Day Four Roundup

Andy Murray



We have another sullen, arrogant British tennis star. What can I say? The same afternoon that all hope was lost for "Tiger Tim," this 18 year-old Scottish kid pulls a huge upset over 14th seed Radek Stepanek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Murray is ranked 312th in the world and this is his first grand slam event. Murray faces Nalbandian in Round Three.

Tim Henman



I'm really happy to see the back of this guy. Henman is starting to realize that his old-fashioned game and his stubborn persistence in clinging to a serve-volley game isn't going to win him Wimbledon. I don't know why the guy hasn't done more strength training or worked on his serve. He gets pummeled by the power hitters and usually gets taken to 4 or 5 sets against them, but in the past his experience and technical skills were enough to get him out of most binds against lower-ranked players. Not today. Tim, it's time you realized something: you will never win a grand slam because you're a lazy sod.

Daniela Hantuchova



"Look at me! I gained weight! Daniela strong now!"

Daniela Hantuchova attracted some negative press a few years ago when her weight plummeted and she seemed ready to unravel emotionally at any given moment, but she seems much more focused now. Having said that, she's still prone to losing herself in thought when she should be playing tennis. She has an amazing touch and can come up with absolutely gorgeous shots...when her mind is in the game. Hantuchova has the game to win a grand slam, but she doesn't have the mental strength to match. Maybe Ritalin would help. Hantuchova won her Round Two match against Israeli Shahar Peer 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 and will face Venus Williams in Round Three.

Eleni Daniilidou



I'm so annoyed that the BBC didn't show Daniilidou's match against Laura Granville. It wouldn't have taken much airtime; she creamed her 6-2, 6-0. She faces the 26th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta in Round Three. The BBC better show that match.

Cara Black



More well-known as a doubles champion, Cara Black is doing well at this year's Championships. She played in the third round in 1998 and 2003 but didn't progress. She won a doubles title at Wimbledon in 2004 and is entered in singles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles, so she has a full plate. She upset the number 32 seed Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, and has already won her first round ladies' doubles match. She and her brother Wayne were given a bye for the first round mixed doubles competition. I hope she makes it to the fourth round; I really enjoy watching her play, or I would if the BBC would ever show HER matches either. So far none of her matches have been broadcast. Black will play the 8th-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova in Round Three.

Rafael Nadal



"I'm bored with losing. Anyone mind if I have a short nap?"

The French Open champion and fourth seed Rafael Nadal lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, who is playing in his first Wimbledon. Not bad for a player who lost his opening round qualifying match in 2004. Gilles Muller will go on to play 27th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet in Round Three.

Serena Williams



"I'm ready for my close-up!"

Serena Williams dropped a set to Italian qualifier Mara Santangelo. I guess she was too busy thinking about clothes and movie premieres to concentrate on her tennis, or maybe she's "injured" again. Both Williams sisters really need to put more into their tennis. They can't fart around in Hollywood, then expect to win tournaments. It pisses me off to see them not playing at their best.

Maria Sharapova



"A tennis diva's work is never done."

I swear, Sharapova has had the easiest time of it so far. Sesil Karatantcheva lasted 46 minutes on Centre Court against the 2004 champion. I didn't even get to watch Sharapova's match; I was watching a different match and planned to switch over once it was finished, but Sharapova finished up so quickly that I didn't get to see any of it. Sharapova's opponent in Round Three will be Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia.

Tim Henman crashes out!

British hope for Wimbledon came to an abrupt end today as the British No. 1 and sixth seed, Tim Henman, crashed out in five spectacular sets on Centre Court to Russian Dmitry Tursunov, who won 3-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6.

Tim, don't come back next year. The British public is sick of you LOSING.



"Perhaps a quick wipe will take care of that awful stench of failure."

In Action Today

Tim Henman will continue his Wimbledon campaign with a match against Dmitry Tursunov of Russia on Centre Court today. We'll also get to see Serena Williams and Andy Roddick on Centre Court. It seems like most of the best action in men's and women's singles is in the bottom half of the draw!

On Court 1, we'll get to see Maria Sharapova play Sesil Karatancheva of Bulgaria, plus Nadal and another British hope, Andrew Murray, play the number 14 seed Radek Stepanek.

Jane O'Donoghue, another British player, will almost certainly be beaten by Nathalie Dechy on Court 2 today, and the Venus Williams vs Nicole Pratt match should be a walkover.

On Court 3 we'll see Mary Pierce play Julia Vakulenko and Lindsay Davenport begins her ladies' doubles campaign with her partner, Corina Morariu, later on today.

On Court 5, Eleni Daniilidou (who beat Justine Henin-Hardenne) will take on Laura Granville of the United States. Two unseeded players...Daniilidou who took down Henin-Hardenne, and Granville, relieved that she doesn't have to play Henin-Hardenne. Should be very interesting.

The number 9 seed Sebastien Grosjean of France is also in action today on Court 13, the number 20 seed Daniela Hantuchova and number 18 seed David Nalbandian are in action on Court 18.

Should be a great day! The draw is kind of lopsided, though. Most of the great matches that I want to see are in the bottom half of the draw.