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Sunday, July 10, 2022

W.14- Please Keep Off the Grass









=DAY 14 NOTES=
...on Sunday, Yui Kamiji finally got a little payback against Diede de Groot. After yet again losing to the world #1 in a closer-than-the-score-looked (6-4/6-2) singles final (Kamiji's first in singles at Wimbledon) on Saturday, the somewhat resurgent former #1 won her seventh wheelchair doubles crown at SW19 at the expense of the top-seeded de Groot & Aniek Van Koot, handing the Dutch #1 her first lost of any kind (s/d) since last year's Wimbledon doubles semis and ending her combined streak of 73 consecutive s/d match victories (which had included 27 wins in doubles).

Kamiji perhaps has finally found her perfect new doubles partner in Dana Mathewson, as this was their first ever teaming after the Japanese star has played around with a quite a few new combinations this season. Today they took full advantage of a Dutch team that was off from the start, with neither de Groot nor Van Koot serving well. They dropped their first five service games and trailed 6-1/2-0 with Kamiji/Mathewson up 40/love on serve in game 3 of the 2nd set before finally seeming to right themselves.

De Groot/Van Koot stormed back, pulling off three straight breaks and seeing de Groot serve for the set at 5-2. She failed to get the hold, and her forehand (and serve) became troubling issues from there until the end of the match. Kamiji/Mathewson kept fighting, holding for 5-4 in a game that saw them win a 47-shot rally at one point. With Van Koot serving again for the match, and holding set points, the Dutch again couldn't knot the match and dropped serve once more.

Serving to stay in the match at 5-6 down, de Groot fell behind love/30 and then double MP. Kamiji/Mathewson put away the 6-2/7-5 win, with Kamiji picking up her 18th career slam doubles crown while Mathewson became the first U.S. woman to ever win a wheelchair slam title (and she did it right after getting engaged, too... so it's been a pretty big week).

Mathewson had only reached one other slam final (U.S. Open '17 doubles w/ Van Koot), and hasn't always been a slam participant with the small draws at majors in recent years. Now, with RG expanding from a draw of 8 to 12, and the U.S. going from 8 to 16 this summer (with, I'd think, the AO soon to follow in '23), Mathewson should be a comfortable participant at the majors going forward and be available to team with Kamiji from here on. It'd be great for her, *and* her success should give the USTA something to work with as far as promoting the sport a little bit more. There are so many WC athletes in the U.S., and it's really stunning that there have been so few of them in WC tennis over the years. That needs to change, and maybe now Mathewson can "play the Jabeur role" in the process.

(Quick! Get her a spot on Fallon or Kimmel, or even Drew Barrymore. Something, at least.)



The on-court interviewer of the winners was good (though it'd been great if the history Mathewson had just made would have been mentioned), or was at least far better than the quite literally embarrassing performance by yesterday's interviewer after de Groot won the singles title. The interviewer there, even while checking all his notes, started off by saying that de Groot's win meant that she'd now completed "the Calendar Slam" and "what a year you've had." And, for once, the biggest issue wasn't even the use of that phrase, as one could see by the look on de Groot's face that she realized the guy didn't really fully know what he was talking about. In her head, you could feel her saying, "Dude, I won all the titles *last* year, and we still have *another* slam still to play in 2022. What the heck are you talking about?," but it came out of her mouth more nicely as something like, "Umm... and the year, we're only half-way, I think." Close enough. Soon after, he noted how she'd now won over 50 matches in a row (INSIDE DIEDE'S HEAD: "umm, more like about 60, British guy"), but she let that one go entirely.

Still, as she does, de Groot made the interview interesting, as she noted how difficult it was for WC players to play on grass, and how they're glad when they can go back to hard courts, but she enjoys the challenge of having to change her game for the surface. And speaking of yesterday, it was nice to see de Groot's (apparently) mother in the stands for maybe the first time for one of her big wins. De Groot teared up when she noted the presence of family in the stands. The resemblance is clear, so...



Also, there was a good tip-in on today's match coverage with former British WC player Louise Hunt and someone else (?), about the story of Mathewson becoming paralyzed at age 10 after having suddenly felt intense pain in her back after doing sprints alongside a track.



The offshoot of this result is not only the end of de Groot's overall perfect season (she still hasn't lost in singles), but also that she again won't become the first WC player to sweep all eight slam titles in a single campaign. She won 7 in both 2019 and '21, and could still do so again this year.

