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Petra Kvitova, Benoit Paire Highlight Opening Day At Roland Garros
by Kevin Craig
On a rain shortened day of play in Paris, Benoit Paire made the French faithful nervous, but was eventually able to pull out a five-set win over the No. 137 player in the world, Radu Albot, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
Paire appeared to have an easy day at the office on his hands after jumping out to a set and a break lead over Albot at 6-2, 3-1. Albot, the first player from Moldova to play in the main draw of a major, looked to settle in halfway through the second set as he got back on serve and broke Paire as he served to stay in the set at 4-5 to level the match at one set all.
The third set looked promising for Paire early on as he broke Albot at love to take a 3-2 lead, but that break was the first of five in a row that eventually saw Paire end up with a 5-4 lead. The Frenchman had no problems serving out the set to take a two sets to one lead and looked like he would be able to cruise into the second round to the delight of the home crowd.
If you have followed tennis for the past 12 months or so, then you know that nothing Paire is ever as straightforward as it should be, and that was certainly the case on the opening day of play. Paire, after taking the two sets to one advantage, looked to be uninterested in the fourth set as Albot was able to break serve three times and take it 6-1 to force a decider.
Albot, who had to win three qualifying matches to get into the main draw of the French Open, continued his fight throughout the fifth set, holding a break lead twice. Both times, though, Paire was able to break back in the next game as the lesser-experienced Albot was unable to come up clutch on the big points. This trend continued as Paire held a 5-4 lead on serve and Albot attempted to serve to stay in the match. Albot, though, found himself down 15-40, and Paire took advantage of the first match point he had to clinch the win and his spot in the second round.
Paire's win see him go on to face Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia, who beat Donald Young in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-3.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also had difficulty in her first round match, but was able to overcome Danka Kovinic of Montenegro on Court Philippe Chartrier, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
Kvitova, like Paire, was also up a set and a break and looked like she would cruise into the second round. Kovinic, 21-years old and the No. 59 player in the world, was able to break Kvitova three consecutive times in the second set to force a deciding third set.
Kovinic was able to utilize her firepower to force Kvitova out of her comfort zone. "I think she just came back and tried to play more aggressive…I was just trying to put the ball in, but it's not really my game," said Kvitova
Kovinic continued to play well throughout the decider and looked very comfortable on serve. That was the case until she broke Kvitova to take a 5-4 lead and served for the upset win. Kovinic got to within two points of the match at 30-30, but never held a match point as Kvitova was able to break and get back on serve.
After holding at love to take a 6-5 lead, Kvitova was able to break Kovinic one more time and close out the win, earning herself a spot in the second round against Su-Wei Hsieh, who defeated Lara Arruabarrena, 7-6(6), 6-3.
Kvitova was happy to get the win, but knows she will have to play better if she has plans to advance to the later round of the tournament. "I think that the end of the match was kind of sorry from my side. It was a big fight again. I'm happy that I won it," said Kvitova.
Daria Gavrilova Pleases Home Aussie Crowd With Upset Of Petra Kvitova
by Kevin Craig
Daria Gavrilova, the 21-year-old from Australia, gave the home crowd plenty to cheer for on Wednesday at Melbourne Park as she defeated the No. 6 seed and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Night matches in Margaret Court Arena are always a special event to watch, and having a home favorite playing a Grand Slam champion was no exception. Gavrilova is full of confidence currently after having teamed up with Nick Kyrgios to win the Hopman Cup in the first week of the year, and that confidence was on display as she got the biggest win of her career in the second round of the Australian Open.
In the beginning of the match, things appeared bleak to the Aussie crowd as Gavrilova fell down an early break in the first set to the big-hitting Kvitova. Gavrilova was undeterred, though, and fought back to win four of the next five games after being broken to win the set.
The second set started off fairly straightforward, with no breaks of serve coming until the sixth game, when Gavrilova was able to garner a break for a 4-2 lead. She would go on to attempt serving for the match at 5-3, but it was an unsuccessful attempt for the Aussie as Kvitova was able to fight back in that game and get back on serve. Gavrilova was able to keep her composure though and break right back to earn the 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Gavrilova took advantage of Kvitova's poor serving performance, winning 52 percent of all of Kvitova's serve points, including 57 percent on second serve. Combine that with 35 unforced errors from Kvitova, including four in the final game, and Gavrilova was well on her way to the upset.
There is a possibility that Kvitova was not 100 percent healthy, as she was forced to withdraw from both the events she was signed up for prior to the Australian Open.
The night before the upset occurred, Lleyton Hewitt somewhat foreshadowed what would happen, praising Gavrilova in his post-match press conference on Tuesday. Hewitt complimented her work ethic and claimed "she's got a lot of good things ahead of her."
Gavrilova will look to keep the Aussie dream alive as she takes on the No. 28 seed Kristina Mladenovic in the third round.
