W.10- The Aussie and the Cool Chick

Birds of a feather stick together. Or at least they did in today's women's semifinals at Wimbledon.

With the event assured of its first Williams-less final since 2014, and just the fifth since 2000, Thursday's opener featured a match-up of variety-loving players who've both been ranked #1 while their combined resumes make up a Career Slam, with #1 Ash Barty having won Roland Garros and #25 Angelique Kerber taking care of the rest.

A few years ago, when asked about Kerber, Barty said, "Ah, she's a cool chick!" Today, though, she was standing between her and her first Wimbledon final.

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Both the Aussie and German have made a point to declare that grass is their favorite surface. This summer's stint on the lawns has "rescued" what had been a quickly-turning-disastrous season for the 33-year old Kerber, who after being the first seed ousted in the year's first two majors has followed up her title run in Bad Homburg with a turn-back-the-clock SW19 stretch that has produced her best slam result since she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish in London three years ago.

Barty, a former Wimbledon girls champ who has been the top-ranked player in the WTA since the summer of 2019, leading the tour in titles (3) this year, has seemingly answered all who've doubted her #1 chops despite her brilliant '19 campaign as she's taken on all comers and successfully picked up where she left off despite not playing at all the rest of 2020 after the pandemic-related, nearly five-month tour shutdown in March last year. 11-1 against Top 20 players this season, Barty hasn't relinquished the top spot even while being tested on an almost weekly basis throughout '21, with other contenders simultaneously breathing down her neck in the rankings. 33-6 on the year coming into today, Barty had suffered just one non-retirement defeat (vs. Sabalenka in the Madrid final) since early April.

Return to sender ??#Wimbledon | @AshBarty pic.twitter.com/HPKUmfB8Iz

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

Barty burst into her first Wimbledon semifinal, while Kerber lagged on the big points in the opening games. The Aussie saved two BP in the opening game, winning points with a big serve and by working a rally to set up a forehand winner. A backhand winner down the line broke Kerber for 2-0, then Barty climbed out of a 15/30 hole for 3-0. The German opened game #4 with a drop-lob combo, but still found herself down another BP when she put a routine forehand into the net from the baseline. Barty missed on a forehand down the line to lose her opportunity for a double-break, and Kerber held with an overhead moments later to get on the board at 3-1. She then waited for another chance on Barty's serve.

She got it early in game #5, taking a love/30 lead, but again Barty dug her way out, closing the game with a stretch of points that went ace-DF-ace-service winner to go up 4-1. After combining for three more holds, the last two at love, Barty served for the set at 5-3. After giving Kerber a few loose errors in the previous game, she began game #9 the same way, missing shots on both wings to fall behind love/30. A Barty DF put her down BP at 30/40, but again she raised her game on the big points, first with a good second serve, and then following up by placing a ball into the corner and then coming into the net to put away a high volley. A big serve and forehand gave the Aussie her first SP, which she secured with an ace to take the 1st set 6-3.

Coming into the day, the last eighteen Wimbledon women's semis had been claimed by the player who grabbed the opening set. The loss in the 1st was Kerber's first on Centre Court since the 2016 final (vs. S.Williams), ending a 14-set run there.

In the second game of the 2nd set, Kerber got another chance on Barty's serve after not being able to get through the Aussie's effective blockade in the 1st. Down love/40, Barty saved two BP with big serves up the T, but missed a forehand down the line on #3 to give Kerber her first break and a 2-0 lead. She held for 3-0, and looked to tighten the screws.

Serving up 3-1, Kerber fell behind 15/40, but this time *she* lifted her game in the most important moments, firing a backhand off the baseline to create an error off Barty's racket, then dropping and passing her at the net to level the game score. A backhand error from the Aussie was followed by Kerber's forehand winner down the line off Barty's return of serve, getting the hold and protecting her break lead. She didn't face a BP in her next service, winning a deuce game with a clean forehand crosscourt winner for a 5-2 lead.

But Kerber couldn't serve things out two games later, quickly falling behind love/30 when Barty put away a smash, catching the baseline, and the German fired a loose backhand long. She ultimately dropped serve at love, as Barty's passing shot put the set back on serve at 5-4. Barty's run continued into the next game, as an ace gave her a 40/love lead, then she blocked back a Kerber return down the line for a winner to hold at love, tying the set at 5-5 and and extending her point streak to ten.