Meanwhile, de Groot was joined in the history books today by men's #1 Shingo Kunieda, who finally won his first Wimbledon singles title, making the two of them the only WC players to win all eight slam crowns.



Of course, with de Groot, history is always just around the corner. She's still chasing Esther Vergeer's records, and the chances are looking good that she'll knock down a few of them in the not too distant future. Vergeer's mark of 42 overall (21/21) slam wins is still a bit out there, as de Groot stands at 29 (15/14). But Kunieda may now also be a long-range target, as he has 50 overall titles (28/22). Kunieda is 38, while de Groot is just 25. Vergeer, de Groot's mentor, retired at age 30. But de Groot seems to truly enjoy the competition, and one would think she might be in a far different financial situation than WC players of the past, what with her Nike sponsorship and the company's seeming desire to work even more with her.

As far as de Groot's perfect season in singles, I don't know if she's scheduled to play the upcoming hard court event in Nottingham or not, but if she is she might be walking right into a trap. Even though she won over Kamiji (who's far better on HC than grass), de Groot had issues with her serve (the shot that bedeviled her in her worst season in 2019, when she reached just one slam singles final and won one only of three WD majors -- hey, for *her*, that's not good). The problems continued today, and her forehand produced way too many errors, as well.

If she's not prepared for her next event, that 61-match streak might come to a crashing halt, too.

...now, you didn't think the entire Czech contingent were going to leave London empty-handed, did you?



#2 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova's 6-2/6-4 win over #1 Elise Mertens (DC, as she won in '21 w/ Hsieh) & Zhang Shuai gives them a second Wimbledon crown, second major in '22, and fifth slam victory overall. The five titles tie them for fifth amongst women's duos in the Open era when it comes to slam wins.

Now they need to just go out and win that first U.S. Open title -- the only slam they're missing -- and their legend will be complete.

...I was just noting the other day that there don't seem to be many Romanians making moves in the juniors in recent years. Well, the first under-14 Wimbledon girls' final today was contested between *two* Romanians, as Alexia Ioana Tatu defeated Andreea Diana Soare for the crown. They're there, just a few years away.



...in the Legends Invitational doubles final, Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis continued their buzzsaw trip through the field. They finished their 4-0 week with a 6-4/6-2 win over Daniela Hantuchova & Laura Robson to claim the title. The pair lost 18 games in four matches (48-18).



In the new Mixed Invitational, Marion Bartoli & Nenad Zimonjic defeated Cara Black & Todd Woodbridge 7-6(1)/6-1 to win. Afterward, Zimonjic, an 8-time slam MD/MX champ, noted that since he last played he'd had double hip replacement. Seriously, through, they've got to bring in some heavy hitters for this competition next year... think of the possible combinations. (Of course, if you can't even get the likes of Serena, while she's still in London, to show up for the Centre Court 100th anniversary ceremony...)



...speaking of surgeries, since the operation on her elbow earlier this year, Sara Errani has been something of a T2-like cyborg, posting her best results in quite a while. Already a grass event finalist in a 125 a few weeks ago, the Italian vet won the clay court 125 title in Contrexeville, France today over Dalma Galfi. The 6-4/1-6/7-6(4) win featured Errani saving three MP.



...another Czech, Linda Noskova was busy in the $100K Versmold challenger in Germany, defeating Ysaline Bonaventure 1 & 3 to claim her sixth (and biggest) pro crown.



Elsewhere, Simona Waltert defeated former NCAA singles champ Emma Navarro in the $60K Amstelveen (NED) final, while former NCAA doubles champ Makenna Jones lost to Yang Ya-yi in the Fountain Valley, California $15K event.

Wimbledon LL Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove won the $25K in Corroios-Seixal (POR) over Lina Glushko, and Pastry Selena Janicijevic improved to 4-1 in '22 ITF finals with a win over Sapfo Sakellaridi in the $25K in Getxo (ESP). Book *her* for a wild card (at least) at Roland Garros in '23... or, you know, a few mentions on the Prediction Blowout before next season.






