Who will win the title on Sunday?

Nadal and Berdych after six matches.

Player	Aces	Ist serve pct.	Sets lost/ Unforced errors	Tie breaks/ Double faults	Bk pt conv %	Time on court.	Matches played
Berdych	98	57	4 / 117	6 / 23	46	15:36	6
Nadal	49	68	5 / 80	3 / 12	69	15:16	6

Nadal-Berdych final set.

If Nadal loses the final on Sunday, the root WILL be traced to the ‘over the top’ celebration he indulged in after beating Murray. If you don’t believe it – contrast that along with the circumstances / conditions or whatever else you call it – to Berdych’s reaction after beating Federer. In Nadal’s mind he may have already won the final as Murray with all the hype AND the stats was clearly coming in as the favorite to win the tournament. Besides, Murray dispatched Nadal in straight sets in quarters at the AO this year. That for both Nadal and Murray was the tipping point where Murray was going to run away with it. Additionally, this was Murray’s home further strengthening the notion that grass HAS to be his favorite surface at least compared to the hard courts in Australia.

Put all that together and Murray had a massive edge going in. Nadal, on the other hand, barely managed to win a five setter – with Tony’s help – making his run up to this stage hobbled – comparatively. To then come back from all that and take the guy out in straight very very close sets was hugely gratifying – maybe more than it should have been since the final is still to be played.

But if Nadal is able to pull it off it will have to be one of his most impressive showing outside of clay. To beat a hot fiery Soderling, Murray and then a guy who demolished Federer and Djokovic back to back can place you nowhere else.

Nadal has to be thinking of the choke jobs Djokovic and Murray produced at the last two US Open finals against Federer to pump up his chances of winning the title. But Berdych appears more than ready for the challenge both mentally and physically. Today he is as close to Del Potro as anyone has come this year, surpassing even Soderling. That means those loopy forehands from Nadal to Berdych’s backhand are in for some severe punishment. And on the other hand, for Nadal to break Berdych he has to deal with his aces and booming serves. That combination doesn’t bode well for Nadal but there’s one ace Nadal can always bank on specially in a five set setting: Physical endurance.

Berdych may be tall and strong but he is no marathon runner – a theme Nadal may start building on from the first point onwards. Berdych is fully aware of that and may feel the pressure to close the match in three or four sets, forcing him to rush his shots just enough to leave the door open for Nadal. Berdych cannot allow Nadal to win the first set or the second one too to make sure he plays on his terms. He has to manage his nerves from the get go to not let the occasion get to him and consequently NOT release the first set – on the platter.

For Nadal it will be time again for him to strategize on the fly and neutralize the obvious advantage his opponent enjoys over him and the rest of the field. It should be a classic brawn vs brain battle worthy of a whole new dimension the sport will have to live with momentarily before the giants take over for good.

Poem from the official Wimbledon poet, Matt Harvey. From Bluechyll. Thanks.

BLUECHYLL

The poem from the official Wimbledon poet, Matt Harvey, entitle ‘Thwok!’:

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/blogs/2010-06-21/201006211277119034156.html

Click to listen to the poem while you read it; it’s a little bit crazy but quite funny… at least I think so

Stella poem for today.

STELLA

today’s should read a bit like the Longfellow poem– Hiawatha.

On the courts at SW19
Stood the Scot/Brit Andy Murray.
Heard the speaking of the umpire
heard the clapping of the watchers.
“15-40 ” said the umpire.
‘Come on Andy” said the mother.
Saw the game coach Miles Maclagan
Saw him urge his man on forward
Keep our hopes alive of winning.
Keep the dream alive for Britain.

But the man from Dunblane, Scotland
Could not beat the Spaniard , Rafa.
Could not make the Britons happy.
Could not break the drought since Perry
So dies the soccer/Wimby double.
And leaves the Brits to drown their troubles.

Cheers !!

Photos.

US martina Navratilova (R) and Czech Republic’s Jana Novotna sit during their ladies’ invitation doubles match against South Africa’s Ilana Kloss and US rosalyn Nideffer in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London on June 30, 2010. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)

Steffi Graf is not aging well!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photos.

Swiss press groans over Federer’s loss. From Claire. Thanks.

Jenny,

I’m having fun with my new found knowledge that you can easily copy/post websites!

Click here.