W.6- Chaos Descends on Wimbledon, and a Whole New Petra Goes Down in Flames

The end is the beginning, and the beginning is the end. Or at least that's how it seems when it comes to Petra Kvitova every summer at Wimbledon.

Good Petra causes waves of emotion. Bad Petra dredges up utter disappointment and worry. Merciless Petra strikes ghastly fear in the hearts of all (except for the #1 seed). You just never know which one is going to show up, and for how long. After Day 6, though, there is no Kvitova fear at Wimbledon. Mighty Petra has struck out. Again.

And you're never going to guess who did the deed. Hint: she was the one wiggling around on her back on the Centre Court grass.

Annnndddd, JJ celebrates (GETTY) pic.twitter.com/ahfUmT6BXq

— Joe Fleming (@ByJoeFleming) July 4, 2015

What happened in the 3rd Round match between #2-seeded defending champ Kvitova and #28 Jelena Jankovic was, quite simply, classic Petra. Classic JJ, too, for that matter. I mean, anytime the Serb pulls off a big win of any kind, or even a small one on most occasions, the atmosphere is ripe for the sort of loopy, smiley Queen Chaos brand of entertainment. Today was fairly light on the craziness scale when it came to the typical Jankovician sort of antics. But, really, who needs that when Bad Petra is crashing the party and potentially turning an entire grand slam on its head?

It didn't appear as if it was going to be that way today, though. Good Petra showed up at Centre Court to put in her day's work, and she did just that for the first set and a half. The Czech led 6-3/4-2, at one point running off thirteen straight points, and it seemed that she'd add a third dominating victory to the pair of pristine wins (completed in a total of ninety-three minutes combined) she'd already put up this week.

But Bad Petra is always lurking, and she showed up fashionably late to this party, as well.

After not having faced a break point in her first two matches, and winning 85% (56/66) of her service points, Kvitova had to save just one BP in the 1st set against Jankovic. She didn't face another until game #8 of the 2nd set, after she'd already held a 6-3/4-2 lead just moments earlier. On the Serb's second BP chance in the game, she got the first break of the Czech's serve at this Wimbledon to knot things at 4-4.

Often Kvitova seems to balance her two sides on the head of pin, and it doesn't take too long for one to supplant the other and stage a hostile takeover. The break in game #8 opened the door for Bad Petra to assert herself, and in game #12 she seized that moment. Following a love hold two games earlier, the Czech was broken by Jankovic on the third BP of the game -- a Kvitova forehand into the net did the trick -- to give JJ the 2nd set and send things to a deciding 3rd.

After nearly a ten-minute break as Kvitova escaped to the locker room between sets, during which time JJ enjoyed and likely calmed any potential nerves, the two took to the court again. Jankovic noted afterward that when she won the 2nd set she knew she had a chance to win. The 30-year had some reason to be confident. She'd beaten Kvitova before (though not on her favored grass), and she was already in "survivor mode" after fighting her way through her own first two matches, a pair of three-set come-from-behind wins in which she put up an uncharacteristically aggressive 25 aces and 80 winners. Meanwhile, everyone was wondering which Kvitova would play out the remainder of the match.

Things stayed tight until the late stages. Again, Kvitova didn't face a break point and things were even at 4-4 as Jankovic took her turn on serve. Kvitova held a 30/15 lead, and she swatted back a shot off a short bouncing JJ reply that had landed near the baseline, flicking a crosscourt ball that the Serb was obviously going to have a difficult time getting back with anything on it. The Czech appeared about to take a 40/15 lead, one point from getting the chance to serve out the match.

But then something crazy happened. Whether it was Bad Petra, Brain-freeze Petra or even some malevolent entity taking the opportunity to re-write history that was to blame, the Czech made the most regrettable decision of this entire Wimbledon when she stopped play and asked for a replay challenge on the ball that had landed at her feet on the baseline. You know, the one she'd had no trouble getting back in a way that immediately put her in control of the point and on the edge of victory.

The reaction from her box caused her to realize she'd made a big mistake, and when the replay showed that ball had hit the line it was a definitive fact. Jankovic was suddenly spared having to face BP and, at 30/30, was just two points away from a crucial hold. She got it when Kvitova committed a forehand error that put her in the position of having to hold serve to avoid seeing her title defense go up in smoke.