*LADIES' SINGLES FINAL*
#17 Elena Rybakina/KAZ def. #3 Ons Jabeur/TUN 3-6/6-2/6-2

*LADIES' DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) def. #1 Mertens/Sh.Zhang (BEL/CHN) 6-2/6-4

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Krawczyk/N.Skupski (USA/GBR) def. Ebden/Stosur (AUS/AUS) 6-4/6-3

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-4/6-2

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
Kamiji/Mathewson (JPN/USA) def. #1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) 6-1/7-5

*GIRLS' SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Liv Hovde/USA def. #7 Luca Udvardy/HUN 6-3/6-4

*GIRLS' DOUBLES FINAL*
Nijkamp/Okutoyi (NED/KEN) def. #4 Cross/Mboko (CAN/CAN) 3-6/6-4 [11-9]

*GIRLS' 14-and-UNDER FINAL*
#1 Alexia Ioana Tatu/ROU def. #5 Andreea Diana Soare/ROU 7-6(2)/6-4

*LADIES' INVITATIONAL DOUBLES FINAL*
Clijsters/Hingis (BEL/SUI) def. Hantuchova/Robson (SVK/GBR) 6-4/6-2

*MIXED INVITATIONAL DOUBLES FINAL*
Bartoli/Zimonjic (FRA/SRB) def. C.Black/Woodbridge (ZIM/AUS) 7-6(1)/6-1







...JJ MADE HER RETIREMENT *OFFICIAL* DURING THIS WIMBLEDON... ON DAY 14:

And who better to give her a lovely sendoff than...



Who knows, in a few years maybe the Petko/JJ Show will finally be reunited during the Wimbledon invitational event.


...EYEROLLING... ON DAY 14:

...about all the Twitter shouts of hypocrisy thrown at John McEnroe for calling out Nick Kyrgios on his on-court behavior. Now, on it's face, the criticism of the 7-time slam champ, former #1 and Hall of Famer is valid... but the middle part of this sentence sort of changes the discussion. Seven versus... oh, wait, nada. McEnroe's greatness as a player, like it or not (and as wrong-headed as it was), seemed to often be *fueled by* his running commentary, arguments and "bad behavior" during matches, not thwarted by it. It's quite the opposite case when it comes to the Aussie, who seems to be playing a "role" as much as anything.



With Kyrgios, his act has always come off as more of a moody sideshow designed to stake out his hard-earned I-don't-really-give-a-sh*t "brand" and draw attention (I mean, what does it say about a player when seeing "Mr. I-Know-It-All" winning yet another title rather than you getting your first is by far the "preferable" -- since they *both* couldn't lose, unfortunately -- result?), with his words and actions often contradicting each other, while he generally wastes the talent that should have made him, at the very least, a slam *contender* over much of the past decade. Instead he's been a headline-maker with flashes of great ability, and whenever he's even come close to taking his performances as seriously as his extracurricular B.S. he's been a legitimate factor on the court. Taking the game seriously was never the issue with McEnroe... he actually took it TOO seriously most of the time.

Not that he needs anyone explaining his words for him, but isn't it pretty clear that that's the point McEnroe was making?

But, on the other hand, also *this*...



And this...



McEnroe starting playing "a role" once his playing career was over, and he should usually just stick to the tennis.



...A STORY OF OPPORTUNITIES MISSED AND FOUND... ON DAY 14:



Of course, if the RTF *had* signed up Rybakina, then she wouldn't have just won Wimbledon. Because she wouldn't have been in the tournament.


...HERE WE GO AGAIN... ON DAY 14:




...WIMBLEDON :/ ...ON DAY 14:




...THE ALWAYS-ANTICIPATED TOP 10... ON DAY 14:




...TO BE CONTINUED... ON DAY 14:











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*CAREER OVERALL SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE*
[singles/doubles/mixed]
39 - Serena Williams, USA (23-14-2)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
9 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (1-5-3)
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (0-5-4)
9 - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA (0-6-3)
8 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (1-4-3)
6 - Sania Mirza, IND (0-3-3)
6 - Katarina Srebotnik, SLO (0-1-5)
5 - Sara Errani, ITA (0-5-0)
5 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE (0-5-0)
5 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (0-3-2)

*RECENT WD SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2019]
AO: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE)
US: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
[2020]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
US: Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva (GER/RUS)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
[2021]
AO: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
US: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
[2022]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA/FRA)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON DOUBLES CHAMPIONS*
2008 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2009 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2010 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik, CZE/SLO
2012 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2014 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza, SUI/IND
2016 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2017 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2021 Hsieh Su-wei & Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
2022 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE

*SLAM DOUBLES TITLES, DUOS - Open Era*
20 - Martina Navratilova & Pam Shriver
14 - Gigi Fernandez & Natasha Zvereva
14 - Serena Williams & Venus Williams
8 - Virginia Ruano Pascual & Paola Suarez
5 - Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci
5 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA & KATERINA SINIAKOVA
5 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova

*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Serena Williams, USA
14...Venus Williams, USA
6...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
5...KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
4...Timea Babos, HUN
4...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
4...Samantha Stosur, AUS

*2022 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
4...V.Kudermetova/Mertens (1-3)
3...Hozumi/Ninomiya (3-0)
3...L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (0-1+WL)
2...KREJCIKOVA/SINIAKOVA (2-0)
2...Siegemund/Zvonareva (2-0)
2...Dabrowski/Olmos (1-1)
2...Danilina/Haddad Maia (1-1)
2...Gauff/Pegula (1-1)
2...Hradecka/Mirza (0-2)
2...Krawczyk/Schuurs (1-1)
2...MERTENS/S.ZHANG (0-1+L)
[individuals]
6 (1-4+L) = ELISE MERTENS, BEL
5 (2-3) = Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
4 (4-0) = KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
4 (1-2+L) = ZHANG SHUAI, CHN
3 (3-0) = Eri Hozumi, JPN
3 (3-0) = Makoto Ninomiya, JPN
3 (2-1) = Jessie Pegula, USA
3 (2-1) = Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
3 (1-2) = Coco Gauff, USA
3 (0-1+WL) = Lyudmyla Kichenok, UKR
3 (0-1+WL) = Alona Ostapenko, LAT

*2020s WD TITLES - DUOS (2020-22)*
8...KREJCIKOVA/SINIAKOVA (1/5/2)
6...Aoyama/Shibahara (1/5/0)
4...Hsieh/Strycova (4/0 ret.)
3...Guarachi/Krawczyk (1/2/0)
3...Hozumi/Ninomiya (0/0/3)
3...Melichar/Schuurs (1/2/0)
3...Siegemund/Zvonareva (1/0/2)
[individuals]
11 - KATERINIA SINIAKOVA, CZE (1/6/4)
8 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (1/5/2)
6 - Shuka Aoyama, JPN (1/5/0)
6 - Hsieh Su-wei, TPE (4/2/0)
6 - Elise Mertens, BEL (1/4/1)
6 - Ena Shibahara, JPN (1/5/0)
5 - Desirae Krawczyk, USA (2/2/1)
5 - Nicole Melichar-Martinez, USA (2/2/1)
5 - Demi Schuurs, NED (2/2/1)

*WIMBLEDON INVITATION DOUBLES WINNERS - SINCE 2007*
2007 Jana Novotna & Helena Sukova
2008 Jana Novotna & Kathy Rinaldi
2009 Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova
2010 Martina Navratilova & Jana Novotna
2011 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2012 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2013 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2014 Jana Novotna & Barbara Schett
2015 Magdalena Maleeva & Rennae Stubbs
2016 Martina Navratilova & Selima Sfar
2017 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2018 Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs
2019 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2020-21 DNP
2022 Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis
[mixed]
2022 Marion Bartoli & Nenad Zimonjic

*WIMBLEDON WC DOUBLES WINNERS*
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2016 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2018 Diede de Groot/Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED
2021 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2022 Yui Kamiji/Dana Mathewson, JPN/USA

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
29 - Diede de Groot, NED (15/14)*
26 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8/18)*
24 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/21)*
18 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/14)*
13 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/12)

*WON MOST DIFF. (of 8) WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
8 - Diede de Groot, NED [completed set w/ '19 RG singles]#
7 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (US Open singles)#
7 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (Wimbledon singles)#
7 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (RG singles)#
7 - Esther Vergeer, NED (DNP Wimbledon singles)
[men]
8 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN [completed set w/ '22 WI singles]#
-
*-active

*ALL-TIME WC SLAM TITLES (M+W)*
50 - Shingo Kunieda, JPN (28/22)*
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
29 - Diede de Groot, NED (15/14)*
26 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8/18)*
24 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/21)*
23 - Stephane Houdet, FRA (4/19)
21 - Gordon Reid, GBR (2/19)*
20 - Alfie Hewett, GBR (5/15)*
-
*-active

