Day seven on show courts 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain July 01, 2007
THE schedule for matches on the two main Wimbledon show courts tomorrow night (AEST), the seventh day of the championships: x denotes seeding
Centre court
Justine Henin (Bel x1) v Patty Schnyder (Sui x15)
Daniela Hantuchova (Svk x10) v Serena Williams (US x7)
Roger Federer (Sui x1) v Tommy Haas (Ger x13)
Andy Roddick (US x3) v Paul-Henri Mathieu (Fra)
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Federer and Henin will be the star attractions on Centre Court Men’s champion and number one seed Federer faces 13th seed Tommy Haas in the third scheduled match on Centre Court for a place in the last eight.Henin, meanwhile, is first up against 15th seed Patty Schnyder at 1100 BST.Andy Roddick and two-time winner Serena Williams are also in action on Centre Court, while Rafael Nadal is on Court One on day seven of the Championships.Number two seed Nadal of Spain will face
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Maria swans through rain row 
From Dave James in London
Former Australian Captain July 01, 2007
MARIA Sharapova was plunged into a Wimbledon rain row overnight, as torrential downpours meant that just two matches were completed and drenched fans saw only 75 minutes of action.
Russia’s pin-up defeated Japan veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 on court one, which was swamped by heavy rain as she served for a place in the last 16.
Sugiyama was furious with umpire Lynn Welch, claiming that the surface was too treacherous to continue.
Two days offf for Aussies 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain July 01, 2007
LLEYTON Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs secured an extra day’s rest, before launching their bids to reach the round of 16, when rain ruled out their third-round matches at Wimbledon today (AEST).
The wet, miserable conditions allowed only 75 minutes’ play, but scheduked late starters Hewitt and Arthurs didn’t come close to making it on court.
But All England Club chief executive
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Play abandoned after 75 minutes 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain July 01, 2007
PLAY was abandoned at Wimbledon because of rain, after only 75 minutes of action, on the sixth day of the grass court Grand slam today (AEST). Following an initial four-hour delay, women’s bchampion Amelie Mauresmo and No.2 Maria Sharapova were the only players able to complete their matches and reach the fourth round.
Three-time former champion Venus Williams might
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London - Maria Sharapova and holder Amelie Mauresmo beat the weather as they squeezed in rapid-fire victories to reach the second week of the soggy Wimbledon Championships in Saturday. Sharapova, the second seed who won the 2004 title as a teenager, defeated Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-3, what match winding up just as others were interrupted by the return of rain. Mauresmo waited out a four-hour rain delay which delayed the day’s start until mid-afternoon, then ripped Italian Mara Santangelo 6-1, 6-2 The French fourth seed was untroubled in 58
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Tipsarevic is in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time
But the surprise is that it is not Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic or Jelena Jankovic, the three Serbs who made the last four in Paris.
Instead, it is 22-year-old Janko Tipsarevic who has made a name for himself, reaching the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The world number 64 beat fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez on Friday, coming back from a break down in the final set on his Centre Court debut.
Tipsarevic
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Wimbledon, England - Rain has prevented third-round singles action from resuming Saturday at Wimbledon 2007.
Both the men’s and women’s draws commenced third-round play here on Friday, but wet weather has kept players off the courts so far on Day 6 of this grass- court fortnight.
If and when players see action on Saturday, second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal, fourth-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic, sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko, 10th-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis and former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia are slated for play
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Wimbledon, England - Eight third-round matches were on Saturday’s schedule at Wimbledon, and all eight were wiped out because of rain at the All England Club.
Rain has now interrupted play on five of the first six days of this 2007 fortnight.
No less than 12 seeded players were on the Day-6 schedule, including No. 2 Spaniard Rafael Nadal, fourth-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic and former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt.
The reigning three-time French Open titlist and 2006 Wimbledon runner-up Nadal was scheduled to meet 28th-seeded Swede
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Thief robbing Wimbledon players 
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
WIMBLEDON stars have fallen victim to a sneak thief who has made off with thousands of pounds in cash and personal property.
One major theft has been reported in the men’s locker room while players and coaches are concerned it is the latest incident in a mini crime wave that has plagued the tour all year.