Kvitova took a 30/love lead in her service game, but soon back-to-back forehand errors put Jankovic at match point. A big return from the Serb produced another error from the Czech -- this time a backhand -- and suddenly it was over. Jankovic had won 3-6/7-5/6-4. Cue the Jankovic grass court gymnastics.

The defending champion is out! Petra Kvitova falls 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to @jelena_jankovic. Wow. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Hu3krJbdGG

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015

WATCH An emotional @jelena_jankovic celebrates her huge win over the defending champion #Wimbledon http://t.co/kc29u4q8p8

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015

After dominating on serve for the entire week, Kvitova numbers dropped significantly today a she won just 68.5% (63/92) of her service points and was broken three times. She thus fails to reach at least the QF at SW19 for the first time since her early career 1st Round exits in 2008-09. So, once again, the Czech will have to answer the same sort of questions about her inconsistency that she's faced for several years. At this point, it seems as this zenith-to-nadir-and-back-again pattern is going to define her career. Maybe her ENTIRE career. That could prevent any sort of "Petra era" from ever truly taking place, making it that much easier for the likes of Serena Williams to pick up still more hardware in London (beginning one week from today) in her mid-thirties and give others (Madison Keys? Another first-time slam finalist? Ummm... Aga?) the chance to "pull a Bartoli" and make the AELTC the site of their biggest career moment, as well. Either way, Kvitova just left a TON on the table at this Wimbledon. The bottom half of the draw is now WIDE open.

Petra says she may need weeks to get over this one. "It's tennis. I'm still human. I'm not a robot." https://t.co/ZTvkq5aN0Y

— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 4, 2015

Meanwhile, why not JJ?

JJ: " I'm not old. I'm still young at heart. I look pretty good, so why not (laughter)? I mean, give me a break, guys. What's old?"

— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) July 4, 2015

The conqueror of Kvitova has as much a chance as anyone to make a final run, and when you realize how close we were to seeing BOTH the Czech AND Serena Williams exit this Wimbledon there is now NO potential ending to the women's competition next weekend that is totally out of the question. Zero.

So, congratulations Olga Govortsova... 2015 Wimbledon champion??? Just kidding. Umm, I think.




=DAY 6 NOTES=
...earlier in the day, yet another grass tune-up title winner (Birmingham) bit the dust, as #10 Angelique Kerber fell to #20 Garbine Muguruza as the Spaniard won 7-6(12)/1-6/6-2 to reach her first Wimbledon Round of 16. She's just one of three (Serena & Sharapova) woman to have advanced that far at all three 2015 majors.

GRAN partido y buen ambiente!!! GREAT game and good atmosphere!!! @Wimbledon ?????? ???? pic.twitter.com/miUq4WXUfo

— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) July 4, 2015

Muguruza also defeated Kerber in Melbourne, but it's hard to not think the German may have let this three-setter slip away in the opening set. She led 3-0, and held five set points at 6-5, then four more in the tie-break before her Spanish opponent finally won it on her own fourth SP.

Kerber wasn't the only German to fall on Day 6, either. Former finalist #18 Sabine Lisicki was ridden out of her most cherished tournament in shockingly swift fashion by #15 Timea Bacsinszky, 6-3/6-2. Lisicki had reached at least the QF at every Wimbledon she's played since 2009, after losing in her first match in her SW19 debut in 2008.

Second Week of @Wimbledon,here I come! ?????? #RoaringTimi #WereIsTheLimit #Limitless #ComeBackKid #PlayedMyHeartOut pic.twitter.com/Wk0g9vS3XC

— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimiBacs) July 4, 2015

Now after having never reached a slam Round of 16 before in her career, Bacsinszky has reached two in a little over a month. Her enjoyable defense-to-offense-and-battle-all-day-long style has proven to be effective on all surfaces in this breakthrough season. If Timea and Daria Gavrilova aren't locks to be nominees for the WTA's Most Improved Player Award, then someone is going to have to be sacrificed... which very well may become necessary, considering some of the head-shaking omissions from some of last year's award nominee lists.

Today, as Lisicki has often lived by the serve, she may not have died by it, but it didn't do anything to help. The German had just a 55% 1st serve percentage on the day, and won just 36% of her 2nd serves. She was 1/7 on BP chances, while the Swiss converted on four of nine opportunities and had just ten unforced errors for the match.

