Archive for the 'Wimbledon' Category

At long last, all four Grand Slam championships will pay both the men and women equal prizes. Wimbledon has yielded to the pressures of modern day and follows the example set at last year’s French Open, paying the male and female champions on an equal scale. Wimbledon’s exact prize amounts will be announced in April. The All England Club will spend about $1.1 million to award the men’s and women’s winners equitably. The extra cost will be funded through operating costs rather than a reduction in the amount of the overall prizes.

Pioneer for women’s sports and six-time Wimbledon winner Billie Jean King commented, “With women and men paid on an equal scale, it demonstrates to the rest of the world that this is the right thing to do for the sport, the tournament and the world.” At Wimbledon in 1968, King won only 37.5% of the prize earned by the men’s champion.

Commercial, political, social, and sporting factors figured into Wimbledon’s decision. Previously the club felt equal prizes were unfair because men play best-of-five set matches while the women play only three. However, since 55% of Wimbledon’s spectators are women and the All England Club plans to host the 2012 Olympic tennis tournament, now seems like the time for change.

The world’s number one tennis player, Roger Federer will look to win his fourth Wimbledon title in a row on Sunday. Federer has now won an amazing 47 consecutive matches on grass.

Trying to stop him will be Rafael Nadal, who just happens to be the world’s number 2 and who recently defeated Roger Federer on the clay courts of the French Open. You know, that other Grand Slam played in the summer months. A win for Nadal would mean taking a huge chunk out of Federer’s number one ranking lead and could push him past Roger with wins late in the year.

Federer on the other hand isn’t focusing on his rankings, or his rivalry with Nadal. Instead he is looking to become the best player ever. With this win Sunday at Wimbledon he would match the great Pete Sampras’ streak of four Wimbledon titles and cut into his legend as becoming the best tennis player ever. Also on Federer’s mind is Bjorn Borg’s Wimbledon streak record (and any Open for that matter) of 5 titles in a row.

technorati tags:Wimbledon, Roger, Federer, Rafael, Nadal, 2006

Amelie Mauresmo took her second Grand Slam title of the year after faltering during her first set of the 2006 Women’s Wimbledon Final. She cam out to a rocky start falling 2-6 in the first set to Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Mauresmo became the first Frenchwoman to win Wimbledon since 1925 (Suzanne Lenglen). Her first set it appeared as though her nerves were getting the best of her as she stood at Centre Court on the biggest stage in tennis. But Amelie Mauresmo came charging back in the second and third sets to take over the match and win 6-3, 6-4.

Congratulations Amelie Mauresmo.

technorati tags:Wimbledon, Women’s, Amelie, Mauresmo, Justine, Henin-Hardenne

From MSNBC and the Associated Press

Daniel Nestor of Canada and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas won the longest doubles match in Wimbledon and Grand Slam history Wednesday — a marathon lasting 6 hours, 9 minutes over two days.

Longest-ever Slam doubles match ends – Tennis – MSNBC.com

The two beat Simon Aspelin and Todd Perry 5-7, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 23-21, in a match that was postponed due to darkness on Tuesday with the fifth set all even at 11. The match beat out the previous longest slam tennis match by almost an hour!

The Wimbledon doubles match almost took the title of longest doubles match ever which went on for 6 hours and 20 minutes in a Davis Cup match in 2002. The longest singles match was in last years French Open at 6 hours and 31 minutes.

technorati tags:Wimbledon, Tennis, Doubles, Longest, Match

Andre Agassi said goodbye to what he is calling his last Wimbledon Championship as he has said he will be retiring from tennis after the US Open in late August. Agassi lost today to Rafael Nadal in straight sets 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 in what was a heart felt sendoff for the great American on tennis’ grandest stage. Nadal moves one step closer to battling Federer, the world’s number 1 again for the second straight slam.

Also out is last year’s champion for the women Venus Williams, losing to Jalena Jankovich in three sets. Jankovich is a 21 year old, much like younger Venus was when she first began battling the reigning champions.

Also out is American Andy Roddick who lost to Andy Murray in straight sets 7-6, (7-4),6-4, 6-4.

This means the top Americans are out at Wimbledon in 2006. Tough day.

The announcer called it a sure thing, “Nadal would loose against qualifier Robert Kendrik.” Others thought it would be a cake walk for Nadal who is picked to challenge Federer for the Wimbledon title. Number 1 vs Number 2 in the world. That hopeful match up almost didn’t happen thanks to Robert Kendrik.

Two of the first three sets went to Kendrik 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (2). Then in the fourth set Kendrik was only two points away from knocking out the #2 player in the world when Nadal took over. He finished out the fourth set winning 7-5, and then followed that up with 6-4 victory in the fifth to close out Kendrik and win the set.

Nadal will meet Andre Agassi next who won today over Andreas Seppi in three straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4. That will be a great match up to watch and from Agassi has been announcing, his last Wimbledon tournament.

June 26th, 2006 marked the first day of Wimbledon and in true London style there was rain. Lot’s of it. A down pour soak the lawn Monday delaying some very interesting matches until tomorrow’s Wimbledon gets underway.

On Center Court, three time champioin Roger Federer was delayed in his matchup against Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Roger Federer won the first set 6-3 before rain stopped the match. Also notable delays on the court were Kim Clijsters facing the Russian Vera Zvonareva with Clijsters leading the first set 5-4 and Martina Hingis vs Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine with Hingis taking the first set in a comanding 6-2.

For all the scores and day to day action check back here as well as the Official Wimbledon Scores page.