Bad news for all the people who bet on Sharapova - although they probably did so for no reason other than name recognition, since she has struggled at Wimbledon lately like I said - Dulko recovered to win 6-4 in the third. That’s pretty impressive considering she bombed so badly after getting a lead in the second set.
I had to turn off the match during the 2nd set. I was afraid Dulko was just going to crater. She did a great job to come back and take out the Screaming Russian in the third.
I think we have seen the last of Sharapova as a dominating force.
She’s still trying to get healthy again, but I agree. She’s missed a lot of time and so far is not playing herself back into shape. She probably needs to try her game against a lower level of competition.
I’ll start by saying that I’m glad Sharapova lost. I watched the match for 5 minutes before deciding I couldn’t put up with her shrieking.
It’s too bad Nadal isn’t around this year. I guess this gives Federer a clear run to beat Sampras’ titles record, huh?
She never did move exceptionally well on the court. Today was just ugly. As long as Dulko kept pegging the angles, Maria was screwed.
Maria’s game is all power and intimidation. At first, it worked well, but players are starting to figure it out and how to defend against it. I just don’t think Maria has enough in her bag of tricks to change up her game.
Murray’s got off to a rocky start, so I can’t argue.
This needs to be moved to the Game Room, and merged with the thread Wiimbledon 2009. I’ve reported it. 
Done.
True, abbeytxs, Sharapova never covered the court well. And I always found her game dull, but at the moment she’s not being replaced by anyone more interesting either.
Meanwhile Federer and Serena Williams cruised. And Beck and Almagro are at 5-5 in the fifth set.
True. The WTA is not all that exciting these days. I do like Safina and I also still like Mauresmo so apparently I like the head cases.
I wish the women would quit trying to play the same boring, baseline, topspin tennis the men do. I miss the days of good finesse tennis and well constructed points.
I read about an interview with her before the tournament began. She insisted that grunting was a part of her game, she couldn’t stop doing it, she didn’t care what people thought, if anyone complained she would complain back, etc.
It seems that wiser heads among her entourage may have prevailed.
Incidentally, Larcher de Brito’s scream has been measured at 110 Db. This is equivalent to the sound of a power saw. Or a car horn. Or a squeaky toy held close to the ear.
I would have bet on Fed anyway. Nadal may have won last year but he’d lost to Fed in three straight Wimbledon finals before that.
Le roi n’est pas mort. Vive le roi!
I can’t be the only one who wonders what she sounds like in bed, can I?
She sounds like she is being tortured to death on the court. I am not a guy, but I would think that level of screaming would be a bit distracting.
Tortured to death rhythmically. It makes you wonder, but the sound is not sexy. And yeah, while other players have been annoying, her sounds are way over the top.
Well, Hewitt is playing very well against Del Potro and might make the quarters.
Very good to see Hewitt playing well again, he’s a great addition to the tour.
whistles nonchalantly
There is more chance of me scoring with Jennifer Connelly than there is of Hewitt beating Federer at Wimbledon.
Del Potro’s a good player, but not on grass. Hewitt will probably have to get past Roddick to come anywhere near Federer, and even then he can’t beat him.
I wouldn’t bet against me. I’m on a sports-prediction roll. From the “The Never-ending NBA playoffs” thread:
That’s nothing. I’ve successfully predicted the sunrise every day for almost a full month. Seriously, look at Federer’s record against Hewitt and tell me what gives Hewitt a chance if he gets that far. Murray’s also in his half of the draw.