W.12- The Day Before the Day

From 128 players, two remain ??

Jasmine Paolini & Barbora Krejcikova go for the #Wimbledon title on Saturday! ?? pic.twitter.com/9eyXx1xFIA

— wta (@WTA) July 11, 2024

=DAY 12 NOTES= ...though the women's singles had a day off on Friday, the rest of the draws were busy trying to make sure the final weekend goes off as planned despite so many delayed and cancelled matches over the course of the fortnight.

In wheelchair action, three-time defending champ Diede de Groot defeated Wang Ziying to advance to her seventh straight Wimbledon final, and will be seeking her sixth title at SW19. The one time she didn't win in the stretch? In 2019, when she was upset by doubles partner Aniek Van Koot in the final.

De Groot's opponent in her attempt to win a 15th consecutive slam singles title? Why, Van Koot, of course. The #4-seeded veteran Dutch player knocked off #2-seed Yui Kamiji 5-7/6-4/7-5 today.

Kamiji finally ended her 28-match losing streak vs. de Groot last week at Roehampton, but now remains Wimbledon singles title-free for her career. It's the only major title that Kamiji has yet to win (she's won the other seven titles at least twice each), having reached just one final (2022) in the eight singles events (singles was first contested in 2016) held at the AELTC during her career.

The doubles final will feature #1 Kamiji/Kgothatso Montjane vs. #2 de Groot/Jiske Griffioen.

Jiske en ik hebben daarnet de halve finale in het #dubbelspel gewonnen. Het belooft een leuk weekend te worden op @Wimbledon

Foto: @ITFTennis #wheelchairtennis #semifinal #wimbledon pic.twitter.com/YtsUWjY2YC

— Diede de Groot (@DiedetheGreat) July 12, 2024

Aside from her 51-match singles winning streak in majors and 14-slam title run, de Groot continues to total up other ridiculous stats in slam play. She'll be playing in the 26th of the last 28 slam singles finals (she's been in 26/30 for her career, winning 22), while also appearing in 27 of 28 slam doubles finals (28/30 career), winning 19. So, she's played in 54 of 60 s/d finals since she appeared in her first major MD at the 2017 Australian Open, winning 41 total titles.

She's swept the s/d crowns 15 times, including at both of the slams played in 2024 (Wimbledon will be the last, as the U.S. Open won't have the WC event due to the conflict with the Paralympics). If she sweeps the titles this weekend, she'll pass Esther Vergeer (the all-time women's leader with 42) for the most women's WC slams wins ever with career titles #42 and #43. Next up would be the all-time leader overall, the just-retired men's star Shingo Kunieda, who won 50 (though he did it over a 16-year span, while de Groot is in just her eighth season of major play).

...the WD and MX finals are set, as well.

In something of an "upset," though maybe not, #4 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend ousted #1 Hsieh Su-Wei/Elise Mertens in the semis on Friday, ending Hsieh's 22-match doubles winning streak at SW19. She last lost in 2018, and had won the last three times she played the event, in '19 and '23 w/ Barbora Strycova, and '21 w/ Mertens.

and the crowd roars ???@TaylorTownsend and @K_Siniakova bounce back and take out the No.1 seeds Hsieh/Mertens for a place in the doubles final!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/9uQQVBzbPy

— wta (@WTA) July 12, 2024

Siniakova will try to win a second straight slam (she won RG w/ Coco Gauff in a first-time partnership, as her other options were either injured -- Townsend or Storm Hunter -- or a thing of the past -- Barbora Krejcikova, though apparently the Czechs *will* play the Olympics together), her third at Wimbledon and the ninth WD major of her career. Townsend is looking for her first WD slam win, after losing twice ('22 US w/ Caty McNally, '23 RG w/ Leylah Fernandez) in major finals before.

Their opponents in the final will be #2 seeds Gaby Dabrowksi & Erin Routliffe, who defeated #7 Caroline Dolehide/Desirae Krawczyk. Dabrowski & Routliffe won the U.S. Open last year.