, the 21-year-old from Australia, gave the home crowd plenty to cheer for on Wednesday at Melbourne Park as she defeated the No. 6 seed and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Night matches in Margaret Court Arena are always a special event to watch, and having a home favorite playing a Grand Slam champion was no exception. Gavrilova is full of confidence currently after having teamed up with Nick Kyrgios to win the Hopman Cup in the first week of the year, and that confidence was on display as she got the biggest win of her career in the second round of the Australian Open.
In the beginning of the match, things appeared bleak to the Aussie crowd as Gavrilova fell down an early break in the first set to the big-hitting Kvitova. Gavrilova was undeterred, though, and fought back to win four of the next five games after being broken to win the set.
The second set started off fairly straightforward, with no breaks of serve coming until the sixth game, when Gavrilova was able to garner a break for a 4-2 lead. She would go on to attempt serving for the match at 5-3, but it was an unsuccessful attempt for the Aussie as Kvitova was able to fight back in that game and get back on serve. Gavrilova was able to keep her composure though and break right back to earn the 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Gavrilova took advantage of Kvitova's poor serving performance, winning 52 percent of all of Kvitova's serve points, including 57 percent on second serve. Combine that with 35 unforced errors from Kvitova, including four in the final game, and Gavrilova was well on her way to the upset.
There is a possibility that Kvitova was not 100 percent healthy, as she was forced to withdraw from both the events she was signed up for prior to the Australian Open.
The night before the upset occurred, Lleyton Hewitt somewhat foreshadowed what would happen, praising Gavrilova in his post-match press conference on Tuesday. Hewitt complimented her work ethic and claimed "she's got a lot of good things ahead of her."
Gavrilova will look to keep the Aussie dream alive as she takes on the No. 28 seed Kristina Mladenovic in the third round.
From Coast to Coast: WTA Carlsbad and Washington Previews
As the Premier Five tournament in Canada looms, four of the top ten women hone their skills at tournaments on opposite coasts. The resort atmosphere at Carlsbad, long a player favorite, contrasts with the urban surroundings of the national capital.
Top half: World No. 3 Victoria Azarenka has not lost a match away from clay all season. Of course, Azarenka has played only four matches away from clay since winning the Doha title in February. Walkovers and withdrawals ended her campaigns at Indian Wells, Miami, and Wimbledon, so attention will hover around her battered knee this week. Azarenka's health may attract even more attention than it would otherwise because she faces a relatively mild early slate of opponents. An all-Italian battle between Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone tantalizes only for nostalgic reasons, and Urszula Radwanska seems little more likely than her elder sister to vanquish Vika. Among the surprises of the spring was Jelena Jankovic, a semifinalist in Miami and quarterfinalist at Roland Garros. Jankovic troubled Azarenka in her prime, but the momentum has shifted in that rivalry to reflect their divergent career arcs
The most compelling first-round match in Carlsbad will pit defending champion Dominika Cibulkova against former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic. Defeating Bartoli to win last year's title, Cibulkova exploited a much weaker draw in the week of the Olympics. Still, she will bring plenty of confidence from her title at Stanford, whereas coaching turmoil once again enshrouds the Serb. The route will not grow much smoother for whoever survives that early test. Although the second round looks uneventful, Roberta Vinci could await in the quarterfinals. This crafty Italian has domianted Cibulkova on all surfaces, winning five straight from her, and she has taken her last three outdoor matches from Ivanovic. The relatively slow surface in San Diego should help Vinci outlast the heavy serve of Bethanie Mattek-Sands before then.
Semifinal: Azarenka vs. Vinci
Bottom half: Around this time last year, Petra Kvitova caught fire with a Premier Five title at the Rogers Cup and a semifinal in Cincinnati. The somewhat slower surface in San Diego may suit her game less well than those events, and North America historically has not brought out her best tennis. A rematch of her epic Australian Open loss to Laura Robson might await in the second round. Both women have oscillated wildly in their results this year, suggesting another rollercoaster ahead. A former Carlsbad champion lurks unobtrusively near eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro, enjoying her best season so far. That former champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, has revived her career with two major quarterfinals in 2013. An abdominal injury has sidelined Kuznetsova since Roland Garros, but she should have time to play herself into the tournament.
The fourth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska reached finals in each of her last two Carlsbad appearances. Disappointed at Stanford on Sunday, Radwanska wil aim to erase that memory with her second title here. She should outmaneuver Daniela Hantuchova, whom she has defeated here before, and may not have much to fear from Samantha Stosur unless the Aussie's form improves dramatically. Little in Stosur's dismal performance at Stanford boded well for her chances of escaping a challenging opener against Varvara Lepchenko. That 27-year-old American lefty could meet Radwanska in a quarterfinal for the second straight week.
