The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Serena bows out on day of champions Posted: 27 Jun 2011 09:03 AM PDT  Marion Bartoli of France (R) shakes hands with Serena Williams of the US after defeating her at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 27, 2011. – Reuters pic The 29-year-old, bidding to defy sporting logic by retaining her title after returning just before the tournament from 11 months out, lost 6-3 7-6 to Bartoli but Andy Murray crushed Richard Gasquet to keep alive hopes of a first British men's singles champion for 75 years. Australia's Bernard Tomic became the youngest man to reach the quarter-finals since Boris Becker in 1986 as he followed up his thrashing of fifth seed Robin Soderling with an equally straightforward win over Belgium's Xavier Malisse. With all eight men's and women's last-16 matches slated on the schedule, unique in the grand slams, the All England Club was abuzz from the moments the gates swung open on a sweltering day in leafy south west London. Those without Centre Court tickets dashed straight for a prime spot next to the giant screen on Henman Hill to cheer home favourite Murray to a comprehensive 7-6 6-3 6-2 defeat of unpredictable Frenchman Gasquet. The recently married Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did have the best seats in the house and would have given their royal seal of approval to the world number four's most impressive display this year. Like the planes stacking up to land at nearby Heathrow Airport, seven grand slam champions were looking for clearance into the quarter-finals on day seven of the tournament. Maria Sharapova was the first of that elite bunch to venture out as the mercury shot into the high 80s Fahrenheit on the cauldron-like Court Two. After early problems against unorthodox Chinese 20th seed Pen Shari she prevailed 6-4 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament that launched her career into orbit seven years ago for the first time since 2006. Two players hoping to cash in on Serena's defeat and claim a first grand slam title, Czech Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka, also impressed. Eighth seed Kvitova, a semi-finalist last year, thrashed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-0 6-2 and fourth seed Azarenka, whose wailing again drowned out the rumble of low flying jets, overwhelmed Russia's Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-2 to seal a clash with Tamira Paszek. Germany's Sabine Lisicki is still on course to become the first wildcard to win the women's singles after a 7-6 6-1 defeat of Petra Cetkovska and will next face Bartoli. With her fidgety dad and coach Walter watching on Court One, after Bartoli banished him during her third-round win, the 2007 runner-up produced a high-energy performance to end Serena's hopes of a third consecutive title. There was enough nervous tension on court to string a racket though 26-year-old Bartoli continually carved out chances but failed to take them. Williams, the 13-times grand slam champion, was moved around relentlessly but still saved five set points before ceding the opener. Bartoli, bouncing around on the baseline and neurotically practising her swings between points, broke serve to lead 6-5 in the second set as the 29-year-old Williams made a clumsy attempt at a backhand smash. An ace brought up two match points in the next game. Scrapping like an alley-cat Williams saved those and then a third after a sensational rally in which she pounded away at her French opponent. With close friend and soul diva Beyonce watching on, it seemed Williams would turn the match around in the tiebreak but Bartoli was having none of it. She earned another match point at 6-5 which Williams saved with and ace but when she had her fifth chance on her own serve she held her nerve to send down an unplayable delivery. "Beating Serena is a dream come true, she is one of the greatest champions of the open era," Bartoli said. "It was not easy mentally but I did it and I am very happy. She is very imposing. If you look at her it is difficult to handle the pressure so I was just trying to focus on my own game." Rafa Nadal will be hoping to avoid a similar fate to Serena later today against Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro while Roger Federer, bidding for a seventh Wimbledon crown, takes on Russian Mikhail Youzhny. – Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Murray in regal form sends Gasquet packing Posted: 27 Jun 2011 07:50 AM PDT  Britain's Prince William (4th L) and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2nd L) applaud after Andy Murray of Britain defeated Richard Gasquet of France, on Centre Court at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 27, 2011. – Reuters pic The fourth seed, watched from the Centre Court royal box by Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, expertly dealt with the threat of the Frenchman. Murray clinically took his chances in very warm temperatures while 17th seed Gasquet, who took the Scot to five sets at the grasscourt grand slam in 2008, squandered the few opportunities he had and never looked confident in the early tiebreak. One of unseeded duo Lukasz Kubot of Poland or Spaniard Feliciano Lopez await in an easier-looking last eight contest. "I was happy with the way I served. I could have hit the ball from the back of court better at the start of the match but I'm happy how I finished it off," Murray said in a televised interview. "I didn't give up too many break opportunities so that is good. I need to improve as there are the best players ever still out there." Gasquet has one of the most stylish backhands on the tour but Murray matched him with his equally effective, if less aesthetic, double-handed shots. Centre Court was full if a little nervous, given the potentially large banana skin facing the Briton, with Murray Mound outside rammed with fans biting their fingernails in the sunshine. As it was, Murray strolled through to his fourth straight quarter-final at the All England club and even managed an impressive bow in front of the royal couple when heading off court to a standing ovation. "I didn't actually know (they were coming)," he said. "It's nice, I think it's great for tennis when you get royalty to come." – Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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