Bacsinszky will play unseeded Swarmette Monica Niculescu next in what should be an interesting, "no holds barred" contest. The Romanian defeated the last surviving Pliskova -- Kristyna -- in straight sets today to reach her second career slam 4th Round (w/ '11 U.S.).

Monica Niculescu says today with a smile, "I'm very tricky." Pauses to reassess then says, "I don't like this word tricky, no." #Wimbledon

— Bobby Chintapalli (@bobbychin) July 4, 2015

...#5 Caroline Wozniacki didn't particularly enjoy being mostly peppered with questions about her 3rd Round opponent -- Camila Giorgi -- the other day, but she put her annoyance to good use when the two finally met, to the tune of a 6-2/6-2 victory over the Rosmalen champ to reach her second straight Wimbledon Round of 16. In her four previous appearances in the 4th Round, she's gone 0-4. Muguruza stands in her way this time.

Just the three unforced errors from @CaroWozniacki as she eases past Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2 in 72 minutes #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/HP2INmuEux

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015

Meanwhile, #122-ranked qualifier Olga Govortsova made it TWO Belarusians in the final sixteen (Hey, V), reaching her first career slam 4th Round with a win over unseeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova.

1st Grand Slam R16! @OGovortsova edges Rybarikova 76(4) 63 for a spot in #Wimbledon R16--> http://t.co/UPFTUPYrQN pic.twitter.com/8znZfjWljB

— WTA (@WTA) July 4, 2015

She'll next face #21 Madison Keys, the tournament's ace leader on the women's side (Ivo has no challengers w/ the men), who took out yet another German, Tatjana Maria 6-4/6-3.

...oh, yeah. And this happened:

.@ARadwanska reels off 6 straight games to def Dellacqua 61 64! Moves into #Wimbledon R16--> http://t.co/Szaiug8K3S pic.twitter.com/mzj8GEt4re

— WTA (@WTA) July 4, 2015

Aga defeated Casey Dellacqua for the second straight Wimbledon, sweeping the final six games in the match. It's almost as if she KNEW something. She's now the only player in the entire bottom half of the draw who has ever reached a semifinal at SW19. You don't think you-know-what had anything to do with Petra challenging that call late in the match against JJ, do you?

Oh.My.Gods.

...in doubles, the Round of 16 is set, and the possibility of a semfinal clash of #1 Hingis/Mirza and #3 Mattek-Sands/Safarova (half-way to a Grand Slam) is still alive, as is a meeting between #2 Makarova/Vesnina and #4 Babos/Mladenovic. Defending champion Roberta Vinci, this year partnering with Karin Knapp after completing the Career Doubles Slam last year with Sara Errani, is also still harboring hopes of another slam title.

The only women still alive in both singles and doubles are Lucie Safarova and Coco Vandeweghe (w/ Groenefeld).

In mixed doubles, AO champs Hingis/Paes, RG champs Mattek-Sands/M.Bryan and '14 U.S. champs Mirza/Soares all won. Two-time mixed slam winners Mladenovic/Nestor have yet to play their first match at this Wimbledon.

...junior play began today, and the Tessah Andrianjafitrimo Watch is already over. The 16-letter surnamed Pastry lost to the almost "too simply" named Kayla Day on Saturday. #7 Charlotte Robillard-Millette defeated Aussie Naiktha Bains in a 9-7 3rd set, while Tornado Black won an all-North American battle with Katherine Sebov. Also, Bannerette Caroline Dolehide took out #14 Julieta Estable in three sets.


LIKE FROM ON DAY 6: Giving you're-seriously-STILL-saying-dumb-crap-like-that? stupidity the "respect" it deserves. Or doesn't.

Jason Whitlock still believes Serena and Venus Williams' matches are rigged - http://t.co/su4x7tXJLc

— For The Win (@ForTheWin) July 3, 2015

When someone insists your Dad is fixing matches between you and your sister pic.twitter.com/DhCKj4jHPh

— WTA Reactions (@WTAreactions) July 3, 2015

SHOCKING LIKE FROM ON DAY 6: LZ Granderson on ESPN talking about the impact that the emergence of Boris Becker had on the increase of German media money in tennis, and how Wimbledon itself ultimately benefited greatly from the coinciding cash infusion.

