Why I think Roddick has a chance tomorrow...

I just heard that Roddick's 25-4 in tiebreaks this year.

That's scary good.

Can he get Federer involved in tiebreaks? Yes.

Is Federer as robust as he once was in tiebreaks? No.

That and his wife's influence...

The 'Dour Scot'...

Not the best womens final, but not that far from what I expected.

And then of course I made the HUGE mistake of switching over to a mini documentary the BBC had compiled on last years mens final.

And spent the rest of the evening getting goose-pimply all over again.

Missed out on Nestor/Zimonjic defending their doubles crown. Sorry guys! (all guilt-ridden).

Williamses have just come through against Stubbs and Stosur.

Can I also mention in passing, how everyone seems to be in a rush to beat up on Dinara for being the most outclassed #1 we've had in recent years, but seem to be unaware or wilfully ignorant of the 6-1, 6-2 beat down the Williamses handed to the number one ranked doubles players in the world?

My point being that it's less a fault of the opposition - its what they do better than anyone else. Hand beatdowns that is.

This was unnecessary:

Q. Do you see yourself as No. 1?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I see myself as No. 2. That's where I am. I think Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid (laughter).

Good recovery though:

Q. We all know the slams are the key events in our sport. Do you think someone somewhere should sit down and maybe tweak the ranking system a little bit so we don't have this problem?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I mean, maybe if I'd have done better at the French Open, like got to the semifinals, maybe things would have been different. But, uhm, honestly, I'm not picking on anybody. Everyone works hard.

I think the girl, Dinara, who is No. 1, you can clearly see by her physique how hard she works. You can't get anywhere by not doing the best and not working your hardest.

So, you know, I'm happy for her. I'm really excited that I won Wimbledon, though, because, like I said, I'd rather win that than not win the Championships.

But I have other beefs. Specifically with the press. Not only were they unwilling to give Roddick a dignified scrap of a chance in the build up to the semi final yesterday. A Grand Slam Champion and a former world #1.

They seem to think it's ok to go back to treating Murray as the 'dour Scot' once again.

I may have some issues with the way in which Murray over emphasised the role of Roddick's serve in his defeat, but he most certainly was not 'mauled' yesterday, as the Express seem have to seen it (headline's no longer up on their site - go figure).

I also think he's made massive improvements in the way he conducts himself. Yes he might smile a little more, but everyone's different,

The other thing I was a little taken aback with, was the slightly muted levels of support he received from the crowd yesterday. They went over the top last year with the booing of Gasquet when he went for a well earned toilet break, but Murray was a real contender this time round and it wasn't until well into the third or fourth set that they saw fit to really begin getting involved.

I saw a bit of this during his match against Wawrinka on Monday. But that was still earlier on in the event- you might have expected it to crank up as the tournament progressed.

I don't know - I think he might have benefited from more energetic vociferous support - kept in tasteful limits of course. He may have even delivered a different result.

Are you looking at my titles?

In hindsight Serena over Venus was an easy pick. So I won't rub it in your face. Or maybe I'll just let Serena do that for me.

(Photo: Photo by Neil Tingle/Pool/Getty Images)

(Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

But seriously, as one sided a demolition as the Venus semi final^* was, it was surpassed in my eyes by what I saw Serena produce opposite Azarenka, an opponent who more than held her own but who'd simply blundered into the wrong party.

"Every Slam shalt by definition produce an equally contested, three/five set epic, but also an absurdly one-sided totalling of a top ranked player by a Champion in his/her element"[Elder Tomes of Tennisdom: 7-3.36]

I revere that book. It's an unstable source of power prone to destroying those that seek to abuse it. You have to have blogged for a year or played tennis for at least five years before you're even allowed to enter the closely guarded chamber it's housed in. I try not to dip into it too frequently out of respect.

Dementieva was a type one epic. Azarenka was a type two totalling.

Venus on the other hand entered the tournament playing well enough, but lacking the conviction of her previous years, and her situation wasn't helped by not being tested throughout the fortnight.

I actually thought she played ok in the first set, with there being very little to choose between the two. But she looked a shadow of herself in the second half of the second set.

Serena now owns three out of the four Slams but will remain the number two player. But of course, we're not going to talk about that.

* - Note the resolution not to mention Dinara in the latter stages of Slams again until she actually proves her existence by turning up

Divided Loyalties...

(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Divided loyalties.

Every been there?

The first semi wasn't a problem. Much as I would have liked to have seen Tommy polish off his fairy tale by going on to win this entire event, before hanging up his racquets and disappearing magically over a rainbow, I think we all knew he'd reached the limits of his natural abilities.

It really didn't matter what happened in Paris, there was to be no repeat performance at Wimbledon. Not now, not ever.

But didn't you just love that hand waving moment at the net, distracting Federer into sending a ball wide?



