Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:32:21 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Tennis :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/tennis istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-fights-off-andreevs-fierce-challenge/85061/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 20:32:01 EST His strokes awry, his emotions laid bare for all to see, Roger Federer figured out a way to stay in the U.S. Open. Federer found himself locked in a five-set struggle against the sort of player the world is accustomed to seeing him dismiss with ease, and it was only down the stretch that the four-time defending champion at Flushing Meadows looked the part. Avoiding as big an upset as tennis has seen in a while, Federer came back to beat 23rd-seeded Igor Andreev of Russia 6–7 (5), 7–6 (5), 6–3... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/womens-draw-is-sorely-unbalanced/84421/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST As United States Tennis Association officials huddled yesterday to correct a minor mistake made during the random selection of the men's draw, Katrina Adams, a Tennis Channel commentator who co-hosted the selection ceremony with former world no. 1 Jim Courier, asked, "Could we redo the seeds for the women, too?" No doubt that USTA officials, CBS television executives, and most fans would like to grant Adams her wish. Of the five women who have the best chance to win this tournament — Venus and... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/even-in-their-10th-us-open-the-sisters-are-ones/84424/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST We had it all wrong. The Williams sisters, everyone thought, weren't much interested in tennis. The game was too easy, they were too far ahead of everyone else, they had better things to do. They would retire young, pack up their rackets, and spend the rest of their days designing dresses and making movies as they lived off their many millions in endorsements. "They gave a lot to the game," we all expected to say, "but they could have given it more." What sadder story is there in sports than... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/away-from-failures-federer-looks-at-ease/83806/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST The Olympic tennis tournament in Beijing has hurt the summer hardcourt series in America; forced most of the world's best players to fly thousands of miles more than they would normally fly at this time of the year, and done little (at least in America) to build momentum leading up to the U.S. Open, since very little of the Olympic tournament can be found on television. But Roger Federer couldn't be happier. Federer, playing his last tournament for at least a few months as the no. 1 seed... STEVEN WINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/nadal-conquers-gonzalez-for-olympic-gold/84014/ Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:28:28 EST BEIJING — As Rafael Nadal stood in front of the medal podium, his nation's flag draped across his back like a cape, he looked a little like a Spanish Superman. In tennis, he is. Already assured of the No. 1 ranking, Nadal was No. 1 at the Olympics. He won a gold medal today, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. The gold medal was the first ever for Spain in Olympic tennis, and another milestone in an... JOCELYN GECKER http://www.nysun.com/sports/serena-and-venus-win-gold-in-womens-doubles/84015/ Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:47:10 EST BEIJING — Venus and Serena Williams kept up a family tradition today, playing together in the Olympic doubles tournament and walking away with the gold medal. Slugging winners from the baseline and slamming shots at the net, the American sisters overpowered Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0. When Ruano Pascual sent the championship point long, the sisters shrieked in unison. Then they jumped for joy and hugged. "I'm so excited, I can't even speak," the... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/spain-on-clay-spells-doom-for-the-us/86216/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST At full strength, the American Davis Cup squad would have little chance of beating the Spanish team in this weekend's semifinals. The Americans, who are defending champions, have the talent to win, as they proved last year when they defeated Spain on their way to their first title since 1995. But that was on a hard court. On clay in Madrid, Spain effectively begins the contest with a 2-0 lead, unless Rafael Nadal injures himself or consumes a large helping of spoiled food. Nadal lost four games... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/toward-unsurpassed-greatness/85462/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Roger Federer moved a step closer to unsurpassed greatness yesterday by winning his fifth consecutive U.S. Open title and 13th major title overall, one fewer than Pete Sampras. In the first Monday final at the National Tennis Center in Flushing since 1987, Federer defeated Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 with a display of precision, power, and gracefulness that put an end to any doubts about his future. Federer no longer holds the no. 1 ranking, no longer calls himself Wimbledon champion, no longer... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-breaks-murray-in-straight-sets-for-title/85392/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 19:06:31 EST No matter what anyone else said or thought, Roger Federer knew he was still capable of elite tennis. Knew he was still capable of winning Grand Slam titles. Knew he was still Roger Federer. Back at his best, back at the top of tennis, Federer easily beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 today to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 13th major title overall. Federer is the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the tournament that many times in a row. He also moved within one... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/murray-battles-his-way-past-no-1-and-into-final/85338/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The stadium was larger, the weather sunny, dry, and windy rather than dark and humid, the crowd louder and partisan, the opponent desperate and determined rather than sluggish and slow. None of it mattered to Andy Murray, who will play in his first major final today against Roger Federer after a fabulous performance yesterday against world no. 1 Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4. These two faces of tennis's future returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium late yesterday afternoon to complete a... HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/murray-ends-no-1-nadals-outing-at-us-open/85304/ Sun, 7 Sep 2008 18:08:51 EST No one ever seems to run Rafael Nadal ragged, and yet Andy Murray did just that in the U.S. Open semifinals. Murray finished a stunning, rain-interrupted 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4 victory today at Flushing Meadows to reach his first Grand Slam final and stop the No. 1-ranked Nadal's 19-match winning streak at major tournaments. The sixth-seeded Murray won the first two sets and was down a break at 3-2 in the third when play was suspended yesterday because of Tropical Storm Hanna. "Tough to sleep,"... HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/serena-williams-comes-out-on-top-at-us-open/85362/ Sun, 7 Sep 2008 23:31:33 EST All these years later, Serena Williams is back as the U.S. Open champion, and she's back at No. 1, too. Displaying the talent and tenacity that helped her dominate tennis earlier in the decade, Williams outlasted second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-5 tonight for her third U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title overall. It was Williams' first triumph at Flushing Meadows since 2002, and it guaranteed that the American will lead the rankings tomorrow for the first time since... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-crowd-behind-him-federer-goes-for-fifth-open/85260/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST For nearly two weeks at the U.S. Open, Roger Federer has been the people's choice, the man on whom no one would dare wish misfortune. When the tournament welcomed past champions to Arthur Ashe Stadium to celebrate 40 years of Open tennis, Federer — not Andy Roddick, not John McEnroe, not Venus or Serena Williams — received the loudest, and longest, ovation. When Igor Andreev, an underdog if there ever was one, pushed Federer to five sets this week, the crowd enjoyed the show yet wanted no part... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/safina-cruises-to-semifinals/85173/ Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Sixth-seeded Dinara Safina overpowered No. 16 Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3 in the U.S. Open quarterfinals Wednesday, earning the right to play one of the Williams sisters next. Safina, the sister of 2000 U.S. Open men's champion Marat Safin, reached her first semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The Russian has won 37 of her past 41 matches and made it to the finals at six of her previous seven events. "I'm getting closer to reaching the same thing as my brother," Safina said. The French Open runner-up... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/roddick-suddenly-has-realistic-path-toward-final/85174/ Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Need proof that it doesn't take long to reverse one's fortunes in tennis? Look at Andy Roddick and Gilles Muller. Last month, Roddick played dreadfully at two small tournaments packed with second-tier players because the best men in the game were busy battling for Olympic gold. An injury to his shoulder had limited his time on the practice courts and his confidence was low. Who would have expected that Roddick would have a realistic chance at the U.S. Open semifinals and even the final? At... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/once-considered-second-best-venus-can-now-eclipse/85083/ Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Before Venus and Serena Williams were tennis icons, before they had won a total of 15 major singles titles and collected tens of millions of dollars in prize money and endorsements, Richard Williams, their father, predicted that both sisters would be great, but that Serena, the younger sister, would be the better of the two. It turns out that Mr. Williams might have made the wrong call. This evening, Venus and Serena will face each other for the 17th time. Sadly, their meeting comes in the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/roddick-moves-on-in-straight-sets-victory/85103/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 23:55:49 EST Andy Roddick was nearly perfect against Fernando Gonzalez in the U.S. Open's fourth round tonight. Roddick, the 2003 champion, won 53 of 62 points on his serve and faced only one break point while putting together a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory over the 11th-seeded Gonzalez to reach the quarterfinals for the seventh time in nine appearances at Flushing Meadows. Roddick finished with 30 winners and only seven unforced errors, an unusually strong ratio made more impressive in comparison to Gonzalez's 24... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/at-a-open-full-of-young-talent-fish-survives/84981/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST This has been the U.S. Open of young men, a display of talented, powerful, and mostly towering teenagers. There's 19-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro, the 6-foot-5-inch Argentine who flattens tennis balls with his forehand. There's 19-year-old Marin Cilic, the 6-foot-5-inch Croat who gave Novak Djokovic all he could handle Sunday evening. There's Gael Monfils, the 6-foot-4-inch Frenchman, age 22, whose long limbs, lightning quickness, and acrobatic moves have never been seen before on a tennis... BEN WALKER http://www.nysun.com/sports/nadal-survives-onslaught-advances-at-us-open/84954/ Mon, 1 Sep 2008 17:44:08 EST Rafael Nadal withstood his first test at this U.S. Open, shifting into another gear to beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3 today and match his best result at the tournament that's always bedeviled him. Playing for the sixth year at Flushing Meadows, the No. 1 Nadal rallied to reach the quarterfinals. He got quite a workout — and a scare — from his unseeded, 20-year-old opponent. "Very tough," Nadal said. "Sam is a big player, a big server. He has a great future." Down 6-5 in the third set... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/five-things-to-watch-for-this-weekend/84895/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST As the first weekend of the U.S. Open begins, Roger Federer fights on, Venus and Serena Williams move closer to a quarterfinal meeting, Andy Roddick takes on one of the most talented youngsters in the sport, and history has been made: the no. 1 women's seed, Ana Ivanovic, lost earlier than any other no. 1 seed in the Open Era. Here are five things to look for at the tournament this Labor Day weekend. A goodbye? Lindsay Davenport, the 32-year-old American tennis icon, might play her last U.S... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/two-stars-of-melbourne-look-to-shine-in-queens/84810/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST They were the talk of tennis a mere seven months ago: two flamboyant, up-and-coming stars of the game. One, Novak Djokovic, had dreamed of being no. 1 in the world since tennis courts were built near his home in the mountains of Serbia. The other, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a 200-pound specimen and master of the drop volley, had overcome several injuries and begun to fulfill the promise he showed as junior. When they met in the Australian Open final, they lit up the Melbourne evening with splendid... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/in-flushing-womens-no-1-spot-is-there-for/84716/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST An hour before Monday evening's celebration to honor the 40th anniversary of the Open Era in tennis, Maria Sharapova stood outside the player's lounge behind Arthur Ashe Stadium and received a warm welcome from Arlen Kantarian, the CEO of professional tennis for the United States Tennis Association. Sharapova greeted Kantarian, turned to her agent, and joked, "He's giving me a wild card into the draw. I'm going to play." If only she could. Because of two small tears in her rotator cuff... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/federers-next-act-will-define-him/84620/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Everyone has a theory about Roger Federer. He doesn't volley enough. He needs to run around his backhand more often. He's lost his confidence. He's tired. He still hasn't recovered from mononucleosis. He needs to spend more time with his part-time coach, Jose Higueras. He should take the rest of the year off (after the U.S. Open) and practice. He needs a sports psychiatrist. The latest theory is that Federer has spent too much time of late worrying about his image rather than his strokes. He... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/best-laid-plans-of-andy-roddick-have-gone-awry/84542/ Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Steadiness, every bit as much as a booming serve, has been the trademark of Andy Roddick's career. Since 2001, his second year as a professional, he has reached at least one quarterfinal of a Grand Slam each season. He has ended the year inside the top 10 every season since 2002, including a finish at no. 1 in 2003 — the year he won his only major title, at the U.S. Open. Though Roddick hasn't won a major title since, it's only because a modest talent by the name of Roger Federer — he of the 12... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/new-york/for-a-brooklyn-teenager-a-first-us-open-finally/84444/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST When Gail Brodsky didn't receive a wild card into the U.S. Open last year, her father, Eduard, said, she was so disappointed that she cried for two weeks. This year, all is forgotten. Earlier this month, Ms. Brodsky, a 17-year-old who grew up in an apartment building across the street from Coney Island Hospital on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, won the 18-and-under national tournament in Berkeley, Calif., a victory that guaranteed her a first-round match at this year's U.S. Open, which begins... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/rafael-nadal-the-humble-champion-eyes-first-us/84423/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST On Sunday, he won the gold medal in Beijing. On Monday, he boarded a plane for New York as the no. 1 tennis player in the world. On Tuesday, he soothed his jet lag with a round of golf. On Wednesday, he strolled into the National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, just before noon, signed a few autographs, and leisurely practiced with a young hitting partner for an hour without a coach, or anyone to retrieve stray balls, in sight. Let us reintroduce you to Rafael Nadal, the best tennis player... JAYANTHI DANIEL http://www.nysun.com/food-drink/unofficially-curry-curry-serves-indian-at-open/84196/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST The banner that hangs underneath the awning of Midtown East's Curry & Curry might be just a little misleading: "Official Caterers for US Open Tennis 2008," it boldly proclaims. The term "official," at least for the U.S. Open, is reserved for sponsors, according to a publicity associate with the United States Tennis Association, Kristen Clonan. Curry & Curry, which is found on East 33rd Street, between Lexington and Third avenues, doesn't happen to be a sponsor — but it will be the only vendor... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/nadal-ivanovic-draw-top-seeds-at-us-open/84191/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:55:50 EST Rafael Nadal was seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open today, making it the first time since January 2004 that a man other than Roger Federer holds that top spot at a Grand Slam tournament. Ana Ivanovic is the No. 1 seed on the women's side. The tournament begins August 25, and the draw will be announced Thursday. The U.S. Open followed yesterday's rankings for its seedings, and Nadal replaced Federer at No. 1 for the first time this week. The Olympic, French Open and Wimbledon champion will try for... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-gold-in-hand-nadal-now-eyes-new-york/84022/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST He's the French Open champion, the Wimbledon champion, the Olympic gold medalist, and, as of today, the no. 1 player in the world. When Rafael Nadal arrives in New York City this week, he'll be one feat from the most remarkable summer of tennis since Rod Laver's in 1969, when the remarkable Australian won all four major titles in the same year. If he wins the U.S. Open, Nadal, already worthy of mention among the game's all-time greats, will become one of its undisputed legends. In Beijing... STEVEN WINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-wawrinka-win-mens-doubles-tennis-gold/84007/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:27:19 EST BEIJING — Roger Federer extended his arms in triumph and began to hop. Then he embraced his doubles partner and they hopped together. Federer had waited awhile for a big victory to celebrate, and when the chance came he was ready. He added a gold medal to his extensive trophy collection by teaming with Stanislas Wawrinka to win the Olympic doubles today. The Swiss duo beat Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3. For Federer the victory was a moment to savor in a... STEVEN WINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/federers-singles-medal-hopes-end-on-olympic-court/83895/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:16:53 EST BEIJING — Roger Federer's bid for his first Olympic singles medal ended Thursday night when he lost to American James Blake. With the sort of lackluster performance once unthinkable for Federer, he was eliminated in the quarterfinals 6-4, 7-6 (2). The upset was a stunner in that Blake had won only a single set in their previous eight matches. But the top-seeded Federer is battling a yearlong slump that has left him stalled at 12 major titles, two shy of Pete Sampras's record. His Wimbledon... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/chinas-li-upsets-venus-williams-in-olympic-tennis/83897/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:09:22 EST BEIJING — Venus Williams is the latest upset victim in Olympic tennis, losing to Li Na of China in the quarterfinals. Williams, who won gold medals in singles and doubles at the 2000 Games, was beaten 7-5, 7-5. She followed to the sideline her sister Serena and top-seeded Roger Federer, who both lost earlier today. A wayward forehand plagued Williams, and she sent one long to lose serve and fall behind 6-5 in the second set. The reigning Wimbledon champion had three more forehand errors in the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/serena-williams-loses-to-russias-dementieva/83898/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:15:51 EST BEIJING — Serena Williams has lost her quarterfinal match at the Olympics to Elena Dementieva of Russia. Dementieva, who won a Silver in Sydney in 2000, beat Williams 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in their singles match Thursday night. Williams now pins her medal hopes on doubles. She was to play a second-round doubles match later with sister Venus. They won gold in doubles in Sydney. The fourth-seeded Serena tried to rally from a 5-0 deficit in the final set against the No. 5-seeded Dementieva. Williams... STEVEN WINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-nadal-advance-in-olympic-singles-doubles/83625/ Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:27:41 EST BEIJING — Rafael Nadal took the court at 10:30 a.m. and hit his final shot more than 11 hours later. Roger Federer's first day of Olympic tennis was slightly shorter but just as successful. The two rivals, both bidding to become Olympic medalists for the first time, were winners in singles and doubles in the opening round today. Playing the first match on center court, Nadal overcame numerous missed chances by sweeping the final four games to beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. The... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/beijing-may-be-federers-last-chance-for-gold/83207/ Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Roger Federer often has described the 2012 Olympic tennis tournament, which will be played on the lawns of the All England Club, as a target, a time when he would like to take the measure of his career and determine whether to continue full on, play sparingly, or retire at the ripe old age of 31. "After that, you have to see how you feel," Federer said on the eve of Wimbledon in 2006. "Sometimes, motivation comes back; maybe eventually it totally goes away. At the moment, I'm very motivated. I... HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/shoulder-injury-sidelines-sharapova-from-us-open/83066/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 11:30:47 EST A U.S. Open official says Maria Sharapova's shoulder injury will force her to miss the year's last Grand Slam tournament. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Sharapova had yet to publicly announce her withdrawal today. Sharapova announced yesterday on her Web site that she will have to miss the Beijing Olympics because of two small tears in tendons in her right shoulder. The Olympic tennis tournament begins August 11, and the U.S. Open starts August 25... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/no-longer-a-true-no-1-among-the-women/82933/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST As Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal fight for the top ranking in men's tennis, the best women in the world are having their own power struggle — or at least, their own struggles. They struggle to stay healthy. They struggle to play a full slate of tournaments. They struggle to matter in a sport in which the attention increasingly goes to the men, or more specifically, to two men who have produced one of the most exciting seasons in years. In Montreal this week, the best of the women's tour... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/shocking-defeat-all-but-ends-federer-era-at-no-1/82552/ Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Roger Federer's days at the top of men's tennis are numbered. The world no. 1, playing his first match since losing the Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal, suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Gilles Simon in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Early on, Federer had no trouble with the 23-year-old Frenchman, ranked no. 22 in the world, and he had leads of 3-1 and 4-3 in the third set. At 3-3 in the final set, Federer played his best game of the match and broke... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/after-234-weeks-federers-reign-at-no-1-in-jeopardy/82448/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST In Melbourne, Roger Federer lost the Australian Open crown that he had worn for two years, in part because of a bout with mononucleosis. In Indian Wells, Calif., and in Miami, he couldn't win either of the two hard court tournaments he dominated a few years earlier. In Paris, his third consecutive run to the finals ended in an embarrassing defeat in which he won a mere four games. Worst of all, at Wimbledon he lost his grip on the tournament that he had owned since 2003. As the summer hard... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/one-match-does-much-to-dispel-myth-that-tennis-is/81781/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Every year at Wimbledon, I stay with old friends, an American couple who live and work in London. They have attended Wimbledon several times and have enjoyed it, but they are not, by any means, tennis lovers. They don't pay tennis much mind before and after its annual visit to the All England Club, nor do they know all the rules of the game or spend hours debating the subtleties of forehands and backhands and volleys. They are casual fans, just the type that tennis for years has tried to win... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/nadal-supplants-federer-as-the-new-king-of-tennis/81283/ Mon, 7 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Behold the new king of tennis. Rafael Nadal, the 22-year-old from Spain with the boyish face and bulging biceps, took his place among the game's greatest players yesterday by beating five-time defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in a dazzling, tense, rain-interrupted final that will be remembered, when the last word is spoken about this wonderful sport, as the finest match in its history. When Federer hit the final ball, a routine forehand that landed in the net, it... STEPHEN WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/nadal-dethrones-federer-at-wimbledon/81259/ Sun, 6 Jul 2008 16:44:34 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon today, winning a riveting, five-set marathon to claim his first title at the All England Club and signal a changing of the guard in men's tennis. Mr. Nadal held off a stirring comeback by Mr. Federer from two sets down to prevail 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. He became