Wimbledon 2019 — Women’s Singles Finals:

• Simona Halep plays the match of her life, and takes what is rightfully hers … a Wimbledon Championship. You can probably count her unforced errors on one hand. She had the eager, hungry look of a cheetah on the savanna hunting some big game, and played with positive energy that radiated from every pore. This is what competitive sports is all about. You don’t just win because you are the biggest, the strongest or because you are the heavy favorite. You win because you have the confidence, focus, desire and fitness to get it done, and that is exactly what she had today.
• By contrast, Serena seemed to go through the motions, in a kind of mental check-out mode that must be bewildering to her many fans. For the third time in a row, she didn’t get it done, and with each advancing year, it isn’t getting any easier. She can no longer rely on the intimidation factor alone, along with her obvious physical gifts, to get it done. She knows full well what she needs to do to get back on top, but does she really want it badly enough? Even for those who aren’t fans, it would be nice to see her regain some of the joy from just competing at a high level, which seems very clearly to be missing (just listen to her in the press conference). She seem resigned, a bit bitter, and cranky. The strong suggestion is there that she really needs to “change the game” if she wants the desired results, but denial is a long river in Africa, and it’s not clear she’s disembarking.

Wimbledon 2019 — Women’s Singles Semifinals (Day 10) (click for audio):

• Serena bores through Barbora like a drill bit though European Silver Fir… not much resistance from the Strycova ball striker
• Halep doesn’t have to break much of a sweat to squash Svitolina
• Thanks god this isn’t the World Cup, and thus we don’t have to watch a third place game
• Coming in with a 9-1 career disadvantage, there’s ample grounds for concern for the Romanian maiden of Munchkinland

Wimbledon 2019 — Women’s Singles Quaterfinals (Day 8):

• The only things shorter than Konta’s short, short tennis skirt was her short, short memory about all those set up forehands she blew, in addition to her short temper when it comes to a bunch of very fair questions from reporter seeking to delve into the reasons for her collapse. Yes, indeed, Jo, you need to lighten up and take some fair criticism in stride, without either being rude or breaking into a torrent of tears. Other tennis player prima donnas (over and above Prima Johanna) would be similarly well advised to get off their high horse and take tough post-match interviews with more class and professionalism.
• Riske assessment is Alison may be more ready for marriage than she is for a major title. Serena snatches back control of the match when she has to with a brutally authoritative comeback in the deciding set. Look for her to bore through Barbora and head for Saturday’s final.
• Halep easily shoes away Shuai, tennis shoes manufactured in China and all.
• And in the Eastern/Central European quarter, the Czech is nuked by the Uke.

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Wimbledon 2019 — Round of 16 Women’s Singles (Day 7):

• Unseeded Ally stops the No. 1 Barty train dead in its tracks, setting up a confrontation with the Williams express.
• Halep abruptly ends the opening chapter of the Cori story
• No chance for Navarro, who forgets that pretty top spin can be pretty ugly on grass, particularly against Serena.
• In the battle of Karolinas, Muchova just had too much staying power for Pliskova, but for the fans who stuck around, there’s sadly no need for the first ever 3rd set, 12-12 breaker.
• Zhang comes through in the home stretch against Yastremska.

Wimbledon 2019 — Third Round Men’s Singles (Day 6):

• Sam makes Uncle Sam proud with a rather perfunctory dispatching of Australia’s Millman
• Johnson moderately powerful, low trajectory artillery shells hardly spelled trouble for Nishikori, who seemed to be operating completely within his wheelhouse for the entire match.
• Didn’t Struff read the memo that no pushin is allowed against the Russian Kukushkin?
• Relegated to the frontier outpost of Ct. 14, Fabulous Fognini throws another priceless temper tantrum, offending all of England in the process and landing himself on the lawn and tennis club’s 10 least wanted list.  His heat of the moment excuse would’ve been more persuasive if this had been his first such offense (it definitely wasn’t) or if the scorching temps in Southern and Central Europe were also pervading the Blessed Plot (not the case).  The end result will almost certain be pounds of fines and, perhaps, temporary Gland Slam banishment; meanwhile, not-so-sweet tweeter Sandgren now has a golden opportunity to taste the final eight.
• Italian Berrettini betters Diego, and is rewarded with a date with Fed (like a Christian in the Colosseum being fed to the lions).
• No surprise as Roger makes sure the Round of 16 is Pouille-free.
• Slow Willy’s serve wasn’t fooling anyone, and that meant he was dead meat against the man-eater from Manacor.
• Rousing win a Sousa over Evans in what was easily the most entertaining match of the day.

Wimbledon 2019 — Third Round Women’s Singles (Day 5):

• On Court 12, it was definitely the day of Dayana.
• Hercog bogs down up 5-2 in the 2nd, and as she’ll now testify, you’d better not scoff at 9th grader Cori Gauff.
• Svitolina sends Sakkari on safari.
• Karolina ensnares Anett into hitting lots of shots going into the net.
• Halep wallops the bully from Belarus, who looked tight rather than loose.

Wimbledon 2019 — Second Round Men’s Singles (Day 4):

• Could Steve Johnson be picking up the slack for US Men’s tennis? A defeat of tough, but diminutive, De Minaur on The Fourth of July was certainly encouraging.
• Slammin Sammy lets his racket do the talking against Rublev.
• Kyrgios stays mostly serious, but taking coffee breaks in the tie breaks was certainly ill-advised against the Nadal-born ritual killer.
• Taylor can’t deal with Jan-Leonard’s superior Struff.
• Brit Daniel Evans holds serve and maintains his hometown advantage.
• Nary a chance for Norrie against Nishikori.
• A bit of a shocker as Cilic feels the chill of a second round slap down.
• Last gasp for Jo-Willy, who makes Ricardes look a bit silly.
• American Tennys has more staying power than Gilles “I like to run for miles” Simon.
• After losing a close 2nd set to Fed, Jay forgets to feed himself another Clarke bar and doesn’t get too far in the 3rd.
• Fabulous Fabio finishes Fucsovics in five.