The other semi however, had me torn.

On the one hand I'd actually predicted a win for Roddick. There'd been a buzz about him since the beginning of the year. He'd been looking more robust (and more toned) ever since he hooked up with Stefanki, but I also had this weird sense that this was his time.

Which TBH I felt rather good about. He's surely played with enough heart over the years to win more than just a single Slam. And if he wasn't born in the same era as Federer I'm certain he would have at least one Wimbledon title.

And then there was Murray. With the weight of the nation, history and some 1930s cable knit on his shoulders. Overcoming Federer in four of their last five matches (all admittedly three set matches). All making it the more compelling match up.

But the best man won today.

Watching Stefanki give an interview yesterday, it was very clear that Team Roddick were taking this match very seriously. Pressed for further insights into his tactics, he terminated the interview so abruptly, the reporter must have been left reeling.

Roddick came out with a game plan and executed it to perfection.

Murray made a big deal of how well Roddick served today. But it was so much more than that.

Even his harshest critics can't have failed to notice how much he's added to his game and perhaps more importantly, how well he executed on court.

I'll be honest and say that I don't expect him to come through on Sunday.

(Photo: AP)

But his reaction after beating Murray today shows just how much it means to him. And ensures my support on Sunday.

2Hander's Take: The Semis...

Well, there was definitely a lot of high quality stuff played today. No 5-set thrillers but still worthy of Slam semis...

Haas V Federer

As I had thought, Haas tested Federer, but never really threatened him. Don't get me wrong, Haas played very well and did not run out of steam. Just that he was unfortunate enough to meet a Federer who is nearly back to his best, I say nearly because I believe his best is yet to come and that will be when he plays a fully fit Nadal...WITHOUT the choking this time, please God.

The highlight of the game had to be the Slam Dunk at matchpoint...one for Pete, no doubt!!
7-6 7-5 6-3 is not a scoreline to ashamed of when playing the GOAT on a roll (or should that be on a graze?!) in his house/field...whatever! Come on, he did a darn sight better than Jonas Bjorkman did a couple of years ago!! So, einfach klasse, Herr Tommy! Du hast gespielen sehr Schön!! He can leave with his head held high...

(Did anybody else see Mirka rolling her eyes when Frau Haas was cheering her man on?! I am assuming it is his wife...)

Murray V Roddick

Another very even match for the first three sets. Roddick snatched a cheeky break at 5-4 in the 1st set, Muzza broke him fairly early on in the 2nd and held serve then onwards to take the set. Murray got broken early in the 3rd, then broke back, forced a tie-break and lost it 9-7. The 4th set was deadlocked all the way to the breaker and one could see towards the end of that set that Muzza was running out of steam. Roddick was also getting tired, but he noticably had more of a spring in his step and movement. So all in all, a very high standard of tennis by both, just that it had reached the point where it became more of a mental game. Roddick showed emotion and great humility when he won. He didn't triumphantly raise his arms, he clapped and I think he even apologised to the crowd!!!

One thing I did get rather sick of (not sick) was Muzza and Mumzy continuously shouting fist pumping. The former shouting 'come on' at points such as going 15-0 up in a game! I must say it peeved me off to the point that I found myself wishing for 1 of 2 things. The first being that he gets beat right here, right now! The second being that he gets OWNED by Fed should he get through to the final!! One would have loved to see the expression on the face of Mother Dearest...

The fact of the matter also remains is that none of these two are as good as Federer when it comes to volleying. Having said that, Murray did some fantastic punching from the net and so did Roddick today. Although Agassi and Nadal proved otherwise, one rather needs to volley to win Wimby. And Roddick also smacked a fair few 79-87mph second serves just to prove my point that he will not win Wimby serving like that - thanks A-Rod!

As for the final, taking into account all we have on paper, past history, current form etc (I guess what Dootsie might call 'rationality'), I think we ALL know who the clear favourite is. That said, on the day, what can happen on the court can upset even the safest prediction. Now, since 2005, Roddick has given his game more depth, he has a stronger net game, a bit more touch etc but surely not enough to threaten Fed! Looking back at their 2007 US Open encounter, which was 7-6 7-6 6-2, losing the first 2 sets on breakers and the prospect of having to take 3 sets off one such as Fed is an arduous task for anyone except probably Nadal, who gets fazed by nothing!

So, let the finals begin...

Otlichno!

In my unhappy place again :(

Just like I was when Venus went out at RG.

The Russian headline, in case you're wondering, is the celebratory scream you usually hear from Dementieva or Safina after reeling off a winner.

It means Excellent! or Splendid! Though I'm sure rather a lot of it's earthiness is lost in translation.

Initially chosen when Elena looked to be coming through, but rather how I feel about the match both women gave us.

I'm normally a big Serena fan (except when the sisters go at it against one another, when I support Venus).