The streak reached eleven before the Aussie's forehand began to produce a few errors that gave Kerber a 40/15 lead, but a Barty return that bounced off the net cord and hit twice before Kerber could retrieve it put the game at deuce. The German's wide serve and forehand combo, then a signature crouching forehand down the line, got the hold for 6-5.

Barty held to push the set to a tie-break, where she thoroughly dominated. Kerber opened by netting a routine forehand to fall behind a mini-break, and never really recovered. Barty won two second serve points to lead 3-0, then Kerber DF'd and saw the Aussie fire a forehand winner for a 5-0 edge. After a Barty ace gave her a bushel of MP at 6-0, Kerber had to work hard just to win a single rally and get on the board. She managed to get as close as 6-3, but the German's netted forehand down the line finally ended it, with Barty winning 6-3/7-6(3) to reach her first Wimbledon final.

You're not dreaming @ashbarty.

This childhood ambition is really happening... ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/sVRxjWw3K4

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

Barty is the first Aussie woman to reach the final at SW19 since Evonne Goolagong won her final slam crown there in 1980. Barty, of course, is wearing a skirt at this tournament that pays tribute to what her Australian aboriginal inspiration wore when she won her *first* Wimbledon title fifty years ago in 1971. One would hope that Goolagong will be on hand in the Royal Box on Saturday to possibly see an "unofficial chapter" added to her tennis legacy. At the least, what with the pandemic still hampering travel (especially from Australia), one can be certain that she'll be watching from somewhere.

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Barty, only the second woman (Bouchard '12/'14) to have won the Wimbledon junior crown and reached the Ladies final, can now add her name to the short list of players who've won both. A win in the final would make her only the fifth to do it, and just the second (Mauresmo '06) to add the second jewel in the last twenty-four years.

Good on ya, Ash. But you're not yet finished.

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=DAY 10 NOTES= ...the second semi was a clash of big-hitters looking for a Saturday crack at their first major title to finally add a big singles prize to career resumes that have already included climbs to #1 (#8 Karolina Pliskova in singles, #2 Aryna Sabalenka in doubles).

While Pliskova has yet to win a major, she's done virtually everything else as a singles star, from leading the Czech Rebublic to multiple Fed Cup titles and the tour in aces. Sabalenka has belatedly made her slam QF/SF breakthrough at this major, but she's arguably been the best "regular season" player on tour for more than two years, puting away ten titles since late '18 and going 4-0 in WTA 1000 level championship matches.

With the two women combining for 32 aces today, Pliskova and Sabalenka proved that power vs. power match-ups needn't be one-note or boring. In fact, this well-played, tight match was tense from start to finish precisely *because* of their being little difference between the two, as it was clear that the winner was going to be the one who could pull off her own blueprint for success even while her opponent was seeking to perfect a performance working off nearly the exact same game plan -- serve big, hit deep, and win the most important points -- throughout the day.

?? @KaPliskova and @SabalenkaA served 32 aces in one match!

The most in a ladies' match at The Championships since records began…#Wimbledon | @IBMUKI pic.twitter.com/iNjWygIZ0N

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

The opening set was a case of lost opportunities for Pliskova, nearly all taken out of her hand by Sabalenka, who consistently closed out sometimes-wobbly service games with power shots that kept her even with the Czech even while often being somewhat outplayed by her overall.

Sabalenka opened the match with ace, and held at love, but was challenged the rest of the way. She held from love/30 in game #3, then saved two BP in game #5. While not seeing a BP chance on Pliskova's serve, she continually had to fight them off on her own. Two more in game #7, which she held for 4-3 with an ace, then four more in game #4. Sabalenka saved the fourth with another ace, then fired a second serve ace (won via a challenge) and service winner for 6-5. Pliskova, peerless so far on her own serve, was nonetheless 0-for-8 in BP chances in her return game, and *still* had to hold from behind on the scoreboard yet again just to reach a tie-break.

Then, wouldn't you know it, a game later Pliskova gave away a free point to Sabalenka by missing wild on a swing forehand volley to fall behind 15/30. She fired an ace for 30/30, but a Sabalenka chipped short ball got the Belarusian her first BP chance. Likely ready to jump on a second serve from the Czech, Sabalenka never got the chance, as Pliskova DF'd to hand her the set at 7-5.