Of course, he also wondered aloud whether Serena's fans would attack Venus if the big sister beat the little one on Monday, ending her current run at an historical season. So with Good LZ you also get Bad LZ.


LIKE FROM ON DAY 6: On ESPN, Federer explaining what all the symbols represented in his "Day in the Life" tweet from his day off.

??????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? #DayOff

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 3, 2015

Seven-time #Wimbledon champion #Federer dropped by the #ESPNTennis Studio to chat stats, Serena, & emojis. pic.twitter.com/PrkuWERtoB

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) July 4, 2015

LIKE FROM ON DAY 6: Rare Bannerette good news, which is actually arriving more and more frequently these days...

The four American women in the 2015 #Wimbledon fourth round are the most here since 4 in 2004. #FourthofJuly #ESPNTennis

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) July 4, 2015

"MAKE OF IT WHAT YOU WILL" FROM ON DAY 6: Hey, I think someone said the other day that JJ was the one with all the answers, right?

So it should.... She will face Aga Radwanska in Round 4. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/BzSIbC3ecB

— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) July 4, 2015

With the fate of us all at stake... at least for a few days? "Only JJ knows where the bodies are buried... or not buried."

.@ARadwanska enjoying the grass. "Everything is just easier for me now"--> http://t.co/Uw2ys6lGAY ??:#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ctUWK0VB7h

— WTA (@WTA) July 4, 2015

Radwanska gonna win Wimbledon!

— Joe (@ProdigyRep) July 4, 2015

Gulp.

Could this BBC call be the relative calm before the Radwanskian storm to follow?

The shocks keep on coming. Reigning #Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova OUT! Relive the moment that sealed her fate. http://t.co/bM7P75r2oR

— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) July 4, 2015

We shall see.

...and, finally, while defending Wimbledon champion Kvitova was falling to Jankovic in London, separated from that by mere minutes was the take down of eight-time defending July 4th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship winner Joey Chestnut at Coney Island, New York by Matt Stonie. Stonie ascended to the thrown by taking an early lead in the ten-minute annual contest and holding it throughout to finish with a 62-60 dog-and-bun advantage.

Major upset at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest! Matt Stonie defeats 8-time reigning champ Joey Chestnut. pic.twitter.com/1FB8EatXZl

— ESPN (@espn) July 4, 2015

Since it's Wimbledon time, here's Stonie taking the 10,000 calorie "English breakfast" challenge...







*LADIES' SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Serena Williams/USA vs. #16 Venus Williams/USA
#23 Victoria Azarenka/BLR vs. #30 Belinda Bencic/SUI
#4 Maria Sharapova/RUS vs. Zarina Diyas/KAZ
Coco Vandeweghe/USA vs. #6 Lucie Safarova/CZE
#5 Caroline Wozniacki/DEN vs. #20 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
#15 Timea Bacsinszky/SUI vs. Monica Niculescu/ROU
(Q) Olga Govortsova/BLR vs. #21 Madison Keys/USA
#13 Aga Radwanska/POL v. #28 Jelena Jankovic/SRB

*GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Novak Djokovic/SRB vs. #14 Kevin Anderson/RSA
#9 Marin Cilic/CRO vs. (WC) Denis Kudla/USA
#4 Stan Wawrinka/SUI vs. #16 David Goffin/BEL
#21 Richard Gasquet/FRA vs. #26 Nick Kyrgios/AUS
Vacek Pospisil/CAN vs. #22 Viktor Troicki/SRB
#23 Ivo Karlovic/CRO vs. #3 Andy Murray/GBR
#6 Tomas Berdych/CZE vs. x
#20 Roberto Bautista-Agut/ESP vs. #2 Roger Federer/SUI

*LADIES' DOUBLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Hingis/Mirza (SUI/IND) vs. #16 Medina-Garrigues/Parra-Santonja (ESP/ESP)
#9 Dellacqua/Shvedova (AUS/KAZ) vs. Knapp/Vinci (ITA/ITA)
#3 Mattek-Sands/Safarova (USA/CZE) vs. Gajdosova/Tomljanovic (AUS/AUS)
HC.Chan/Van Uytvanck (TPE/BEL) vs. #5 Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA)
#7 S.Hsieh/Pennetta (TPE/ITA) vs. Groenefeld/Vandeweghe (GER/USA)
#14 Krajicek/Strycova (NED/CZE) vs. #4 Babos/Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
C.Black/Raymond (ZIM/USA) vs. #11 Kudryavtseva/Pavlyuchenkova (RUS/RUS)
Barthel/L.Kichenok (GER/UKR) vs. #2 Makarova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS)

*GENTLEMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 B.Bryan/M.Bryan (USA/USA) vs. Pavic/Venus (CRO/NZL)
#9 Bopanna/Mergea (IND/ROU) vs. Kubot/Mirnyi (POL/BLR)
#5 Rojer/Tecau (NED/ROU) vs. (WC) Hewitt/Kokkinakis (AUS/AUS)
#10 Herbert/Mahut (FRA/FRA) vs. #7 Matkowski/Zimonjic (POL/SRB)
#8 Peya/Soares (AUT/BRA) vs. #11 Nestor/Paes (CAN/IND)
#13 J.Murray/Peers (GBR/AUS) vs. #3 Pospisil/Sock (CAN/USA)
(Q) Erlich/Petzschner (ISR/GER) def. (LL) Daniell/Demoliner (NZL/BRA)
(WC) Marray/Nielsen (GBR/DEN) vs. #2 Dodig/Melo (CRO/BRA)

Having a ball, @vika7? #Wimbledon https://t.co/NPl9YrxdvF

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015

When Beyoncé track drops at the gym and u own it! Thanks for the fan to make it more dramatic ?????? #letmeupgradeyou pic.twitter.com/xK7sNsVnKN

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) July 4, 2015

My lucky charm today @lindseyvonn ?????? @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3sQEjbwQCN

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) July 4, 2015

??

A photo posted by Daria Gavrilova (@daria_gav) on Jul 4, 2015 at 6:33am PDT

*WIMBLEDON "LAST QUALIFIER STANDING"*
2006 Severine Bremond, FRA (QF)
2007 O.Govortsova/BLR, N.Ozegovic/CRO, T.Perebiynis/UKR, A.Szavay/HUN, H.Sromova/CZE (2nd Rd.)
2008 A.Pavlyuchenkova/RUS, MJ.Martinez-Sanchez/ESP, B.Strycova/CZE (3rd Rd.)
2009 Melanie Oudin, USA (4th Rd.)
2010 Kaia Kanepi, EST (QF)
2011 Misaki Doi, JPN (3rd Rd.)
2012 Camila Giorgi, ITA (4th Rd.)
2013 E.Birnerova/CZE, P.Cetkovska/CZE, M.Larcher de Brito/POR (3rd Rd.)
2014 Tereza Smitkova, CZE (4th Rd.)
2015 Olga Govortsova, BLR (in 4th Rd.)

