Tag Archives: drizzle

Wimbledon 2012 Agnieszka Radwanska hurdles Maria Kirilenko threat to reach maiden grand slam semi-final

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Radwanska hurdles Kirilenko threat to reach maiden grand slam semi-final

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UPDATED:

22:12 GMT, 3 July 2012

Agnieszka Radwanska reached the first grand slam semi-final of her career as she saw off the challenge of Russian Maria Kirilenko in a late-night finish at Wimbledon.

Despite her mediocre history in the majors, third seed Radwanska can replace Maria Sharapova as world No 1 if she wins at Wimbledon.

She was tied at 4-4 in the deciding set with Kirilenko when play was halted on Court One due to rain.

A day to remember: Agnieszka Radwanska reached her first grand slam semi-final after beating Maria Kirilenko

A day to remember: Agnieszka Radwanska reached her first grand slam semi-final after beating Maria Kirilenko

Almost two hours later they were moved to Centre Court, where Radwanska sealed the set under the roof to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win.

The Pole will next play Germany's Angelique Kerber in the last four on Thursday.

Radwanska said: 'I'm just very, very happy. It's the first time I've reached the semi-finals so there are no words to describe how I feel.

'Today for me was like 40 hours. We were on and off all the time. It's never easy and especially when the conditions were like this.

'I'm just very happy that after almost three hours I could win. I really wanted to finish the match, I think it's better than to wait and come back another day.'

The match saw drizzle repeatedly interrupt play.

Outgunned: Maria Kirilenko

Outgunned: Maria Kirilenko

Radwanska seemed undeterred after the first stoppage, breaking to move 6-5 ahead before serving out for the first set.

Kirilenko, who made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year, had her serve broken twice during a topsy-turvy second set but made three breaks of her own to secure a decider.

Eight games had passed in the final set before the rain came at 7.45pm, and organisers decided to move the clash to Centre after Victoria Azarenka's quarter-final against Tamira Paszek.

After taking to Centre under the roof at 9.15pm, Kirilenko held to move 5-4 ahead and Radwanska also held before earning three break points in the 11th game.

The world number three broke when Kirilenko went for a needless power shot and the ball cleared the baseline.

Radwanska showed nerves of steel to set up two match points in the following game and once again Kirilenko buckled, piling a forehand well wide.

Federer overcomes injury to reach 33rd concsecutive grand slam quarter-final

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Federer overcomes injury to reach 33rd consecutive grand slam quarter-final

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UPDATED:

15:41 GMT, 2 July 2012

Roger Federer reached his 33rd consecutive grand slam quarter-final despite suffering an injury scare on his way to a tough win over Xavier Malisse at Wimbledon.

Federer looked far from his best amid cold and blustery conditions on Centre Court, but he still managed to record a 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 4-6 6-3 success against the world No 75 that sets him up for a last-eight clash against Mikhail Youzhny or Denis Istomin.

Part of the reason behind Federer's laboured victory was a back injury for which he needed off-court treatment after the eighth game of the first set.

Time out: Roger Federer received treatment during his match but came through in four sets

Time out: Roger Federer received treatment during his match but came through in four sets

Switzerland's Roger Federer waves to the crowd after his fourth round men's singles victory over Belgium's Xavier Malisse

Federer looked determined to get back to the warmth of the locker room early on.

The Swiss handed his opponent two break points but Malisse wasted them by netting a forehand and returning wide.

The problems did not stop there for Federer as he offered Malisse another chance to break in the fifth game but an ace rescued the six-time champion.

Federer then took a medical time-out to receive treatment on the injury, leaving the court, and he moved gingerly upon his return.

Malisse seized the initiative, breaking Federer to move 6-5 ahead, but the Swiss struck back immediately by returning a bullet forehand just over the net to draw level.

Main man: Federer reached his 33rd consecutive grand slam quarter final with victory over Malisse

Main man: Federer reached his 33rd consecutive grand slam quarter final with victory over Malisse

Luckily for Federer, Malisse's game imploded in the tie-break as he made three unforced errors to hand the third seed the set before the rain came.

Comical scenes followed as the players emerged from the locker room but they were ordered back when it started raining again.

Following an inspection the players returned 35 minutes after the tussle was first suspended, and despite light drizzle, the roof remained open.

Federer was still not moving perfectly, but he adapted his game to allow him to take a grip on the match.

The Swiss avoided getting involved in baseline rallies and instead opted for softer drop shots to prevent him from putting his injured back to the test.

The tactic worked as Federer engineered a break point in the third game and Malisse completely mis-timed a forehand to send the ball flying into the stands about seven yards from the Royal Box.

Chances: Malisse had opportunities against Federer but eventually succumbed the former world No 1

Chances: Malisse had opportunities against Federer but eventually succumbed the former world No 1

Federer broke again and survived two Malisse break chances to wrap up the second set in quick fashion.

Federer wanted to wrap the match up in three sets, but the Swiss, and a shivering crowd on Centre Court, were stunned as Malisse fought back, breaking with a forehand in the opening game.

Malisse had two more chances to break in the fifth but he wasted them. It did not matter, however, as the Belgian was already a break up and he served out for the set.