In the 2nd, Pliskova was tasked with *finally* getting one of the breaks she'd so often gotten the chance at in the 1st, while also continuing to cook along on serve. The latter part was easy, as the Czech looked once again like the "Ace Queen" of old (pushing her match total to 10 by the end of the set). Sabalenka held in a deuce game to start, but in game #5 the Czech's return backhand winner down the line gave her a love/30 lead on the Belarusian's serve. At love/40, Pliskova's huge second serve return landed at Sabalenka's feet at the baseline, eliciting an error that finally got her her first break of the match and a 3-2 lead.

The Czech consolidated her advantage with a love hold, stringing together nine straight points while building her lead to 4-2. Sabalenka stayed close, holding from deuce a game later, then pushing her own ace total on the day to fourteen while holding for 5-4. A running forehand up the line gave the Belarusian a love/30 with Pliskova serving for the set, but the Czech didn't flinch. She reached 30/30, and got her first SP chance via a Sabalenka backhand error. Pliskova's forehand winner took the set 6-4 to knot the match, making it a one-set battle for the final.

Pliskova had an opportunity right out of the box in the 3rd, with a deep shot leading to a forehand error from Sabalenka that handed her a BP. The Czech's crosscourt backhand return into the corner was another that the Belarusian couldn't get back, giving Pliskova a 1-0 lead. After both held at love, Pliskova continued to characteristically appear the more calm and comfortable of the two. While she walked the lawn as if on a leisurely stroll, taking a 3-1 led, Sabalanka was scrambling and sweating, knowing that time was ticking away for her to get back into the set.

But Pliskova was giving away little, if anything, for Sabalenka to grasp onto. From 30/30, she held again, ending a rally by sending a ball behind the Belarusian to take a 4-2 lead. Sabalenka went up 40/love on serve in game #7 and got the hold, but she needed to find an opening on Pliskova's serve for it to matter in the end. But the Czech clocked back-to-back aces (#12 and #13) to hold for 5-3. Sabalenka followed by blasting #18 of her own, and held at love, but it was Pliskova who stepped up to the baseline on Centre Court with the chance to serve for the final at 5-4.

As she had all match long, while also still having a commanding presence off the ground, Pliskova seized control of the game with her serve, taking a 30/love lead with big first strikes that created Sabalenka errors. The Belarusian barely got her racket on the Czech's wide bouncing ball on the second point, likely realizing she was *never* going to get a BP chance in the 3rd (just as she hadn't in the 2nd, and had only experience once in the eleventh hour of the 1st after Pliskova had been frustrated by missing four BP chances of her own moments earlier).

Pliskova reached MP at 40/15, though she shouldn't have as Sabalenka's rally shot had nipped the baseline though it'd been called out (she didn't challenge). Fittingly, the Czech ended things with an ace, her fourteenth, winning 5-7/6-4/6-4 to reach her maiden Wimbledon final and her first at a major in nearly five years. Who says she can't be an Ace Queen *and* a Grass Queen?

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The win proves Pliskova's resilience, as well as the danger of judging a new player/coach combination based solely on early results (I mean, if nearly six months is still considered "early"). Afterward, Pliskova acknowleged her team's positive attitude, especially when from without (and maybe even a little from within herself) the *negativity* had only been increasing since the start of the season, as a key component to her so-far dominant run this fortnight. With a method to his training madness apparent, Sascha Bajin over the course of this slam has gone from looking like he might be in line for a pink slip to possibly eyeing his wall to see if there might be room for *another* Coach of the Year plaque.

As for Pliskova, already a Cup queen (BJK now, but nee Fed) for her nation, she's now *officially* a Czech Tennis Queen, as one sort of thinks that success at the All-England is something of a prerequisite for *full* honors. She follows in the footsteps of four other Czech-born women's finalists at SW19 -- all identified by a single name, from Martina to Hana, to Jana and Petra -- and is one win away from becoming the fourth in line to "lift The Dish."

