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Wednesday, July 2, 2025

W.3- Sabalenka's Still Standing


Seeds have been falling like U.S. Presidential standards at this year's Wimbledon. But the women's #1 is still around. So far.




Traversing this first week of play at SW19 has been quite treacherous, with now four of the Top 5 seeds gone half-way through the 2nd Round, and with Day 3 adding to the carnage with victims that included a '24 finalist and semifinalist, as well as the '23 champion. A tip o' the hat to the Radwanskian Massacre Remembrance Day bookkeepers, who had quite a hard act to follow after Day 2 saw the #2, #3 and #5 women's seeds and the men's #3 and #7 all sent packing, but they managed to hold their own. Kudos!

Of course, if top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka is anything it's that she's incredibly consistence in slam play. It was a hard-won trait, as it took the Belarusian fifteen MD appearances, as well as battles with her serve and emotions (she still has some squabbles with the latter one, but usually bounces back just fine) to first reach her maiden slam semifinal and then make it a regular -- and expected -- thing. Since then, she's gotten *at least* that far in 11 of her last 14 slams (w/ two other second week runs, a QF and 4r, thrown into that mix). Sabalenka has played in both of this season's major finals in Melbourne and Paris (though losing both), in the title match at the last three slams, and at five of the last seven (and she only played in six of them, missing last year's Wimbledon with an injury).

On Wednesday, Sabalenka faced off with a potentially tricky opponent in Marie Bouzkova, a Czech who... well, that's all that really needs to be said considering this *is* Wimbledon. And Bouzkova *did* press the world #1. But then Sabalenka did what she does.

Neither woman faced a BP through the first ten games of the match, but then Bouzkova broke to take a 6-5 lead and served for the 1st set. Sabalenka broke back to force a tie-break. She led 4-2 before Bouzkova tied things up at 4-4, then Sabelanka strung together the last three points to win 7-4, putting away the set with a second serve forehand winner to win her twelfth consecutive TB.

Sabalenka dominated on her own serve in the 2nd, so breaking for a 3-2 lead was enough to secure the win. She served out the match at love, sweeping the last eighteen points played on her serve in a 7-6(4)/6-4 victory.



From Day 1 at this Wimbledon, while her ability to win it is in question, Sabalenka's chances to play deep into the draw have never really been. In a field that seemed destined to see a slew of top seeds fall in the first week, with maybe no more than two from the Top 10 going as far as the QF, nothing that has occurred so far has really been *all* that shocking, and won't likely suddenly become so. Unless Sabalenka were to exit early, that is.

With today's win, Sabalenka is 14-2 in majors this season, 32-3 over the past two, and 55-6 during the last three. No apologies are necessary.

No woman in the Open era has ever reached all four slam finals in the same season, only to go 0-4 (Venus lost four straight to Serena, but over two seasons in 2002-03). But it wouldn't be a shock if, come September, the idea might still be a possibility for Sabalenka.

In fact, if the Tennis Gods really wanted to flex their muscles, they'd have Aryna lose this year's Wimbledon final (to whomever), then have a rematch of last year's U.S. Open final against Jessie Pegula at Flushing Meadows. The NFL team (Buffalo Bills) now owned by Pegula's family, you see, some thirty years ago became the only club to ever lose in four straight Super Bowls.

I think some fun could be had by all if that particular scenario were to become a reality. (Well, at least it would be had in this space... so it is so!)








=DAY 3 NOTES=
...the one question mark as far as Sabalenka's ability to get through the early rounds *had* been waiting as a potential 3rd Rounder vs. Marketa Vondrousova, who'd defeated her in the Berlin semis just a few weeks ago. But the '23 champ was sent out by none other than Emma Raducanu on Centre Court today, 6-3/6-3, as the Brit reached the Wimbledon 3rd Round for the third time in four SW19 appearances (she played into the Round of 16 the other two times). She'll be Sabalenka's next opponent.



The Vondrousova loss was one of a three-pronged exit on the women's side today of players who have had starring roles in this tournament the last two years. Last year's finalist, #4 Jasmine Paolini, was felled 6-4/4-6/4-6 by Kamilla Rakhihmova, whose win assured a Hordette presence in the 3rd Round for a 21st consecutive major (when it's been possible). She was later joined by countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.



Paolini's exit was the fourth by a Top 5 seed the last two days, while the player she defeated a year ago in the semis to reach the final (#22 Donna Vekic) was also sent out on Wednesday by Cristina Bucsa, 6-1/6-3.

...meanwhile, 37-year old Laura Siegemund, who was the second-oldest player in the MD behind fellow German Tatjana Maria, defeated #29 Leylah Fernandez in straights sets to reach her first career Wimbledon 3rd Round, but her second at a major this year (w/ AO). It's the first time she's done that at two slams in the same season since 2016. Siegemund has doubled her career SW19 singles win total over the first three days.

She's the second-oldest player to get so far at Wimbledon in the last 55 years.



