So the cream rises to the occasion. On the women’s side, the WTA’s two best athletes, and sisters, have played the last two finals and won the last three titles. The same has been true on the men’s side, where Federer and Nadal have played each other in three of the last four finals. Rumors of their demises aside, those two men come into this event reigning as supremely as ever. They’ve split the first two majors of 2010 and traded the No. 1 and 2 rankings. Will the tiebreaker happen on Centre Court? It couldn’t come in a better spot. London is calling.


Fourth Quarter

Moving from first seed to second supposedly has no effect on the draw, but don’t tell that to Nadal right now. The heavyweights have sunk to the bottom with him. To reach the semis, he may to go through Blake (who has beaten him three times), Gulbis (who has been injured but took a set from him on clay in Rome), Isner (who took a set from him in Indian Wells), Youzhny, not his favorite opponent, and Soderling—we know all about their history. Is Nadal up to that task? Is he in 2008-type form, where no one really bothered him until the third set of the final? No, he’s not playing like that; he may never play like that again.

But who is going to beat him? Isner may not be fast enough. Gulbis has trouble sustaining for three sets. And Soderling is still not a sure thing on any given day, even though I do like his draw. A Rafa-Sod quarter could be another nasty little classic.

Semifinalist: Nadal

Semifinals: Hewitt d. Federer; Nadal d. Murray

Final: Nadal d. Hewitt



Rafael Nadal to be Tested Early at Wimbledon
Nadal faces tricky first week at Wimbledon 
TOUGH DRAW TO GREET NADAL AT WIMBLEDON
Wimbledon Men's Draw: Full analysis of all four quarters
Wimbledon: Rafael Nadal Has Booked a First Week Full of Traps The Luck (or Misfortune) of the Draw

Also some more images from today..


belga pics