More of this in the final please, @KaPliskova ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FzPIpcCFDz

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

...in the MX quartefinals, Kveta Peschke & Kevin Krawietz finally played their first match at this Wimbledon after advancing via a bye and two walkovers. Against the #2-seeded Dabrowski/Pavic, it was a doozy, too. After dropping a 2nd set TB that could have ended the match, then leading 5-2 in the 3rd, the pair had to sweat out a 9-7 final set to advance. They'll play the all-Brit duo of Harriet Dart & Joe Salisbury.

Meanwhile, #7 Desirae Krawczyk & Neal Skupski will face #17 Zhang Shuai & John Peers in the other semi.

There remains a chance that Krawczyk and Salisbury, who teamed to win the MX in Paris, could face each other in the final for *this* slam.

...in juniors, the players pulled double-duty in singles today, completing both the 2nd and 3rd Rounds.

After escaping the 1st Round when Kayla Cross retired in the 2nd set after having led by a set and a break, Czech Roehampton champ Linda Fruhvirtova (#8 seed) dropped just six total games today, eliminating Petra Marcinko (CRO) and Elina Pridankina (RUS). Unseeded German Nastasja Schunk upset #4 Polina Kudermetova (RUS) via a love 3rd set, then took out another seed in #13 Brit Matilda Mutavdzic in her second match.

Roehampton finalist Linda Klimovicova knocked out #7 Anastasia Yepifanova (USA) in her first match, but fell to British wild card Alicia Dudeney in her second. Bannerette Reese Brantmeier took out #16 Julia Garcia (MEX), but then fell to #1 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (AND).

Also reaching the QF were Spain's Ane Mintegi del Olmo, who defeated #2 Alex Eala (PHI) in a 7-5 3rd in the 2nd Round, Italian Matilde Paoletti, #6 Kristina Dmitruk (BLR) and #15-seeded German Mara Guth.

I’m definitely rooting for Ane Mintegi del Olmo to have a massive pro career, just so this look becomes a thing ?? pic.twitter.com/0TIKkLz6TX

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 8, 2021

...wheelchair action got underway today. We saw the expected, as #1 Diede de Groot handled Brit Lucy Shuker in straight sets to keep her '21 mark in majors spotless; and we saw the anticipated, as South Africa's KG Montjane moved to within a win of her first slam final with a three-set victory over Colombia's Anjelica Bernal.

We also saw the eyebrow-raising, coming in the form of a pair of singles results from the doubles pair of #2 Yui Kamiji and Brit Jordanne Whiley.

Kamiji, who for all she's won (including 7 of the 8 slam titles) has never reached the Wimbledon singles final, failed to get out of the 1st Round today, falling 3 & 4 to countrywoman Momoko Ohtani. Maybe more surprising was defending champ Aniek Van Koot falling to Whiley, not so much the final result (Whiley is a former slam singles champ, albeit on hard court at the U.S. Open in 2015, though she's yet to reach another major solo final) as the final score, a 6-2/6-0 bashing.

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Whiley will go against de Groot in the semis, while Montjane and Ohtani will meet to decide which will play for their maiden slam win. Ohtani reached the Roland Garros final last year (after upsetting de Groot in the semis), losing to Kamiji.




*LADIES' SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Ash Barty/AUS vs. #8 Karolina Pliskova/CZE

*LADIES' DOUBLES SF*
(PR) V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS) vs. Dolehide/Sanders (USA/AUS)
#3 Hsieh/Mertens (TPE/BEL) vs. #5 Aoyama/Shibahara (JPN/JPN)

*MIXED DOUBLES SF*
#7 Krawczyk/N.Skupski (USA/GBR) vs. #17 Sh.Zhang/Peers (CHN/AUS)
Dart/Salisbury (GBR/GBR) vs. Peschke/Krawietz (CZE/GER)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SF*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. Jordanne Whiley/GBR
KG Montjane/RSA vs. Momoko Ohtani/JPN

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR)
Bernal/Ohtani (COL/JPN) vs. #2 Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR)

*GIRLS SINGLES QF*
#1 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/AND vs. (WC) Alicia Dudeney/GBR
Nastasja Schunk/GER vs. Matilde Paoletti/ITA
#8 Linda Fruhvirtova/CZE vs. #15 Mara Guth/GER
#6 Kristina Dmitruk/BLR vs. Ane Mintegi del Olmo/ESP

*GIRLS DOUBLES QF*
x/x vs. Pridankina/Zaytseva (RUS/RUS)
x/x vs. Vidmanova/Zelnickova (RUS/SVK)
Costoulas/Hietaranta (BEL/FIN) vs. x/x
#8 Coleman/Sieg (USA/USA) vs. #2 L.Fruhvirtova/P.Kudermetova (CZE/RUS)






...SOMETIMES IT WORKS OUT... ON DAY 10:

Fila’s marketing department?