...before Raducanu punched her ticket to the 3rd Round, Sonay Kartal had stated her case to be the Last Brit Standing, winning back-to-back MD matches at SW19 for the second straight year with a 2 & 2 win over Viktoriya Tomova. Last year, Kartal become the first British wild card to reach the Wimbledon 3rd Round since 1997. We don't often see breakout performances produce a "second act" a year later in majors (see Lulu Sun), but Kartal has managed to pull one off.



Maybe next year we'll see if Solana Sierra can do the same.



One of two lucky losers (w/ Victoria Mboko) to post 1st Round wins, the Argentine followed up with an even bigger victory today over Katie Boulter, knocking off the Brit 6-7(7)/6-2/6-1 to reach her maiden slam 3rd Round. She's a rare LL to reach the Wimbledon 3rd Round, as Lauren Davis did it in 2019, but before that it hadn't happened since 1974 (and that was w/ a 1st Round bye).



Sierra, the RG junior runner-up in 2022, is the last South American woman alive in the draw, after #21-seeded Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (so much for being a sneaky dark horse) lost today to Dalma Galfi.

...on the Czech front, while Vondrousova is out, as well as Bouzkova and Zheng Qinwen conquerer Katerina Siniakova, who lost 6-3/6-2 today to Naomi Osaka (into her first SW19 3rd Round since 2018, showing that her work does *seem* to be paying off), #30 Linda Noskova advanced to her first Wimbledon 3rd Round with a three-set win over Eva Lys.

Defending champ Barbora Krejcikova is the lone Czech representative in the bottom half. She faces Caroline Dolehide on Thursday.





...HOPE SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR SUCH A THOUGHT... ON DAY 3:




...MORE WISE WORDS FROM JESS... ON DAY 3:



This hits on exactly one of the points I make about this. The first set-and-a-half (at least) of a men's best-of-five is a pointless waste of time, with very little stakes if the two players are anywhere close in skill level. It's like all but the last ten minutes of an NBA game. The pressure to not drop the 1st set in a best-of-three is enormous, especially on very hot days, and the men play them every week during the regular season. The best-of-five at the majors is the anomaly, not the best-of-three.

*She'd* lose interest? So would anyone watching with anything else better to do, at least until the very end -- or at least in the middle of the 3rd set -- when things really matter (again, like an NBA game). Is there anything more stupid than a network covering a best-of-five men's match *from the start of the 1st set* if it's not the final? Make it stop!

Every other right-thinking sport does everything to make itself a better viewing experience, i.e moving things along at a quicker pace and shortening the games/matches in order to keep as many eyes on the product as possible and/or not drive away potential viewers who don't want to commit to a possible four-plus hour affair. Pitch clocks, running clocks, play clocks, etc. are all around for that reason, each designed to play to the (shortening, like it or not) attention span of potential new fans. But some tennis loonies (who somehow equate *longer* matches to also mean *better* matches -- newsflash! they're just longer -- or use the notion as a misogynistic weapon to bash the WTA field as "unworthy" of anything close to equal prize money) want women to do best-of-five, too? If you want never-ending marathons, go watch, I don't know, a marathon or something. You can keep your possible four-and-a-half hour brow-beaters, and maybe settle in for a great three-hour (or maybe a bit more) more viewer-friendly contest.

Sure, but the best way to grow the sport and attract new fans is to make the matches *longer*. Such a notion would be sad, if it wasn't already so dumb.

And, yes, the men's RG final was classic theater, but imagine if you *can't* come back from two sets down, meaning the opening set (+) of the match is as important as the rest of it. Isn't tennis supposed to also be about racket skills and pressure points, and not just endurance (and maybe late pressure points, if things get that far and it's still close down the stretch)?

Also, can you imagine the scheduling nightmare a major with best-of-five women's matches would be? The slams would either have to add ten new courts or make it a two-and-a-half (or three) week event and/or eliminate several of the other competitions (MX/Jr./WC) on the usual schedule to make room.

Oh-no... don't give them any ideas about turning the majors into the tennis version of the Olympics (time-wise), or the U.S. Open as far as wanting to wish away anyone that isn't immediately identifiable on sight by 99% of the fans in attendance.

I know Pegula will get bashed in some corners for what she said, but everything she said is dead-on.


...ON A SIMILAR NOTE... ON DAY 3:




...Hmmm... ON DAY 3:




...GEEZ-LOUISE-BROUGH... ON DAY 3:

Though she's out of the singles draw now with her loss to qualifier Diane Parry, the question remains: how can Shnaider still not have found a suitable white bandanna? Come on, Adidas!