*2015 WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S FINAL 16*
[by ranking]
#1 - Serena Williams
#4 - Maria Sharapova
#5 - Caroline Wozniacki
#6 - Lucie Safarova
#13 - Aga Radwanska
#15 - Timea Bacsinszky
#16 - Venus Williams
#20 - Garbine Muguruza
#21 - Madison Keys
#22 - Belinda Bencic
#24 - Victoria Azarenka
#30 - Jelena Jankovic
#34 - Zarina Diyas
#47 - Coco Vandeweghe
#48 - Monica Niculescu
#122 - Olga Govortsova
[by age]
35...Venus Williams
33...Serena Williams
30...Jelena Jankovic
28...Lucie Safarova
28...Maria Sharapova
27...Monica Niculescu
26...Olga Govortsova
26...Aga Radwanska
26...Timea Bacsinszky
25...Victoria Azarenka
24...Caroline Wozniacki
23...Coco Vandeweghe
21...Garbine Muguruza
21...Zarina Diyas
20...Madison Keys
18...Belinda Bencic
[by nation]
4...United States (Keys, Vandeweghe, S.Williams, V.Williams)
2...Belarus (Azarenka, Govortsova)
2...Switzerland (Bacsinszky, Bencic)
1...Czech Republic (Safarova)
1...Denmark (Wozniacki)
1...Kazakhstan (Diyas)
1...Poland (A.Radwanska)
1...Romania (Niculescu)
1...Russia (Sharapova)
1...Serbia (Jankovic)
1...Spain (Muguruza)
[by career slam Round-of-16's]
49...Serena Williams
42...Venus Williams
35...Maria Sharapova
22...Jelena Jankovic
22...Aga Radwanska
20...Victoria Azarenka
16...Caroline Wozniacki
7...Lucie Safarova
5...Garbine Muguruza
2...Timea Bacsinszky
2...Belinda Bencic
2...Zarina Diyas
2...Madison Keys
2...Monica Niculescu
1...Olga Govortsova
1...Coco Vandeweghe
[w/ consecutive slam Round of 16's]
7...Maria Sharapova
4...Serena Williams
3...Garbine Muguruza
2...Timea Bacsinszky
2...Lucie Safarova
[by career WI Round of 16's]
13...Serena Williams
13...Venus Williams
10...Maria Sharapova
8...Aga Radwanska
5...Jelena Jankovic
5...Caroline Wozniacki
4...Victoria Azarenka
2...Zarina Diyas
2...Lucie Safarova
1...Timea Bacsinszky
1...Belinda Bencic
1...Olga Govortsova
1...Madison Keys
1...Garbine Muguruza
1...Monica Niculescu
1...Coco Vandeweghe
[w/ consecutive WI Round of 16's]
4...Aga Radwanska
2...Zarina Diyas
2...Lucie Safarova
2...Maria Sharapova
2...Caroline Wozniacki
[by preseason "Grand Slam Master List" rankings]
=Tiers: #1-3,#4-6,#7-13,#14-22,#23-28,#29-41,#42-81=
1 - Serena Williams
2 - Maria Sharapova
4 - Victoria Azarenka
6 - Caroline Wozniacki
8 - Aga Radwanska
13 - Garbine Muguruza
15 - Belinda Bencic
18 - Venus Williams
20 - Lucie Safarova
24 - Madison Keys
25 - Jelena Jankovic
29 - Zarina Diyas
45 - Coco Vandweghe
49 - Monica Niculescu
76 - Timea Bacsinszky
Unlisted - Olga Govortsova
[WTA career slam Round of 16's - active]
49...SERENA WILLIAMS
42...VENUS WILLIAMS
35...MARIA SHARAPOVA
27...Svetlana Kuznetsova
22...JELENA JANKOVIC
22...AGA RADWANSKA
21...Nadia Petrova
20...VICTORIA AZARENKA
19...Ana Ivanovic
18...Francesca Schiavone
16...CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
16...Vera Zvonareva
[WTA slam Round of 16's since 2010 - active]
18...MARIA SHARAPOVA
17...SERENA WILLIAMS
15...VICTORIA AZARENKA
14...AGA RADWANSKA
12...CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
11...Petra Kvitova
10...Ana Ivanovic
10...JELENA JANKOVIC
10...Angelique Kerber
10...Ekaterina Makarova
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - youngest]
18 - Belinda Bencic (WI)*
19 - Madison Keys (AO)
20 - Madison Keys (WI)*
20 - Elina Svitolina (RG)
20 - Genie Bouchard (AO)
21 - Zarina Diyas (WI)*
21 - Alison Van Uytvanck (RG)
21 - Garbine Muguruza (AO)
21 - Garbine Muguruza (RG)
21 - Garbine Muguruza (WI)*
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - oldest]
35 - Venus Williams (WI)*
34 - Venus Williams (AO)
33 - Serena Williams (WI)*
33 - Serena Williams (RG)
33 - Serena Williams (AO)
33 - Flavia Pennetta (RG)
30 - Jelena Jankovic (WI)*
29 - Peng Shuai (AO)
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - unseeded]
AO - Victoria Azarenka, BLR
AO - Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
AO - Madison Brengle, USA
AO - Julia Goerges, GER
AO - Madison Keys, USA
AO - Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
RG - Julia Goerges, GER
RG - Andreea Mitu, ROU
RG - Sloane Stephens, USA
RG - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
WI - Zarina Diyas, KAZ
WI - Olga Govortsova, BLR (Q)
WI - Monica Niculescu, ROU
WI - Coco Vandweghe, USA
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - 1st-time GS 4th Rd.'s]
AO - Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
AO - Madison Brengle, USA
AO - Madison Keys, USA
RG - Timea Bacsinszky, SUI
RG - Andreea Mitu, ROU
RG - Elina Svitolina, UKR
RG - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
WI - Olga Govortsova, BLR
WI - Coco Vandweghe, USA
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - lowest-ranked]
#122 - Olga Govortsova, BLR (WI)*
#100 - Andreea Mitu, ROU (RG)
#93 - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL (RG)
#80 - Yanina Wickmayer, BEL (AO)
#73 - Julia Goerges, GER (AO)
#72 - Julia Goerges, GER (RG)
#64 - Madison Brengle, USA (AO)
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's]
3...Garbine Muguruza (WI)
3...Maria Sharapova (WI)
3...Serena Williams (WI)
2...Victoria Azarenka (WI)
2...Timea Bacsinszky (WI)
2...Julia Goerges
2...Madison Keys (WI)
2...Ekaterina Makarova
2...Aga Radwanska (WI)
2...Lucie Safarova (WI)
2...Venus Williams (WI)
[2015 slam Rd. of 16's - by nation]
10...USA(4)
5...RUS(1)
4...ROU(1)
3...BLR(2),CZE(1),ESP(1),SUI(2)
2...BEL,GER,ITA,POL(1),SRB(1)
1...CAN,CHN,DEN(1),FRA,KAZ(1),SVK,UKR