Sealing their fate ??

The No.2 seeds @erinroutliffe and Gaby Dabrowski get the win over the No.7 seeds Krawczyk/Dolehide, 6-4, 6-3.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/RvbOPFzfuq

— wta (@WTA) July 12, 2024

In MX, Giuliana Olmos teamed with Santiago Gonzalez to become the first Mexican duo to reach the final at Wimbledon. No Mexican pair have ever won a MX crown at any major.

¡A la Final de Wimbledon????!
Santiago González ???? y Giuliana Olmos ???? siguen haciendo historia en #Wimbledon y avanzan a la final de dobles mixtos ??
•Final: 14 de Julio ??? Centre Court ??? *Después de la final de singles varonil? ??:Disney+
Vamos @gonzalezsanty @guguolmos?? https://t.co/WRa46M3ZcV pic.twitter.com/fNUgz0KNbr

— México rumbo a París 2024?????????? (@MParis2024) July 12, 2024

Olmos' run marks just the second time a woman from Mexico has reached any slam final since 1974 (and she's only the third since 1961), with the other most recent time being Olmos' own MX runner-up result at the U.S. Open in 2021. No Mexican woman has ever played in *any* of the major finals at Wimbledon before now, and the only two titles ever won by Mexican women came in 1958 (RG WD: Yola Ramirez/Rosie Reyes) and 1959 (RG MX: Ramirez).

Mexican men have been slightly more successful, but not in a while: 1 singles title (1963 US), 4 doubles titles (the last at the '77 RG) and two in mixed (in 1988 and '90 at RG).

Olmos & Gonzalez will face Hsieh and Jan Zielinski, the pair who won the AO mixed title back in January. Hsieh will be going for her ninth major title overall (7 wd, 1 mx).

...girls' top seed Renata Jamrichova remains in contention to join the short list of juniors to win multiple slam titles in a single season, as the Slovakian AO winner defeated Rositsa Dencheva to reach the semis along with Crusher Vendula Valdmannova (def. #10 Jeline Vandromme), #3-seeded Aussie Emerson Jones (def. Monika Stankiewicz) and Bannerette #6 Iva Jovic, who ended Roehampton champ #15 Teodora Kostovic's hopes of sweeping the two biggest junior grass court titles on the schedule.

That doesn't mean a Roehampton champ can't still win Wimbledon, though, as Jamrichova won the girls' title there *last* year.

...Jasmine Paolini might not be the only Italian woman lifting a trophy this weekend. There are two WTA 125 tournaments being held this week, and two of Paolini's countrywomen are still alive.

In Bastad, Martina Trevisan will face Bannerette Ann Li in the final, while Lucia Bronzetti next faces lucky loser Gao Xinyu in the semifinals in Contrexeville.

*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#31 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE vs. #7 Jasmine Paolini/ITA

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#4 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. #2 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
Olmos/S.Gonzalez (MEX/MEX) vs. #7 Hsieh/Zielinski (TPE/POL)

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #4 Aniek Van Koot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) vs. #2 de Groot/Griffioen (NED/NED)

*GIRLS' SINGLES SF*
#1 Renata Jamrichova/SVK vs. Vendula Valdmannova/CZE
#3 Emerson Jones/AUS vs. #6 Iva Jovic/USA

*GIRLS' DOUBLES SF*
#7 Stojsavljevic/M.Xu (GBR/GBR) vs. Pastikova/Stusek (CZE/GER)
#6 E.Jones/Paganetti (AUS/ITA) vs. #2 Grant/Jovic (USA/USA)

*GIRLS' 14-and-UNDER FINAL*
x vs. x

*INVITATIONAL DOUBLES FINAL*
x vs. x

*INVITATIONAL MIXED FINAL*
Cibulkova/Woodforde (SVK/AUS) vs. x

...GREAT PHOTO... ON DAY 12:

Novak in full flow ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/JudglXgVBr