...SOMETHING FOR MIRRA TO MAKE CONCHITA FEEL OLD ABOUT... ON DAY 3:






















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*WIMBLEDON "SPIRIT OF JANA" ANNUAL HONOREES*
[2018]
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...Brno-born; wins WD title in first Wimbledon since ex-coach Novotna's death
Nicole Melichar, USA
...born in Brno, CZE (like Jana); wins MX title in first Wimbledon since death
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Good Donna"
[2019]
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Bad Donna"
[2020]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...to RG 3rd Rd. (Oct.) on Novotna's 52nd birthday; dedicates to Jana
[2021]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...wins maiden slam singles crown w/ Jana as inspiration; also wins WD
[2022]
Marie Bouzkova, CZE
...Czech with first slam QF
[2023]
Karolina Muchova, CZE
...hard-luck Czech falls and injures self (again)
[2024]
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...wins Wimbledon 26 years after former coach/mentor Novotna won in '98
[2025]
Petra Kvitova, CZE
...final Wimbledon for two-time champion


*"SPIRIT OF JANA" RING OF HONOR*
Marie Bouzkova, CZE (2022)
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2018, 2020 RG, 2021 RG, 2024)
Petra Kvitova, CZE (2025)
Nicole Melichar, USA (2018)
Karolina Muchova, CZE (2023)
Donna Vekic, CRO [Good Donna 2018, Bad Donna 2019]

*RECENT SLAM 3rd Rd.+ "LUCKY LOSER" RESULTS*
=AO=
4th Rd. - Eva Lys, GER (2025)
3rd Rd. - Sandra Kleinova, CZE (1997)
3rd Rd. - Bernarda Pera, USA (2018)
=RG=
4th Rd. - Elina Avanesyan, RUS (2023)
3rd Rd. - Veronika Martinek, GER (1995)
3rd Rd. - Gloria Pizzichini, ITA (1996)
3rd Rd. - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2017)
3rd Rd. - Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR (2025)
=WI=
3rd Rd. - Tine Zwaan, NED (1974; w/ 1r bye)
3rd Rd. - Lauren Davis, USA (2019)
In 3rd Round - Solana Sierra, ARG (2025)
=US=
4th Rd. - Maria-Jose Gaidano, ARG (1993)
3rd Rd. - Nathalie Herreman, FRA (1991)
3rd Rd. - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2015)
3rd Rd. - Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (2021)
3rd Rd. - Greet Minnen, BEL (2021)
--
NOTE: Mboko to also play 2nd Rd.




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Those all about sum up my answers to that question, including the last one (IYKYK, BTW my favorite episode of the 256 in the series).

Alan Alda's Hawkeye is one of *the* great TV characters, while I always thought David Ogden Stiers' Charles (Emerson Winchester III) was the most underappreciated character on the show (Winchester had to replace Frank Burns, still be an antagonist for Hawkeye & BJ, but do it all in a completely different way from the character he took the place of). And I just always liked William Christopher, period, as Father Mulcahy.

True: I went to college with a guy who was named John Tuttle, and just the idea of that always made me laugh.

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TOP QUALIFIER: Carson Branstine/CAN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - #30 Priscilla Hon/AUS def. Victoria Mboko/CAN 4-6/7-6(4)/6-1 - Mboko led love/40 at 6-5 in the 2nd on Hon's serve, holding five MP
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #14 Elina Svitolina/UKR (def. Bondar/HUN)
FIRST SEED OUT: #20 Alona Ostapenko/LAT (1st Rd. to Kartal/GBR)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Veronika Erjavec/SLO, Solana Sierra/ARG
UPSET QUEENS: Great Britain
REVELATION LADIES: Italy
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Australia (1-6 1st Rd.; only new Aussie Kasatkina w/ win)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: in 2r: Erjavec/SLO, Jacquemot/FRA, Parry/FRA(W), Sasnovich/BLR(L)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: no wins (0-8)
PROTECTED RANKING: in 2r: Caty McNally/USA
LUCKY LOSERS: in 2r: Mboko/CAN, Sierra/ARG(W)
LAST BRIT STANDING: in 3r: Kartal, Raducanu
Ms./Mrs. OPPORTUNITY: x
IT "??": x
COMEBACK PLAYER: x
CRASH & BURN: #2 Coco Gauff/USA & #3 Jessie Pegula/USA - first slam w/ two Top 3 out in 1st Rd. (Gauff won RG, Pegula won grass title pre-Wimb.)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Nominees: Mboko (didn't convert 5 MP in Q3 vs. Hon; in as LL and first WI win); Sasnovich (saved MP vs. Gracheva/1r); Sierra (LL into 3rd Rd.)
DOUBLES STAR: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominee: Siegemund (oldest to 3r since 1970)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: Nominee: Petra Kvitova plays final Wimbledon match


[RADWANSKIAN REMEMBRANCE DAYS]
[June 26 - official]
In Eastbourne, reigning Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejickova w/d from QF after back-to-back wins in which she saved MP.
[Day 3 - observed]
After two-hour rain delay to open day, '24 runner-up (#4 Jasmine Paolini) and semifinalist (Donna Vekic) fall, as does '23 champ Marketa Vondrousova; Brit Katie Boulter upset by lucky loser; four of Top 5 seeds out 1r/2r







All for Day 3. More tomorrow.
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