Day Twelve Roundup

This article excludes the women's final.

Johansson vs Roddick



Thomas Johansson and Andy Roddick took to Centre Court this afternoon to finish their semi-final match which was suspended yesterday due to rain. Roddick eventually overcame the Swede in four sets 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 7-6 (12-10), 7-6 (7-5). The two were quite evenly matched and the quality of the tennis was absolutely superb. There were only two double faults from Johansson and none from Roddick. Each man served 19 aces. Their first serves were pretty solid, though the Swede's second serve was weaker. They had nearly equal numbers of winners, and their serve speeds were very close. Roddick was superior on break point conversions and unforced errors; he made 23 unforced errors to Johansson's 38.

Andy also took a very entertaining spill in the fourth set:



"Oops!"



Oh Andy, you dirty dirty boy. Rowwwr.

Women's 35 & Over Doubles



Tracy Austin and Jana Novotna won their second consecutive Women's 35 & Over Doubles title on Court 3 today, defeating Rosalyn Nideffer and Katrina Adams, 6-2, 6-4. Yay for them!

Men's Doubles



History was made in the men's doubles competition today, with Stephen Huss (Australia) and Wesley Moodie (South Africa) becoming the first qualifiers ever to win the men's doubles title. They defeated brothers Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3.



Why does this picture remind me of that Simpsons episode where they get the trampoline and the Flanders kids are jumping on it, saying "Each leap brings us closer to God! Catch me Lord, catch me!"

Women's Doubles



Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber of South Africa handed Australians Bryanne Stewart and Samantha Stosur a straight sets defeat, 6-0, 6-2 in the women's doubles semi-final. The entire thing lasted less than an hour. It was brutal.



Unfortunately, Martina Navratilova and her young partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld won't meet Black and Huber in the women's doubles final; they were swept aside by Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-4. It's too bad. I was looking forward to seeing Martina play in a Wimbledon final for the first time since 2003. Oh well; there's always next year.

Mixed Doubles



Unfortunately, Martina Navratilova and partner Mike Bryan were knocked out of the mixed doubles in their quarter-final match against Liezel Huber and Kevin Ullyett. The Africans defeated the Americans 4-6, 6-4, 9-7. It was a fascinating match. Mike Bryan and Martina Navratilova were close in the third set, but the Africans just overpowered them. They will play Paul Hanley and Tatiana Perebiynis in the mixed doubles semi-final, which also features Jonas Bjorkman and Lisa Raymond playing against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mary Pierce. Should be exciting, though not as exciting as it would have been with Martina there.