the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980. Mr. Nadal, the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon... STEPHEN WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/venus-wins-wimbledon-final-over-sister/81257/ Sat, 5 Jul 2008 11:50:59 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Venus Williams beat sister Serena 7-5, 6-4 Saturday for her fifth Wimbledon title and seventh Grand Slam championship. This was Venus's first victory over her younger sibling in a Grand Slam final since the 2001 U.S. Open, and it evened their career record at 8-8. "I can't believe that it's five," Venus said. "But when you're in the final against Serena Williams, five seems too far away. ... She played so awesome, it was really a task to beat her." Venus came from 3-1 down... STEPHEN WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/venus-serena-williams-to-face-off-in-wimbledon/81251/ Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:49:11 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Venus and Serena Williams won in straight sets today to set up their third all-sister Wimbledon final and seventh Grand Slam championship matchup. Defending champion and four-time winner Venus beat Elena Dementieva 6-1, 7-6 (3), then two-time champ Serena overcame two rain delays and served 14 aces to down China's Zheng Jie 6-2, 7-6 (5). It will be the first all-Williams final since 2003, when Serena beat her older sister in the championship match for the second year in a... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/inevitable-nadal-federer-final-will-be-one/81236/ Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Wimbledon, England — They're going to meet again. For the third straight year, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are marching toward the Wimbledon final, where they will play the most important match of their careers. Marat Safin isn't going to get in the way — as well as he has played these past two weeks, he'll be lucky to win a set against Federer in the semifinals. Arnaud Clement or Rainer Schuettler? Pity the poor man who wins that match and with it the privilege of being shredded by Nadal on... STEPHEN WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-safin-wins-set-wimbledon-semis-match/81156/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 14:38:02 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Five-time champion Roger Federer outclassed Mario Ancic — the last man to beat him at Wimbledon — in straight sets today to reach the semifinals and extend his grass-court winning streak to 64 matches on the first day of significant rain delays at the All England Club. RELATED: Wimbledon Set for a Grand Slam of the Sisters. Riding his dominant serve and punishing forehand, Mr. Federer put on a masterful performance to beat Mr. Ancic 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 and move another step... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/wimbledon-set-for-a-grand-slam-of-the-sisters/81118/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Wimbledon, England — The top seed stumbled, a former champion, Maria Sharapova, suffered an upset, and another former champion, Amelie Mauresmo, has faded since her glory days of just two years ago. All four top seeds, in fact, departed the women's draw at Wimbledon in ignominious fashion this year. But the Williams sisters, the two best players at this tournament since Steffi Graf retired, are still here and on course for their first meeting in a Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2003. Venus... STEPHEN WILSON http://www.nysun.com/sports/venus-williams-reaches-wimbledon-semifinals/81053/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:47:04 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Defending champion Venus Williams moved a step closer to her fifth Wimbledon singles title today, beating Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight sets to reach the semifinals and close in on another potential championship matchup with sister Serena. Ms. Williams downed 31-year-old Ms.Tanasugarn 6-4, 6-3 on Court 1 to extend her career record over the Thai player to 7-0. The seventh-seeded American, who hasn't dropped a set all tournament, was limping slightly at the end of the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/williams-sisters-advance-as-more-top-seeds-fall/81025/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST WIMBLEDON, England — Wimbledon has already lost its top-four seeded women's players, while the Williams sisters keep rolling toward another sibling final. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are also closing in on another title matchup. Yesterday's fourth-round play at the All England Club produced more upsets at the top of the women's seedings, but also offered more convincing wins from the champions and title contenders. Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic, hobbled by a knee injury, fell 6-3, 6-2 to... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/williams-sisters-federer-nadal-and-who/80941/ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Wimbledon, England — Grass, all-white outfits, and strawberries soaked in cream — these are the most well-known traditions of Wimbledon. Yet there's a less often discussed, but perhaps more important, tradition that's been cast aside this year: Predictability. Wimbledon is not usually a place for upsets. Far more often than not, its champions have been dominant ones, men such as Roger Federer and Pete Sampras and women such as Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. It's a tournament where the...