MATCH OF THE DAY: [1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [5] Maria Sharapova (RUS)
It was the match of the day not because of the tennis played but because of the history between these two players and it was highly anticipated by everyone the minute the draw came out. There is no love lost between these two players. Twelve plus years ago, Sharapova stunned Williams in the Wimbledon final. Williams was the number one ranked player, dominant, and expected to win her third consecutive Wimbledon. Sharapova shattered those plans then and again at the season ending Championships in 2004. That was the last time Sharapova defeated Williams.
There is a special motivation that Williams has when she steps on the court against Sharapova. This “rivalry” demonstrates how one player can get into the mind of another and wreak havoc with their game. With no other player does Sharapova look as helpless. Her will has been broken and every time she steps on the court against Williams, the belief that she can actually win is missing. Though it looked more promising at the start of this match, Sharapova could not consolidate her break and her game simply unraveled after she lost the first set. For the eighteenth consecutive time, Williams defeated Sharapova 6-4, 6-1.
MORE SEEDS FELL
[1] J. Rojer (NED)/ H. Tecau (ROU) lost to A. Mannarino/ L. Pouille (FRA)….6-7(5), 7-6(2), 4-6
[2] Y. Chan/ H. Chan (TPE) lost to [7] A. Hlavackova/L. Hradecka (CZE)….6-2, 5-7, 3-6
[6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) lost to [3] Roger Federer (SUI)….6-7(4), 2-6, 4-6
[7] Kei Nishikori (JPN) lost to [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)….3-6, 2-6, 4-6
[9] J. Sock (USA)/ V. Pospisil (CAN) lost to [16] P. Cuevas (URU)/ M. Granollers (ESP)….7-5, 1-6, 2-6
[10] Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) lost to [4] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)….1-6, 3-6
[12] A. Groenefeld (GER)/ C. Vandeweghe (USA) lost to [1] M. Hingis (SUI)/ S. Mirza (IND)..2-6, 6-4, 1-6
[13] A. Klaasen (RSA)/ R. Ram (USA) lost to [7] J. Murray (GBR)/ B. Soares (BRA)….7-6(3), 4-6, 6-7(3)
[14] T. Huey (PHI)/ M. Mirnyi (BLR) lost to D. Nestor (CAN)/ R. Stepanek (CZE)….4-6, 4-6
AMERICAN WINNERS
Once again Serena Williams carries the flag for American tennis in singles. However, there are three other Americans still in the draw in doubles: Bob Bryan, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vandeweghe.
