The Sports Bizzo

By Ted…

Something strangely wicked is happening on those mysterious British Isles. We’re barely a week through the most hallowed of Tennis Grand Slams and the grass courts have been watered by the blood of countless would be champions (and a few pigeons).

In what seems to be the most brutal second round in the history of Wimbledon, several of the highest seeded players have been dropped by the wayside and more followed in the third. It all started with one of the most curious incidents featuring two matches with perilous outcomes playing out on courts within spitting distance of each other (that is if one were ever so crass as to spit at Wimbledon). Djocvoic the world’s number three was served a crushing defeat; some even thought he might have a chance to knock out Federer in the semis this year. Meanwhile, Ana Ivanovic, the latest number one on the ladies’ side was fighting for her life against Natalie Dechy, a 29 year old French woman who has yet to win two tournament matches in a row this year. That game almost ended in Dechy’s favor when her second and last match point opportunity was hit by Ana into the net only to have it dramatically hang in the air and finally come to rest on Dechy’s side giving Ivanovic the life-saver that led to her victory after a final set of 10-8 and over three hours of tight playing. Had Ivanovic gone to win Wimbledon for her first time, this would have been the most historic net ball in tennis history, but sadly she was defeated today in the third round. And to think I was thinking about passing up on Wimbledon until the quarter-finals this year!

Also falling in the third round of play was Andy Roddick and James Blake. Together they are the best American players in the world, and our best hope of regaining world power status in the global tennis struggle. I was planning on telling you how ridiculous it was that Andy Roddick was seeded at number six in this tourney, that he was way too big a threat to not be in the top four, that there would be nothing more exciting than a rematch between he and Nadal on the grass, which was almost certain after some of the stiff competition was eliminated giving Andy a clear shot to the quarter-finals, how in a way Roddick and I are good buddies because I’ve met him twice (his family lives in Austin and they come to see my show once or twice a year - see photo below). But NO. My plans have been dashed to the ground by the most fickle year at Wimbledon. And James Blake, he’s a superstar (the Barack Obama of the Tennis World), but even he could not surmount the treacherous third round.

Another heart-breaker this year was the collapse of Maria Sharpova. After her victory at the beginning of the year in Australia this was supposed to be the best season of her career. But since then she has lost her best chance at winning the French Open and the biggest splash she made at Wimbledon was a sexy semi-transparent tuxedo top and shorts, an ensemble I was looking forward to seeing in the finals as she tried to regain the number one spot, presumably against Ana Ivanovic.

In a tournament of upsets, one might hope that at least tennis’ favorite bunny Ashley Harkleroad would at least make a dent into the bracket. Not so Harkleroad was soundly defeated by Amelie Mauresmo in the first round; your best chances of seeing her remain in the Doubles matches (wonder if she’s looking for a mixed-doubles partner). So maybe she is destined to be better known as the only professional tennis player to pose nude in Playboy (set your calendars to the August issue), but she’s no Anna Kournikova. Despite her recent spate of loses she is still regarded as a ‘real’ tennis player. She may be ranked number 61, but that’s far better than Kornikova, and this 23 year-old from Athens, Georgia is a likely number one in the center-fold even if she never makes number one on center court.

It seems this year’s tournament is destined to be about the meeting of two masters Nadal and Federer. After a staggeringly dominating defeat at the French Open, many were wondering if this year’s inevitable match-up between Roger and Rafa in Wimbledon would be the one that Nadal finally won. I for one doubt it. Let us not forget that this is Federer’s attempt at a sixth win, and will by no means be the first time Roger has lost the French Open only to reverse his fortunes at Wimbledon.

And, thanks to a rain-delay, he is the first major competitor to secure his spot in the quarter-finals and has been granted a lengthy weekend to contemplate his next match against Hewitt the 2002 champ. Nadal has also survived the early rounds though not without dropping an early set in one match and overall not looking nearly as ferocious in this tournament as he did going in off of a huge victory in France and a grass court trouncing of Andy Roddick in a smaller tournament earlier this month.

It’s hard to believe that anymore drama could be crammed into this year’s matches, but with so many unknowns still hanging around, already with some upsets under their belts it’s still anybody’s game. Perhaps it’s just the rigors of a hectic schedule wreaking havoc on our top players, maybe it’s just a rogue band of grass blades, but whatever is happening in Wimbledon, it is not all strawberries and cream.