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2024

...STARS ALIGN... ON DAY 12:

Raise your glass to this duo ??@JasminePaolini meets @Pink! ?? pic.twitter.com/xHfE8psnuw

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 12, 2024

...AH, I'D MISSED THE NEWS THAT LITTLE POJD... err, I MEAN PETR WAS BORN THE OTHER DAY... ON DAY 12:

Petra Kvitová has given birth to her baby boy Petr!!!
I am so happy for her and Jirí ??????!!! pic.twitter.com/lCaYC94gXT

— Simone Curto (@CurtoSimone) July 8, 2024

My Birthday well spent with family and friends! Heart is full! Thank you for all the birthday wishes ?????? pic.twitter.com/kaRw5e5y1M

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) July 11, 2024

ESPYS ‘24 ? So proud of you @serenawilliams ?? pic.twitter.com/ZhcWKgGChj

— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) July 12, 2024

What a night ?? @espn @ABCNetwork #ESPYAwards pic.twitter.com/vpVS11LUSJ

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 12, 2024

?? https://t.co/G30NAYPM8F

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 12, 2024

*MEXICAN WOMEN IN SLAM FINALS*
[WS]
1960 Roland Garros WS - Yola Ramirez
1961 Roland Garros WS - Yola Ramirez
[WD]
1957 Roland Garros WD - Yola Ramirez/Rosie Reyes
1958 Roland Garros WD - Yola Ramirez/Rosie Reyes (W)
1959 Roland Garros WD - Yola Ramirez/Rosie Reyes
1961 US Open WD - Yola Ramirez
[MX]
1959 Roland Garros - Yola Ramirez (W)
1974 Roland Garros - Rosie Reyes
2021 US Open - Giuliana Olmos
2024 Wimbledon - Giuliana Olmos (to play final)

*2020s MIXED GS/OLY FINALS*
6 - Desirae Krawczyk, USA (4-2)
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2-0)
2 - HSIEH SU-WEI, TPE (1-0)
2 - GIULIANA OLMOS, MEX (0-1)
2 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (0-2)
2 - Elena Vesnina, RUS (0-2)

*2024 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
5 (1-3) = ERIN ROUTLIFFE
4 (2-1) = KATERINA SINIAKOVA
4 (2-2) = Chan Hao-ching
4 (2-2) = Lyudmyla Kichenok
4 (2-2) = Nicole Melichar-Martinez
4 (2-2) = Ellen Perez
4 (1-2) = GABY DABROWSKI
[2024 finals - duos]
4...Melichar-Martinez/Perez (2-2)
4...DABROWSKI/ROUTLIFFE (1-2)
3...Errani/Paolini (2-1)
3...L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (2-1)
3...Chan HC./V.Kudermetova (1-2)

*SLAM MX TITLES - active*
4...Desirae Krawczyk, USA
4...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
3...Latisha Chan, TPE
3...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
3...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2...Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
2...Laura Siegemund, GER
2...Venus Williams, USA
2...Vera Zvonareva, RUS
1...Anna Danilina, KAZ
1...Miyu Kato, JPN
1...Lyudmyla Kichenok, UKR
1...Nicole Melichar Martinez, USA
1...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
1...Storm Hunter, AUS
1...Ena Shibahara, JPN
1...Luisa Stefani, BRA
1...Elena Vesnina, RUS
1...Heather Watson, GBR

*CAREER OVERALL SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE*
[singles/doubles/mixed]
23 - Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
11 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-7-3)
9 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA (0-6-3)
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (0-5-4)
8 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE (0-7-1)
8 - Katerina Siniakova, CZE (0-8-0)
5 - Sara Errani, ITA (0-5-0)
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (5-0-0)
5 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (0-3-2)

*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
27 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8-19)
26 - DIEDE DE GROOT, NED (22-3)
15 - ANIEK VAN KOOT, NED (3-11)
7 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-3)
1 - Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (0-1)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)
1 - Zhu Zhenzhen, CHN (0-1)