A superb backhand from Malisse gave him an immediate break in the fourth set but Federer levelled the match when his opponent spooned a forehand wide at 40-30 behind in the fourth.

Federer, who now seemed to be moving better than before, broke again in the sixth game when Malisse netted and the crowd favourite clinched victory with a powerful ace three games later.

Wimbledon 2012: Novak Djokovic beats Radek Stepanek in round three

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Djokovic battles back from dropping first set to see off Stepanek

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UPDATED:

15:37 GMT, 29 June 2012

Novak Djokovic staved off the threat of another shock at Wimbledon when he came from a set down to beat Radek Stepanek.

The top seed saw his 33-year-old Czech opponent snatch the first set against the run of play before he blasted him aside to win 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-2 and book a clash against fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki in the fourth round.

Just as the final set was in Rafael Nadal's late-night exit to Lukas Rosol, Friday's opening match was also played under the closed roof on Centre Court after lunchtime drizzle.

Thumbs up: Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Radek Stepanek

Thumbs up: Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Radek Stepanek

It proved a tough test for the defending champion, who had a straight-sets win over American Ryan Harrison in the second round.

Before a ball was served, Stepanek was made to change his red trainers as they did not comply with the all-white dress code.

Djokovic put pressure on his opponent's serve immediately with his strong return game but Stepanek held on to avoid an early break.

Fighter: The Serb bounced back from his early setback to win comfortably

Fighter: The Serb bounced back from his early setback to win comfortably

The Czech was struggling but managed to save three break points to hold serve in the fifth game.

It was a tale of two service games, with the 28th seed clinging on while Djokovic cruised through his and toyed with his opponent from the baseline.

However, out of the blue a shift in momentum saw Stepanek with three set points as the world number one's serve faltered for the first time, the Czech converting as Djokovic fired wide.

Short-lived: Radek Stepanek proved a tough opponent... for one set only

Short-lived: Radek Stepanek proved a tough opponent… for one set only

From then on, however, the title favourite showed his class, securing an instant break in the second set before stealing another to make it 6-2, before claiming the third set in equally quick time.

Set four was wrapped up in style as Stepanek wilted, his tactic of charging to the net proving fruitless as a ruthless Djokovic ended his tournament with a curving backhand.

Following the win, Djokovic denied thoughts of second seed Nadal crashing out of the tournament entered his mind after losing the first set.

Smash hit: World No 1 Djokovic serves to Stepanek on Centre Court

Smash hit: World No 1 Djokovic serves to Stepanek on Centre Court

The 25-year-old said: 'It was a tough match but I think I played the second, third and fourth sets really well.

'I was focusing on my opponent today. I know he is very tricky player, very talented and he's one of the few players that comes to the net after every first serve.

'He has a lot of variety in his game and can hurt anybody but I love playing under the roof.'

Wimbledon 2012: Tamira Paszek beats former No 1 Caroline Wozniacki

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Grand Slam heartache goes on for former No 1 Wozniacki after Paszek sends her crashing out in Round One

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UPDATED:

18:36 GMT, 27 June 2012

Eastbourne champion Tamira Paszek was the last woman standing after a marathon battle on Wimbledon's Centre Court with seventh seed Caroline Wozniacki.

The Austrian world No 37 was on court for three hours and 12 minutes against the Dane – hardly a brisk first-round workout – as she came back from a set down to spring a minor surprise.

Wozniacki became the second-highest seed to be dumped out of the women's draw – but despite her lofty ranking and former standing as world number one, her game is not considered to be one of the most solid on tour and so it proved as Paszek emerged a 5-7 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 winner.

Going through: Tamira Paszek celebrates her victory over Caroline Wozniacki

Going through: Tamira Paszek celebrates her victory over Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki, girlfriend of golf superstar Rory McIlroy, let two match points and 15 break points slip away in a match which was largely played under the stadium's roof due to outside drizzle.

It was not to be for Wozniacki and the big-hitting Paszek, who impressed with a fearless string of winners, went through at the expense of her fellow 21-year-old.

She did so with a break of serve in the 10th game of the third set – a third break in a row and the fifth of the set.

'It's not a nice feeling,' Wozniacki said. 'Especially after having two match points and not taking them.

Down and out: Wozniacki crashes out of first round

Down and out: Wozniacki crashes out of first round

'It wasn't that I played badly. She just went for them and that's it.'

She added: 'Maybe I should have played the match points differently, I don't know.'

The match was stopped at 2-2 in the first set last night by rain and also interrupted again this afternoon when Paszek was serving at 5-4, forcing the players off.

She initially fluffed her lines under the roof, conceding serve twice in a row as Wozniacki stole the opening set.

Frustration: The wait for Wozniacki's first Grand Slam goes on

Frustration: The wait for Wozniacki's first Grand Slam goes on

The unpredictable nature of the contest continued into the second set – serve was broken in four of the first five games – before Wozniacki teed up match points in the 11th game. She was unable to cash them in, firing a forehand way beyond the baseline and the players went to a tie-break.

Again Wozniacki had chances but again she frittered them, slamming her racquet into the ground in frustration after another loose one-hander.

She looked to have regained her composure at the start of the decider, breaking to 2-0, before capsizing again, conceding serve in the fourth, eighth and 10th games.