I think they’re throwing a pizza party as we speak.. https://t.co/XPT1Zqb9rt

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 8, 2021

SW19 Memories (History Made)...

Althea Gibson receives Venus Rosewater Dish from Queen Elizabeth after becoming first Black woman to win Wimbledon [1957]

Maria Bueno (BRA), the first South American to win the women's title [1959-60, '64]

Margaret Smith (later Court), the first Australian winner [1963]

Billie Jean King is the first champion of the Open era [1968]

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She's just a goofball... ;)

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Frustrating one for Aryna, but once the dust has settled this should be a major boost for her confidence.

Didn’t just get past that long-elusive quarter-final hurdle but did one better. More to come, no doubt about it. pic.twitter.com/CGR4tww80m

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 8, 2021

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*RECORD IN GRAND SLAM SINGLES FINALS--ACTIVE*
33 - Serena Williams (23-10)
16 - Venus Williams (7-9)
8 - Kim Clijsters (4-4)
5 - Victoria Azarenka (2-3)
5 - Simona Halep (2-3)
4 - Naomi Osaka (4-0)
4 - Angelique Kerber (3-1)
4 - Garbine Muguruza (2-2)
4 - Svetlana Kuznetsova (2-2)
3 - Petra Kvitova (2-1)
2 - ASH BARTY (1-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin (1-1)
2 - Sloane Stephens (1-1)
2 - Samantha Stosur (1-1)
2 - KAROLINA PLISKOVA (0-1)
2 - Vera Zvonareva (0-2)

*SLAM FINALS IN 2020's BY NATION*
3 - USA (1-2)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - CZE (1-0 - Pliskova)
1 - AUS (0-0 - Barty)
1 - BLR (0-1)
1 - ESP (0-1)
1 - POL (1-0)
1 - RUS (0-1)

*WON WIMBLEDON GIRLS & LADIES TITLES*
Karen Susman (1960 Jr. Champion; 1962 Ladies Champion)
Ann Haydon Jones (1956 Jr. Champion; 1969 Ladies Champion)
Martina Hingis (1994 Jr. Champion; 1997 Ladies Champion)
Amelie Mauresmo (1996 Jr. Champion; 2006 Ladies Champion)
[others in Open era]
Martina Navratilova (1973 Jr. RU; 9-time Ladies Champion)
Hana Mandlikova (1978 Jr. RU; 1981/86 Ladies RU)
Zina Garrison (1981 Jr. Champion; 1990 Ladies RU)
Maria Sharapova (2002 Jr. RU; 2004 Ladies Champion)
Aga Radwanska (2005 Jr. Champion; 2012 Ladies RU)
Genie Bouchard (2012 Jr. Champion; 2014 Ladies RU)
Ash Barty (2011 Jr. Champion; in 2021 Ladies Final)

*MOST SLAMS BEFORE FIRST TITLE*
49 - Flavia Pennetta (2015 U.S. Open)
47 - Marion Bartoli (2013 Wimbledon)
45 - Jana Novotna (1998 Wimbledon)
43 - Caroline Wozniacki (2018 Australian Open)
39 - Francesca Schiavone (2010 Roland Garros)
34 - Samantha Stosur (2011 U.S. Open)
33 - Angelique Kerber (2016 Australian Open)
32 - Simona Halep (2018 Roland Garros)
32 - Amelie Mauresmo (2006 Australian Open)
-
NOTE: Pliskova in 36th slam

*OLDEST FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS*
33y,199d - Flavia Pennetta, 2015 U.S. Open
29y,346d - Francesca Schiavone, 2010 Roland Garros
29y,275d - Jana Novotna, 1998 Wimbledon
29y,154d - Kerry Melville-Reid, 1977 Australian Open
29y,98d - Li Na, 2011 Roland Garros
-
NOTE: Pliskova will be 29y,111d in final