*ALL-TIME WC SLAM TITLES (M+W)*
50 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN (28/22)
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
41 - Diede de Groot, NED (22/19)*
28 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8/20)*
28 - Alfie Hewett, GBR (8/20)*
27 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/24)*
26 - Gordon Reid, GBR (2/24)*
24 - Stephane Houdet, FRA (4/20)*
-
*-active

With Democrats, the call is almost always coming from *inside the house*. Say what you will about Republicans, no matter how abominable the candidate, the overwhelming majority of them stick together (which is *something*, I guess). Nationally, Democrats almost always out-vote the other side (numbers-wise) in the end, but winning is necessarily a constant death match where candidates have to watch their front, side *and* their back.

Donors are reportedly withholding roughly $90 million pledged to the largest pro-Biden super PAC, citing concerns about Biden’s viability as a candidate. https://t.co/LyBFuF9CP1

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) July 12, 2024

I'm so old I remember when the press went after Hillary for being "too prepared," Obama for being "too cool" and Al Gore for being "too smart"

— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) July 12, 2024

African Ground Hornbills going for a wander

pic.twitter.com/mICFHqOT1G

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) July 12, 2024

TOP QUALIFIER: Katie Volynets/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #14 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #4 Elena Rybakina/KAZ
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 -Robin Montgomery/USA def. #10 Kamilla Rakhimova/RUS 7-6(0)/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4) - no breaks in 36 games, only 5 BP face; Montgomery w/ 20 aces; combined for 132 winners (67/65)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #18 Marta Kostyuk/UKR def. Dasha Saville/AUS 4-6/7-6(2)/6-4 - Saville served for match three times in 2nd set, had a MP; Kostyuk break on BP #8 of game to force TB; Kostyuk wins on MP #5 in 3rd set
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - (Q) Lulu Sun/NZL def. (WC) Emma Raducanu/GBR 6-2/5-7/6-2 - overcomes Brit on Centre Ct., first NZL to slam QF since '89; 52 winners
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): Nominee: SF - #7 Paolini d. Vekic
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Varvara Gracheva/FRA (def. Lesia Tsurenko/UKR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #8 Zheng Qinwen/CHN (1st Rd. to Sun/NZL) (after #22 Alexandrova/RUS, #3 Sabalenka/BLR and #16 Azarenka/BLR withdrew)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Day 1: Erika Andreeva/RUS, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro/ESP, Sonay Kartal/GBR, Robin Montgomery/USA, Yuliia Starodubtseva/UKR, Lulu Sun/NZL, Anca Todoni/ROU
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Great Britain
NATION OF POOR SOULS: ROU (1-5 1st Rd.; #29 Cirstea out, Bogdan 2 MP, no Halep)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Lulu Sun/NZL (in QF)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (4th Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING: Paula Badosa/ESP (4r), Bianca Andreescu/CAN (3r)
LUCKY LOSER WINNERS: Erika Andreeva/RUS (2nd)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Emma Raducanu (4th Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Jasmine Paolini/ITA and Donna Vekic/CRO
IT "Kiwi": Lulu Sun/NZL Nominee: Routliffe
COMEBACK PLAYER: Paula Badosa/ESP
CRASH & BURN: #6 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (1st Rd. to Bouzas Maneiro/ESP; first defending champ out 1r since 1994 Graf loss vs. McNeil; second in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: #18 Marta Kostyuk/UKR (2nd Rd.- down 5-2 vs. Saville in 3rd, who served for win three times and held MP; in '24 slams has won from MP down at AO/WI, and 4-0 down in 3rd at RG)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominee: Olmos, Dabrowski/Routliffe, Siniakova/Townsend, (Invitational)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Van Koot, Hsieh, (Invitational)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominees: Jamrichova & E.Jones, Valdmannova, Jovic
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (completes "Career QF Slam" at major won by former coach/mentor; first WI F)






All for Day 12. More tomorrow.