Former French Open champion Albert Costa, who coaches Spanish compatriot Feliciano
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“There is a veritable feast of celebrities in the Royal Box today. Today’s Jimmy Tarbuck equivalent is Bruce Forsyth. Imagine being sat next to him, how annoying would that be? Likewise, French and Saunders, who are also here. Amongst some serious heavyweights from the world of sport is Tottenham’s over-priced striker Darren Bent. This is a Royal Box for heaven’s sake - what qualifications does he have to be there? Standards are slipping, I’m going to have words. He will be in the cheap seats before the start of play, don’t you worry.”
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Lleyton, Wayne back in fray 
From Valkerie Mangnall in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
LLEYTON Hewitt faces Argentina’s Guillermo Canas for a place in the round of 16 at Wimbledon tonight (AEST).
The No.16 seed leads No.22 seed Canas 5-2 head-to-head, and has won both their meetings on grass, but has not played the resurgent world No.17 in five years.
Australia’s Wayne Arthurs, 36, will take on Sweden’s 35-year-old Jonas Bjorkman in a third-round battle of the veterans.
Religious mix unites fans 
From Robin Millard in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
INDIA’S Sania Mirza and Israel’s Shahar Peer made a winning start to their renewed but controversial partnership, negotiating the first round of the ladies’ doubles at Wimbledon today (AEST).
It was the pair’s first appearance since they felt forced to split under pressure from religious hardliners, furious about Mirza, a Muslim, playing with a Jew.
The close friends
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Nadal lost to Roger Federer in last year’s final The Spaniard, runner-up in 2006, is the second match on Centre Court and will be followed by former champion Lleyton Hewitt, who plays Guillermo Canas.Opening proceedings is defending women’s champion Amelie Mauresmo, who plays Italian Mara Santangelo.Court One’s opening match is Maria Sharapova against Ai Sugiyama.Former champion Sharapova will be followed on court by popular 10th seed Marcos Baghdatis, who takes on former
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Federer never in danger 
From Sonia Oxley in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
ROGER Federer barely had his feathers ruffled in a 6-1 6-4 7-6 win over Marat Safin in the third round at Wimbledon today (AEST), dispelling any pre-match notions that it could be a close encounter.
“I don’t know if I played phenomenal, I just think I played the right way against Marat today,” said the world No.1 after claiming his 51st successive grass court success.
“I really kept the balls in play, served well when I had to, moved well, returned pretty good.”
Patty to reveal ‘big stuff’ 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
PATTY Schnyder’s forthcoming autobiography will include a big secret that tops the tales of her bizarre relationship with her ex-coach, which includes allegations of brainwashing.
The Swiss, 28, gave few clues away but said “The White Mile” contains “a big thing that no one knows of,” adding that the stories already known about her are “nothing compared to the other stuff.”
Serve sorts Roddick blip 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
ANDY Roddick kept the flag flying for the United States at Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 third-round victory over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco today (AEST).
The big-serving, 24-year-old No.3 seed did not look under any pressure against Verdasco in the first two sets, rattling them off in 58 minutes, but the world No.41 then upped his game.
Verdasco broke in the third set
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Ominous Serena hits stride 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
TWO-time champion Serena Williams raced into the last 16 at Wimbledon, claiming she is running into form just at the right time.
The American needed just 44 minutes to overwhelm Venezuela’s Milagros Sequera 6-1 6-0 and set up a fourth-round date with Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova.
“It was pretty good all round,” said Williams, insisting she is no longer bothered by the hamstring problem she carried into the tournament.
‘Tipsy’s’ spirit floors Gonzalez 
From Angus McKinnon in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
AUSTRALIAN Open finalist, Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez became the biggest casualty at this year’s Wimbledon, dumped out of the tournament by Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic today (AEST).
The world No.64, nicknamed “Tipsy” by his new-found fan club, rallied from 5-2 down in the fifth set and saved a match point before claiming the biggest win of his career, 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 8-6 after an enthralling, 3hr 35min battle.
Cursed court claims sad Hingis 
From Steve Griffiths in London
Former Australian Captain June 30, 2007
MARTINA Hingis perished on Wimbledon’s graveyard of champions, eliminated by unseeded American Laura Granville today (AEST).
The Swiss, seeded No.9, looked a shadow of the player who won Wimbledon 10 years ago as Granville won 6-4 6-2 on court two, where so many previous All England Club winners have come unstuck.
Granville, who has only once before reached the second week of a Grand Slam, now faces a fourth round with Dutch teen Michaella Krajicek.