Whew!





TOP QUALIFIER: Petra Cetkovska, CZE
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #2 Petra Kvitova/CZE
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #21 Michelle Larcher de Brito/POR d. Ysaline Bonaventure/BEL 1-6/6-3/12-10 (saved 4 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #6 Lucie Safarova/CZE d. Alison Riske/USA 3-6/7-5/6-3 (Riske up set and 4-2, served 5-4, 2-0 in 3rd)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): Nominee: 3rd Rd. - #1 S.Williams d. H.Watson 6-2/4-6/7-5 (Watson up dbl-bk 3-0 in 3rd, served at 5-4, 2 pts from win)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
=============================
FIRST WINNER: #23 Victoria Azarenka/BLR (def. Kontaveit/EST)
FIRST SEED OUT: #24 Flavia Pennetta/ITA (lost 1st Rd. to Diyas/KAZ)
UPSET QUEENS: The Bannerettes
REVELATION LADIES: The Swiss
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Italy (Pennetta "FSO" - ITA 4/6 FSO at Wimbledon; Schiavone another 1st Rd; Knapp ret.; Vinci disappoints)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Olga Govortsova/BLR (in 4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Jelena Ostapenko/LAT (2nd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Heather Watson/GBR (3rd Rd.)
IT ("??"): Nominees: "Pliskova" (Kristyna), "Vandeweghe" (Coco), "Brit" (Watson), "Kazakh" (Diyas), "Mortal...or not?" (Aga)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: the entire bottom half of the draw
COMEBACK: Nominees: V.Williams, Black/Raymond, Azarenka, Jankovic, The Rad???
CRASH & BURN: #12 Genie Bouchard/CAN (1st Rd. loss to qualifier #117 Duan; was '14 finalist; two con. slam 1st Rd. losses) & #3 Simona Halep/ROU (1st Rd. loss to #106 Cepelova; lost to Bouchard in '14 SW19 semi)
ZOMBIE QUEEN: Nominees: #6 Safarova (1st Rd. - down set and 4-2 vs. Riske, who served at 5-4 for the match, then led 2-0 in the 3rd); #21 Keys (1st Rd. - down set and 3-1 vs. Voegele, forced 3rd set and finished off win the next day); #1 S.Williams (3rd Rd. - down dbl-brk 3-0 in 3rd set vs. Watson, who served for match at 5-4 and was two points from victory); #28 Jankovic (3rd Rd. - down set and 4-2 vs. DC Kvitova)
THE RADWANSKA AWARD (June 26): Aga Radwanska & the seagull (in Eastbourne, bird swoops at Radwanska as she serves... one day later, she loses in the final)
THE RADWANSKA AWARD (Day 3): Day 3 is the hottest day ever recorded in Wimbledon history (35.7 C / 96 F), fire alarm evacuates Centre Court
DOUBLES STAR: xx
KIMIKO DATE-KRUMM VETERAN CUP (KDK CUP): Nominees: Black/Raymond (combined 77 years old), V.Williams, S.Williams
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx




All for Day 6. The Middle Sunday arrives tomorrow, but I'll probably still have something small worthy of wasting a FEW minutes. In the meantime, watch your back. Paranoia is suddenly rampant around here.