But like Tommy Haas in the Mens draw, I don't think I've backed another player so wildly in recent years, as I did Dementieva today.

"Yeah. Me too Elena."
(Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Pool/Getty Images)

Don't accuse me of being fickle, I've always been in love with Elena'a groundstrokes - I don't see how anyone could not be.

Is there anyone else in the women's game that takes the ball as early, is so consistent off of both wings, or hits the ball as flatly as she does?

Not to mention her speed around the court and her Daveed-Ferrer like levels of fitness. Without wishing to get drawn into the whole 5 sets debate, Elena tops my list of female tennis players whom I believe could go five sets.

Azarenka may have something resembling her consistency and aggression, but it's still a long shot.

But then there was the serve....there was always the serve.

The sight of her fearfully feeding a powder puff of a 2nd serve over the net (or in most cases into the net) is one of the more painful images that has become part of my tennis landscape.

And once the serve went, the rest of her game usually broke down, fast.

But you don't make 3 quarters, 6 semis and 2 finals at the Slam level by accident. Davydenko like numbers. Not to mention the Olympic Gold Medal last year, and the Silver Medal in 2000. (Isn't it funny how people preface a comment with "not to mention", and then go on to rather pointedly mention whatever it was that they were supposedly trying not to mention?)

And that alone made me feel justified in thinking that the best was yet to come from Elena.

The other thing of course is she missed out on the All-Russian Grand Slam Tea Party of 2004. Actually it was probably more of a Vodka fest. Making two finals that year, but going out in each instance to one of her compatriots. The magnitude of her choke at RG in particular was only marginally surpassed by what transpired between Coria and Gaudio in the mens final.

So there's other more sentimental reasons that played into my decision to root for her, much as they did with Amelie.

But I wasn't about to let romanticism get the better of my ability to reason clearly here. Abilities that were already being taxed by what I was seeing from Tommy Haas.

I've already noted how I thought Serena was looking the stronger of the the two sisters this year, comprehensively putting paid to the Azarenka threat in the last round. Far and away the strongest contender for the title.

And Elena's serve, though much improved, was still not what I would describe as a weapon.

So I'm guessing that most people like me thought it would be about as competitive, if not more, as most their previous matches have been. 5-4 in Serena's favour is not after all what you'd describe as a dominating H2H. Especially when you consider that Dementieva has won four out of their last five matches. The bulk of Serena's wins date back to 2004.

But Elena served well today. Very well in fact. And within the first few games, we were made aware that if Elena lost this match it wasn't going to be down to anything as trivial as the service yips.

But the story of her rehabbed serve is about so much more than simply not serving double faults.

It was about serving second serve aces. At which point I really did almost fall off my stool.

And at one point, in the second set I think, she took her un-Elena-like serving to another level by serving her way out of trouble from 0-40 down. That's not meant to happen.

Q. Could you tell us a little bit about how you rehabilitated the serve.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It's a long process. I cannot tell in a few words right now (smiling).

No, I'd like to know. Seriously.

What is it that's changed, that's enabled her to get over what was seemingly beyond her grasp these many years?

What is it that's enabled her to post service numbers, that at one point in the second set had both her first and second serve percentages at above 70% (finishing up with 67 and 62 percent respectively ain't bad either)?

There seems to be more people in her camp, more than just her mum thankfully, and that must in part be responsible. At least one of them is a hitting partner I understand.

But a problem like the service yips is at least as much mental as it is physical. And usually more so. So I wouldn't be surprised if a sports psychologist has been consulted.

Whatever it was, it allowed her to play what she thinks is the match of her life on grass, and her best performance against Serena. Right on both counts I think.

Q. Do you think this is the best match ever you have played on grass?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, definitely, I think that was the best match on grass court. And that was the best match we ever played against each other. It was a real fight from the beginning till the end. You know, I just feel like, you know, finally I played some good tennis here.

I was frankly, quite devastated when she got broken in the second set, as I thought she was so much more likely of winning it in two while she had Serena on the ropes, rather than allowing it to go to three, where the Grand Slam Demon that is Serena Williams would be unleashed and be flowing more freely. But there's little doubt that the match deserved a third set.

And yes she did have Serena on the back foot for at least two-thirds of the match.

The most revealing point of the match for me, which showed how much she's added to her game since last year was her return of serve.

She'd been reading Serena's serve rather well since the very beginning of the match. It's how she was able to entangle her into so many of those rallies.

But when Serena saw a serve she'd belted down the T at around 120mph come hurtling back at her and land on the baseline right at her feet, she must, for maybe only a few moments, have thought it might just be Elena's day today.

I don't want to spoil the experience by over analysing what was the best Wimbledon Womens Semi Final I ever remember watching.

Perhaps befittingly it also turned out to be the longest Wimbledon Womens Semi Final of the Open Era, clocking up 2 hours and 49 minutes.