Arthurs and Bjorkman have met twice before on grass
There, two men with a combined age of 71 will be doing battle for a place in the fourth round.
Wayne Arthurs, 36, and 35-year-old Jonas Bjorkman are proof that life does not end at 30 for professional tennis players.
Australian left-hander Arthurs is retiring after this tournament - but Bjorkman has no plans to quit any time soon.
“Thirty-five is only a number,” the Swede told BBC Sport.”In sport sometimes people
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Federer faces Tommy Haas in round four The much-anticipated third-round match did not begin until gone 1830 BST on Friday but Federer took just one hour and 39 minutes to see off the Russian.Safin, on his least favourite surface, was outclassed in the first two sets but stretched the world number one in an absorbing third.However, Federer edged the tiebreak to make it 51 straight wins on grass.The world number one faces German Tommy Haas in the last 16.Federer said he felt
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Murray (right) and Butorac had great support from the crowd They came from behind to beat the seventh seeds, Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-4.Murray and Butorac were in impressive form on court 14, making just nine unforced errors between them.Jamie Baker and Alex Bogdanovic lost their delayed first round match to Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Lukasz Kubot.The Polish 16th seeds were too strong for the Scotsman and the Englishman, prevailing 6-4 6-7 6-2 6-4.The
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Wimbledon, England - On Friday, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced that Doha, Qatar will host the 2008-10 Sony Ericsson Championships.
‘The awarding of our Sony Ericsson Championships to Qatar represents an exciting continuation of our strategy to showcase the very best of women’s tennis in different regions and markets throughout the world,’ said Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott.
The agreement between the WTA and Doha, Qatar is for three years and $42 million.
The Sony Ericsson Championships will feature record prize money
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Tipsarevic’s previous best at Wimbledon was the third round in 2005 Tipsarevic was two sets to one up before a rain delay in the fourth came to Gonzalez’s rescue - when play resumed the Chilean levelled the match.But Tipsarevic proved stronger in the decider, hitting back from 5-2 down and breaking Gonzalez three times to win.Tipsarevic faces Juan Carlos Ferrero, who upset ninth seed James Blake.Ferrero triumphed 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to reach the fourth round for the third
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When I was a teenager the highlight of the summer was always Wimbledon fortnight.
In the long evenings after school we would we watch all the big matches on the BBC and then go to the local courts to play a game of tennis ourselves. There was something magical about playing after a great match on television.
But now, a lot of that sparkle has gone and I don’t know why.
Is it because I’m quite a bit older?
Is it because I am no longer actively playing tennis myself?
Or is it because the game itself has become less interesting?
I have
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Henin in cruise control 
From correspondents in London, England
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
JUSTINE Henin’s bid to win Wimbledon for the first time remains on course as she advanced to the fourth round with a crushing victory over Elena Vesnina overnight.
The world No.1 eased past the unseeded Russian, winning 6-1 6-3, and now faces either No.15 seed Patty Schnyder or Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko for a place in the quarter-finals.
Wimbledon is the last
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Henin has twice been a runner-up at Wimbledon The Belgian, aiming to win the only Grand Slam to so far elude her, beat Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-3 on Court Two.Henin raced through the first set in just 21 minutes and returned after an hour’s rain delay to finish off the Russian, who is ranked 67 in the world.The 25-year-old now meets either 15th seed Patty Schynder or 24th seed Alona Bondarenko in the next round.
Wimbledon, England - Rain halted third-round action at Wimbledon on Friday as the covers are on all courts at the All England Club.
When play resumes, Roger Federer will be back on the court with a third- round encounter versus 26th-seeded Russian Marat Safin. Third seed Andy Roddick also plays his third-round match on Friday against Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez and ninth seed James Blake of the United States will also be in action.
On the women’s side, top seed Justine Henin’s third-round match against Russian
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Wimbledon, England - Swiss superstar Roger Federer continued his quest for his fifth straight Wimbledon title as he posted a straight-set victory in the third round on Friday.
The top-seeded/world No. 1 Federer faced a former world No. 1 in Marat Safin of Russia and won 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). It is his 51st successive win on grass.
