Tommy Haas started the first set against Roger Federer with his usual tactic at this year’s Wimbledon; serve & volleying on almost all first and second serves.

But even in the first game it was evident (to me at least) that this will not work against Federer.

Roger Federer winning against Tommy Haas in Wimbledon2009 / Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

Federer was hitting returns early and cleanly and putting them low to Tommy’s feet. Tommy held his service games thanks to first serves which he nicely varied between forehand and backhand sides of Federer.

Haas was too emotional on a couple of missed shots and that’s not a good sign. Being so tense prevents a player from playing in the zone and that’s what’s needed to win a semifinal match in a Grand Slam…

Luckily for Haas, Federer lost his feel for a few games and made a few unforced errors that allowed Haas to win his service games. Very high first serve percentage helped too.

Tommy served very well throughout the first set even on his second serves. He forced the serves, played very aggressively and prevented Federer from getting into the return rhythm. Perhaps Tommy felt the power and control of Federer’s returns from the first two games and decided to up the risks a little bit. (more…)

Roger Federer and Robin Soderling met again after the Roland Garros final in the fourth round at Wimbledon 2009. Here are some thoughts on the match…

Soderling played the first set exactly the way he should have played the final of Roland Garros; he played very aggressively, hitting close to the lines and he didn’t give Federer enough time to get into an attacking position.

Federer was constantly in defense and barely got a chance to force the game with his forehand. In fact, Federer seemed to play more defensively intentionally because he had time (just a few times) to force with his forehand but he chose just a solid rally forehand deep to Soderling’s backhand.

The same thing happened at 4:4 on Soderling’s serve with one exception; Soderling was unable to keep the same level of play. He committed a double fault and missed a few shots – just barely out which he didn’t miss in the previous 8 games.

Roger didn’t do much for that break of serve except forcing Soderling to play every ball. Federer hung in there defending with backhand and even forehand slices and Soderling missed them.

Federer committed only 3 unforced errors in the first set and Soderling made 9. Roger also served better with 7 aces to 4 and was most of the time winning service games pretty easily.

Soderling played extremely well again in the second set, serving aces and winners and forcing the game from the baseline. Roger Federer’s plan – in my opinion – was to disrupt the rhythm of Soderling and he started to incorporate a few more drop shots and short slices in the game. (more…)

I just wanted to congratulate the 3 players from Slovenia who managed to enter the main draw in Wimbledon. This is the first time that Slovenia had 3 players in a Grand Slam main draw in singles.

Maša Zec Peškirič, ranked currently #98 in WTA, lost to Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 and it was her first Grand Slam main draw appearance so Maša will definitely learn from this and gain more experience and confidence.

Grega Žemlja, currently ranked #218 on ATP, managed to win 3 qualifying rounds at Wimbledon 2009 and came across Albert Montanes, ranked #33. Grega fought well and lost with 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 score with only one break of serve in each set. (more…)

Rafael Nadal has won an incredible match against Roger Federer in the final of the 2008 Wimbledon. There have been many speculations whether Roger’s domination in Wimbledon is fading and whether Nadal has improved his game enough to threaten Roger on grass.

RYAN PIERSE / AFP / Getty Images

Here are 5 reasons why Nadal made it this year:

1. Greater hunger
Federer has won Wimbledon 5 times already, has 12 Grand Slam titles and has been No.1 in the world for the last 5 years. Nadal on the other hand has won only 3 French Open titles so far, lost twice in the Wimbledon final and has been #2 in the world for the last 5 years.

(more…)

Katarina Srebotnik reached yet another Grand Slam final in Wimbledon 2007 ladies doubles tournament with her partner Ai Sugiyama.

This was the third Grand Slam final this year for Katarina. Unfortunately she lost all three of them but hopefully she will learn her lessons and win some next year.

©Getty Images/ I. Finney

Katarina and Ai had a great run at this year’s Wimbledon winning against top seeds Stosur / Raymond in the semi-finals.

They lost to Liezel Huber and Cara Black in the final 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

This final pushed Katarina’s WTA ladies doubles rankings to #5!

By the way, if you are wondering why I write about Katarina; it’s because she is from Slovenia which is my home country too.

Congratulations Katarina!

Roger Federer won the record fifth Wimbledon title today beating Rafael Nadal 7-6(9-7), 4-6, 7-6(7-3), 2-6 6-2.

I watched the match from the second set on and here are some things I noticed during the match:

©PA / R. Naden

Rafael Nadal:

1. Played extremely aggressive in the first 4 sets.

Even one of the interviewers asked him if playing closer to the lines was a change of strategy for Federer.

Rafa was aware of the situation and raised his game to another level.

2. Served high percentage of first serves (71%) and was broken only once in first four sets.

He knew that second serves will be attacked by Federer and adjusted.

Combine this with his aggressive play from the baseline and he was at the same level as Roger for four sets. (more…)

Marion Bartoli won against Justine Henin 1:6, 7:5, 6:1 in Wimbledon today.

It’s a surprising win of course, but if we dig a little deeper, we can understand why this happened.

©EPA / G. Penny

Why couldn’t Justine Henin keep up? (more…)

Wimbledon saw yesterday 3 exciting and surprising matches where top ranked players lost their leads. 2 of those lost the match, 1 managed to win.

First, Andy Roddick was two sets and a break up against Richard Gasquet and lost this lead and the match 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 8-6.

Second, Justine Henin was a set and a break up against Marion Bartoli and lost the lead and the match 1-6 7-5 6-1.

And third, Novak Djokovic was two sets and a break up against Marcos Baghdatis, lost the lead and eventually managed to win in the fifth set 7-6 7-6 6-7 4-6 7-5.

(AFP/Adrian Dennis)

So why do such experienced players lose a lead? Why does this happen? (more…)

Wimbledon has been struck a with bad weather curse this year. The organizers are 177 matches behind the schedule at the time of this writing.

It’s not only tough for the Wimbledon organizers and visitors; it’s mentally draining for the players too.

(AP Photo/Sang Tan)

Lleyton Hewitt for example started his third-round match against No. 22 Guillermo Canas of Argentina on Saturday, but rain and darkness delayed the 2002 champion’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win until three days later. (more…)

If you are actually planning to go to Wimbledon and check out London at the same time, I found a great website.

This website is an insider’s guide to the exciting city of London.

You can find cheap hotels, attractions, romantic places , restaurants, night places and there is of course a page about Wimbledon too.

If you are not going this year, you can still bookmark the site and check it out next year.

For more information about [tag]London[/tag] and Wimbledon check the London Tourist Travel Guide.