Everything could have been so different had Elena elected to go down the line.

Q. I don't know if you discussed the match point, but were you thinking about going down the line on the passing shot?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, I'm disappointed with the shot because I'm very surprised I didn't go down the line. Because, I mean, passing shot, this is my favorite shot to make. And, I mean, maybe it was too quick, so I didn't see she was moving to cover cross‑court, you know.

She was very close to the net. I mean, down the line or even lob would work. But, I mean, it's a game, you know. It was too quick.

...

Q. If there was one thing you could go back and change in today's semi, what would that one thing be?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don't like to go back, you know. But, just like I said, I should go down the line on the match point.

And yet she lost :(

I'm not foolish. I know that even had she won this match, she'd still have to get past the other sister, who made rather short work of poor ol' Dinara Safina today. Also the sister she has a rather more poor 2-8 H2H against, her last win against Venus coming back in 2004.

But the reason I feel for her is there simply aren't that many years left. Were she to ever even make the semis again, there's no guarantee she'd be playing as well she was this year.

That uncertainty probably means she isn't the player that either of the Williamses are.

I don't care.

I'm not about to change my opinion that she's deserving of at least one Slam in her career.

With that in mind, and I know I said I'd reserve it for Tommy Haas, but I think Elena's performance today warrants my exhibiting Little Miss Weepy-Face once again. Tommy's outdone himself at this event, whatever tomorrow's result.

Bravo Elena, on one of the best performances of your career.

Good Show! Excellent! отлично!

There she is. For one more day. Standing room only.

***

This incidentally, is what happened in the other semi final.



Whatever. I think the media's already done an excellent job of beating up on Dinara.

She'd do well to reflect on the fact that getting to the semis on her worst surface, after last year's poor showing here wins her shed loads of ranking points.

And that really is the only positive.

2Hander's Take: The Quarters

Federer V Karlovic

In many ways, this was Federer at his best. Clinical, doing just enough to take a set, i.e. one break of serve. Apart from the last set where Jeff Goldblum (i.e. The Tall Guy - sorry, late 1980s joke) went all out with his serving (actually, so did Fed) to force a tie-break, which Fed took fairly comfortably.

At times the match just seemed to roll through service games, although there were flashes of brilliance from Fed. Actually, the commentators showed that the key was Federer stepping in by about a half a metre to take the Karlovic serve early - seems as though it worked, job done.
It did show that our Swiss friend did what Djokovic could not today...handle a serve and volleyer - more on that one later. Next, in fact...

Djokovic V Haas

During this match, I coined a new phrase for the 4th seed and it was after he lost the 2nd set breaker despite being 6-3 up. Wanna know what it is? Are you ready...Chokovic!! And get this, after the 2nd set, Nole made some sort of gesture to his camp and they then disappeared!! Dunno what that was all about! Anybody...?

Anyway, Haas is reproducing the form that got him to the 2007 AO semis and the Indian Wells semis soon afterwards. He played fantastically, rushing to the net, great volleying and a SICK SHBH (See Top? Another one...). I am very pleased for him as he looks as though he will trouble Federer more than Chokovic would have. Just goes to show that the net is still key to success at Wimby.

However, he will have to exorcise the odd demon after RG - nuff said! Then again, the way Fed is playing is that he is King Roger and Wimby is his palace!

Murray V Ferrero

JCF was out of his depth as soon as the first set was over, I felt. However, he was well in the rallies with fairly deep and solid groundstrokes. Then Murray would, at will, crack a backhand winner down the line. A fantastic shot, so it is. His forehand cross-court was also doing the biz. He plays (a probably knackered!) Andy Roddick, who I don't think will take more than a set off him - unless Andy M melts down...which I doubt.

Hewitt V Roddick

Definitely the more thrilling match with a lot of intense end-to-end rallies. High quality groundstrokes from both with Roddick coming to the net more and Hewitt showing his grit from the baseline.
Again I saw a shot at court level of a serve by Andy Roddick where he fired a serve down the middle, Lleyton didn't even move a muscle! Rather reminiscent of the Murray-Roddick match again at Wimby (2006 I think) when Top and I were watching a similar shot at court level of the Roddick serve. Once again, his opponent didn't move a muscle and we were laughing - dunno why. It was something like "I ain't even gonna bother beginning to attempt to get that serve back!!".

TBH, I got a bit fed-up of this match by the time it got to the 5th set and I went off to do something else. Turns out Roddick got a break of serve and took it 6-4. Both, who were rivals at their peak, played at their current peaks which, although ain't Slam winning stuff, was still of a very high standard. The Aussie did well, hats off to him.

So, I guess it hasn't been that bad without Nadal, has it...?

Roll on the lasses and then...Super Friday!! COME ON!!! (Lleyton Hewitt style)