*RECENT WIMBLEDON "DOUBLES STAR" WINNERS*
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2016 Heather Watson, GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR (WC)
2018 Diede de Groot & Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN (WC)
2019 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2021 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR (WC)
2022 Angella Okutoyi, KEN (jr.) and Dana Mathewson, USA (WC)






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TOP QUALIFIER: Maja Chwalinska/POL
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #16 Simona Halep/ROU
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #16 Simona Halep/ROU
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #17 Elena Rybakina/KAZ
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - Jaimee Fourlis/AUS def. Dea Herdzelas/BIH 5-7/7-6(4)/6-4 (trailed 7-5/5-3, saved 2 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Harmony Tan/FRA def. (WC) Serena Williams/USA 7-5/1-6/7-6(7) (Williams for match at 5-4 in 3rd, up 4-0 in TB; first match in a year for SW; Tan Wimb. debut
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF/WD-MX): MX Doubles 2nd Rd. - (WC) Olivia Barnett/Jonny O'Mara (GBR/GBR) def. (WC) Venus Williams/Jamie Murray (USA/GBR) 3-6/6-4/7-6(18-16) (34-point TB ends match, Brits win on 5th MP in TB after saving 5 MP in TB)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): Girls 3rd Rd. - #1 Liv Hovde/USA def. #13 Kayla Cross/CAN 4-6/7-5/6-4 (saved MP in 2nd set on replay challenge, then w/ drop shot; goes on to win title)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #28 Alison Riske/USA (def. Y.In-Albon/SUI)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Kaia Kanepi/EST (1st Rd.-Diane Parry/FRA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Maja Chwalinska/POL, Elisabetta Cocciaretto/ITA, Dalma Galfi/HUN, Catherine Harrison/USA, Mai Hontama/JPN, Katarzyna Kawa/POL, Jule Niemeier/GER, Panna Udvardy/HUN
UPSET QUEENS: France
REVELATION LADIES: Poland
NATION OF POOR SOULS: AUS (1-5 1st; DC Barty retired in March)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Maja Chwalinska/POL, Catherine Harrison/USA, Mai Hontama/JPN, Katarzyna Kawa/POL, Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (all 2nd Rd.) (LL 2r: Kerkhove/NED)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Katie Boulter/GBR (3r)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Elisabetta Cocciaretto/ITA, Kirsten Flipkens/BEL, Yanina Wickmayer/BEL(Q) (all to 2r)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Heather Watson (4r)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Harmony Tan/FRA
IT "Groundbreakers": Ons Jabeur/TUN (1st TUN slam F) and Elena Rybakina/KAZ (1st KAZ slam F/W)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Simona Halep/ROU
CRASH & BURN: #23 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA (1st Rd./Juvan; had won 2 grass titles); #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP (1st Rd./Minnen; love 2nd lost when back; worst three-slam stretch of career
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: #24 Elise Mertens/BEL (2nd Rd.: P.Udvardy 2 MP in 2nd set, Mertens wins set and play susp; takes 3rd set a day later)
DOUBLES STARS: Angella Okutoyi/KEN (first Kenyan jr. slam champion) and Dana Mathewson/USA (first U.S. woman w/ WC slam title)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Tatjana Maria/GER and Alize Cornet/FRA
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Liv Hovde/USA (Roehampton/Wimbledon sweep)
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Marie Bouzkova/CZE (1st career slam QF)
---

RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
=June 26 official=

no play

=Day 3 observed=

Rain delays the start of play. Once play begins, three Top 10 women's seeds fall: #2 Anett Kontaveit, a former Wimbledon champion (a crying) #9 Garbine Muguruza, the great British hope in #10-seeded U.S. Open champ Emma Raducanu and two additional seeds (#26 Sorana Cirstea and #29 Anhelina Kalinina). Another (#24 Elise Mertens) saves 2 MP and escapes the guillotine (for now). In the men's, #3 seed and RG finalist (Casper Ruud) loses, along with former men's (Andy Murray) and boys' (#15 Reilly Opelka) champions. Another seed (#31 Sebastian Baez) also exits. Meanwhile, a young Pole (Maja Chwalinska) slips and falls in the backcourt in a fashion very reminscent of the sort of spills that occurred on that fateful June 26 back in 2013. After Chwalinska fell, she never won another game in the match from 6-3/1-0 up.






All for Wimbledon. Grass Court Awards next.
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