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
40 - Serena Williams, USA (33-7)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
16 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (8-8)
8 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (5-3)
8 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-3)
8 - ANGELIQUE KERBER, GER (4-4)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (2-3)
4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)
4 - KAROLINA PLISKOVA, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
4 - Madison Keys, USA (1-3)
3 - ASH BARTY, AUS (2-1)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Johanna Konta GBR (0-3)

*REACHED #1 WITHOUT HAVING WON A SLAM TITLE*
2003 Kim Clijsters, BEL [won U.S. Open in 2005]
2009 - Dinara Safina, RUS [0-3 in slam finals]
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN [won Australian Open in 2018]
2008 - Jelena Jankovic, SRB [0-1 in slam finals]
2004 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA [won Australian Open in 2006]
2017 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE [0-1 in slam finals; plays in '21 Wimbledon final]
2017 Simona Halep, ROU [won Roland Garros in 2018]

*WIMBLEDON "Ms. OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Severine Bremond, FRA
2007 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2008 Zheng Jie, CHN
2009 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2010 Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Aga Radwanska, POL
2013 Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
2014 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2015 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2016 Elena Vesnina, RUS
2017 Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK
2018 Julia Goerges, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU and Alison Riske, USA
2021 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR

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TOP QUALIFIER: Ana Konjuh/CRO
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #25 Angelique Kerber/GER
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #25 Angelique Kerber/GER
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - Lesley Pattinama Kerhkove/NED def. Jule Niemeier/GER 6-4/2-6/9-7 (saved 2 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #25 Angelique Kerber/GER def. Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP 7-5/5-7/6-4 (3:19; wins on MP #2 1:20 after first MP)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #21 Ons Jabeur/TUN def. #11 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 5-7/6-3/6-2 (first Arab woman to reach Wimbledon QF)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (def. Niculescu - first official match at AELTC in 715 days)
FIRST SEED OUT: #10 Petra Kvitova/CZE (1st Rd.-Stephens)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove/NED, Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL, Emma Raducanu/GBR
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: South America
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Canada - 0-2 1st Rd. (#5 Andreescu, Fernandez), while Bouchard (injured) DNP
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL (3rd Rd.) (LL 2r: Ahn)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR, Liudmila Samsonova/RUS (both 4th Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Andrea Petkovic/GER, CoCo Vandeweghe/USA, Elena Vesnina/RUS (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Emma Raducanu (4th Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
IT "Teen Brit": Emma Raducanu/GBR
COMEBACK PLAYER: Angelique Kerber/GER
CRASH & BURN: #6 Serena Williams, USA & #10 Petra Kvitova, CZE (both 1st Rd;. won 6 of last 11 Wimbledon; Williams ret. for second career 1r slam exit)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (early-round): Kristie Ahn/USA (already a lucky loser, also saved MP vs. Watson/GBR in 1st Rd.)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (mid/late-round): Nominees: V.Kudermetova/Vesnina (QF-4 MP vs. #1 Krejcikova/Siniakova)
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Karolina Pliskova/CZE
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: Nominee: Ka.Pliskova (Czech wins maiden slam title at 29?)
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
=June 26 official= All quiet, but on 25th Ula Radwanska loses in final qualifying round and on 27th top-ranked Brit Konta w/d due to COVID quarantine
=Day 3 observed= After two days of rain following a 715-day break since the last Wimbledon, the Day 3 schedule includes 39 women's (23 1r/16 2r) and 41 men's (27 1r/14 2r) singles matches. Slips and falls that led to back-to-back Centre Court retirements (including S.Williams) on Day 2 continued, and the day began with the unusual news that a pair of lucky losers -- Astra Sharma and Tsvetana Pironkova -- were being added to the draw three days into the event due to injuries (both former semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova and Astra Sharma lost, the latter after holding a 4-2 3rd set lead). In all, three Top 10 women's seeds (#4 Kenin, #5 Andreescu and #9 Bencic) were ousted, longtime Wimbledon "marathon" man John Isner *lost* a five-setter, and 41-year old five-time champ Venus Williams was defeated a day after her sister left the tournament due to injury (marking just the fourth time in their long slam history that neither reached the 3rd Round of a major, and the first time ever at Wimbledon, where Venus became the first Williams to make her debut 24 years ago).






All for Day 10. More tomorrow.