The 25-year-old Federer is trying to become only the second man in the Open Era to win this event five years in a row, joining the legendary Bjorn Borg, who captured it from 1976-80. Federer has won his last 31
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“Good grief, after the nonsensical drivel that Pete Doherty was going to strum in the queue and Winehouse was going to be teaching nine-year-olds the drop shot (see 0945 entry) we have actually had a genuine pop icon in the grounds. 1980’s goddess and all-round barmcake Grace Jones was in yesterday. This sighting of Jones was made by a BBC Sport colleague who now wants to be known as the BBC Sport meerkat (don’t worry, I told him to do one). My favourite Miss Jones fact: in
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Hang on … Arthurs believes he still has a bit to offer on the Tour. Pic: AFP Arthurs courts continuation 
From Steve Griffiths in London
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
WAYNE Arthurs has revealed he will consider reversing his decision to retire from tennis if he reaches the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
The veteran Australian, 36, was set to hang up his racquet for good after the
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‘Mates’ keep Arthurs mobile 
From Steve Griffiths in London
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
WAYNE Arthurs was presented with a wheelchair by a couple of Aussie “mates” today (AEST), after rolling back the years to prolong his Wimbledon swansong.
Arthurs, 36, produced one of the best performances of a 17-year career to upset Spain’s Tommy Robredo, the No.11 seed, 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 and earn a third-round meeting with fellow veteran, Sweden’s Jonas Bjorkman.
Pair defiant in ‘mixed troubles’ 
From Pritha Sarkar in London
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
INDIA’S Sania Mirza, a Muslim, hopes her decision to renew a doubles partnership with Israel’s Shahar Peer at Wimbledon does not stir up another religious storm.
“We’re playing tennis, we’re not making statements. We’re just here to play tennis and we’re here to perform and be the best we can be,” the Indian number one said.
“Me and Shahar are playing just like
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Nicole beats Nicole easy 
By staff writers
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
AUSTRALIA’S only woman left in the singles draw at Wimbledon, Nicole Pratt, bowed out in a 6-3 6-2 second-round loss to big-hitting Czech No.14 seed Nicole Vaidisova overnight.
Pratt had put out fellow Australian Casey Dellacqua in the first round after rain had delayed their match-up by three days.
Later tonight,, French Open champions Alicia Molik from Australia and Mara Santangelo
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London - Tim Henman on Thursday called for British tennis bosses to wipe their player slate clean after another disappointing debacle at Wimbledon. After crashing out in five sets to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, the 32-year-old stalwart of the game admitted desolation: ‘It’s depressing, but it’s reality - that’s where we’re at. World number eight Andy Murray and the 74th-ranked Henman aside, Alex Bogdanovic at 108 is next in the pecking order, with the next trailing ten running to 584. After the Lawn Tennis Association’s recent shake-up and last
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Dream-wrecker Safin’’s big best 
From correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
PAKISTAN’S Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi saw his dreams of Wimbledon history ruthlessly crushed by former world No.1 Marat Safin overnight.
The No.16 seed, from Russia, beat the 279-ranked Qureshi 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-4), and now meets the No.1 seed, four-time champion Roger Federer, for a place in the last 16.
Qureshi, the first Pakistan to play in the Wimbledon men’s singles since Haroon Rahim in 1976, was trying to become the first from his country to reach the third round.
Tsonga is ranked at the world number 110
Standing at over six feet tall, weighing in at 14 stone and with a beaming lop-sided grin, the Frenchman bears a striking resemblance to the boxing legend.
“Ali is one of my heroes,” the 22-year-old told BBC Sport in Ali-style hushed tones.
“I liked him for his personality so I’m happy to be compared to him - it’s an honour.”
Despite the illustrious comparisons, Tsonga is a bit of an unknown outside tennis circles.
Hampered
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Federer (left) has lost to Safin twice The clash between the former world number one and the current incumbent is the third match on Centre Court.Two-time finalist Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez are also in action on day five, along with women’s contenders Serena Williams and Justine Henin.However, rain is once again set to upset the schedule in SW19.”Hopefully we’ll get it through,” said Federer, seeking his fifth straight title at the All England Club.”I expect a tough
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Maria on track for Venus 
Fromm correspondents in London
Former Australian Captain June 29, 2007
MARIA Sharapova advanced to the third round at Wimbledon with a 6-0 6-3 victory over France’s Sabine Bremond today (AEST).
The Russian, seeded No.2 and bidding to reclaim the title she won as a 17-year-old in 2004, now faces Japan’s Ai Sugiyama for a place in the last 16, where she could come up against three-time champion Venus Williams.
Reuters