but I don't think his game translates that well to it either, he can be rushed more on it. A bit lucky that Lu choked, Istomin was ill and Lopez was exhausted imo.

Dimitrov has actually looked the wobbliest of the three top half contenders so far, Dolgopolov was a lucky escape and the Mayer match was tighter than it had any right to be. Small chance of an upset vs Murray, not a big one, though he'll prob get a set, maybe two. If he wins I don't even give him a small chance vs Djokovic.

I don't think Fed would be the favourite exactly vs Murray or Djokovic in the final but...a toss-up again, with the added factor that the top half contenders may well tire each other out for it.

Dimitrov - Mayer had some tight moments but Dimitrov came through easily didn't he?

Not seen much of Wawrinka but I like the way he has come through in straight sets in the last couple of rounds and he looks fired up. All based on scores and remarks I've heard though.

As for Halep: been seeing quite a bit of her now and I fear she is too 'consistent', doesn't push lines enough and risk unforced errors. Unlike Sharapova or Kvitova.

I can only see Kvitova beating herself.

Halep plays controlled aggression really well.

Every match Petra plays is technically on her racquet but the thing is she's become pretty adept at beating herself, and that's more likely to occur against a certain type of opponent. Halep is 2-0 against Kvitova, both in the past year...grass would be in Petra's favour but I'd hesitate to back her vs Simona, based on that.

Bouchard survived a bunch of BPs..on serve.

Halep has broken back from an early break

Bouchard digs herself into a hole of BPs with wild errors, digs herself out of it with clutch tennis (inc one brilliant volley)

Halep motoring against Lisicki after a slow start

Zero sign of Lisicki's "shoulder injury" btw

Lisicki now all over: df, 0-30

lex - I think we discussed this yesterday, I don't agree she was playing gamesmanship.

You're pretty much the only one among journalists, fans etc who doesn't think Lisicki was shady yesterday

I don't care. I read little Tennis journalism, or listen to fans.

Not a Lisicki fan either.

Lisicki now reaches set point.

Five games in a row and the set for Halep :D

Great contest. Halep on the brink a couple of times and then brings it back.

Why the hell was I watching the random gossip feed from ESPN. *fires up Bouchard/Kerber*

Sorry aargh doing too mcuh switching..

And both sets go the expected way, albeit via less straightforward paths.

I never saw Evert play but Bouchard's demeanour is how I imagine her "ice queen" stuff came into play. Her clutch play is Sharapova-esque but the way in which they fight is completely different - Sharapova goes into hysterics, Bouchard gets icier.

lol Lisicki is coming with the goods.

Halep steps in and throws it way over. Rare error.

But Lisicki is just going to make unforced errors. BP

And breaks.

Halep will efficiently dispose of this.

Lisicki's always going to smack a few winners but she gets thrown off so easily. That wasn't even a particularly dramatic net cord and you knew she wouldn't be able to control it.

Really, Halep's only playing at a B level and making uncharacteristic sloppy errors herself but is so much calmer

I suppose the scheduling could not have helped Kerber but such was the intensity of yesterday's match it might have been hard to summon up the energy?

Gorgeous change of direction by Halep <3 Lisicki flailing.

Halep smacks a return down: 3BPs

Should be BAGEL.

LMAO @ that break point, Halep's courtcraft outwitting Lisicki, who panicked the minute she had to hit the volley, beautifully

For someone without a huge serve, Halep sure gets a lot of free points off it

All over the Lisicki second serve. Ten straight games. Halep will serve for the bagel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRHxDUXFDXU

Bouchard double break, on the 5th attempt.

ooh a couple of cheap erros from Halep. The occasion

but now one MP

what a point!

Just awesome

And kerber gets a break back - didn't see it.

Halep just rubbing salt into Lisicki's wounds by the end. Efficient destruction.