Semifinal: Kuznetsova vs. Radwanska
Final: Azarenka vs. Radwanska
Top half: Overshadowed by the men's event at the same tournament, this WTA International event did succeed in luring a top-10 player as a wildcard. World No. 9 Angelique Kerber has fallen on hard times over the last few months, so a dip in the quality of opposition could prove just what the doctor ordered. Some of the women who might face her in the quarterfinals exited early at Stanford. Formerly promising American Christina McHale continues a rebuilding campaign in 2013 against Magdalena Rybarikova. Her period of promise long behind her, Melanie Oudin hopes to stay somewhat relevant nearly four years after her illusory surge at the US Open.
Like McHale, Rybarikova, and Kiki Bertens in the top quarter, Madison Keys looks to bounce back from a disappointing Stanford loss. Anchoring the second quarter, she might meet star junior Taylor Townsend in a second-round preview of future matches on more momentous stages. The reeling but canny Monica Niculescu hopes to fluster Townsend with her distinctive style before then. More young talent stands atop the section in Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and France's Caroline Garcia. These impressive phenoms must navigate around Australian Open quarterfinalist Ekaterina Makarova, a lefty like Townsend. Plenty of storylines and suspense will unfold in a very short time.
Bottom half: Building on her momentum from Stanford, Sorana Cirstea eyes one of the draw's softer sections. Home hope Alison Riske looks to prove herself as a threat outside the small grass event in Birmingham, while Heather Watson traces the same trajectory as McHale on the long, slow road back from mononucleosis. Ending her clay season on a high note, Alize Cornet won an International title in May. But she threatens much less on hard courts and might well fall victim to the enigmatic Yanina Wickmayer at the outset.
By far the most established of the home threats, second seed Sloane Stephens faces high expectations this summer. American fans know much more about the Australian Open semifinalist, Wimbledon quarterfinalist, and conqueror of Serena Williams than they did a year ago. The 15th-ranked Stephens has produced much more convincing tennis at majors than at non-majors, where she barely has cracked the .500 threshold in 2013. Her sturdiest pre-semifinal obstacle could come in the form of Andrea Petkovic, still producing results more disappointing than encouraging in her comeback from serious injuries. A relatively minor illness may blunt Petkovic's injuries this week, though, while compatriot Mona Barthel retired from her last tournament with a sore shoulder.
Final: Makarova vs. Stephens
The Significant Seven: Memorable Women's Matches From the First Half of 2013
Readers who enjoyed the article counting down the seven most memorable men's matches of the first half may enjoy this sequel on the women. As with the men, these matches do not necessarily feature the best tennis from an aesthetic perspective. (In fact, some of them produced quite atrocious tennis for long stretches.) What they did produce was meaningful results linked to broader trends that stretched across the first half.
7) Laura Robson d. Petra Kvitova, Australian Open 2R, 2-6 6-3 11-9
The most accomplished lefty in women's tennis met the most promising lefty in women's tennis earlier in a draw than either would have wished. Whereas Kvitova needed to turn a new leaf after a disastrous 2012, Robson sought to build upon a second-week appearance at the US Open. Nerves defined much of their contest, not on this list for the quality of its tennis. By the middle of the third set, however, it became clear that Robson could master her nerves better than the former Wimbledon champion could. Unable to serve out the match the first time, she slammed the door at love on her second opportunity. The encouraging resilience from Robson signaled her progress this season, which has included a victory over Agnieszka Radwanska and a second-week appearance at Wimbledon. For Kvitova, the painful loss hinted that 2013 would look more than 2012 than 2011, as it has so far.
6) Sabine Lisicki d. Serena Williams, Wimbledon 4R, 6-2 1-6 6-4
On the surface friendliest to the serve stood the two most formidable servers currently in the women's game. But grass specialist Lisicki trailed Serena 16-0 in major titles and 142-0 in weeks at No. 1. By the logic of this Wimbledon, one should have guessed from the start that the underdog would prevail. When Serena rallied from losing seven of the first nine games to win nine of the next ten, though, the writing seemed etched on the wall. Nobody finds a way back against her from 0-3 in a final set at Wimbledon, or from 2-4, or from triple break point at 3-4. Lisicki did all of those things and even survived the nerve-jangling finish as she served for the match, saving a break point with an ace and converting match point with a clean winner. The victory ended Serena's career-best winning streak, which had begun in March, and propelled Lisicki toward her first major final. It marked her sixth victory over a major champion and third over a world No. 1 in just five Wimbledon appearances. Even when the top three dominate, others still can spring surprises.
Honorable mention: Lisicki's semifinal epic against world No. 4 Radwanska bore several striking similarities to her victory over Serena.
5) Serena Williams d. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Madrid QF, 6-3 0-6 7-5
Raise your hand if you would have expected Medina Garrigues to appear on this type of list when the 2013 campaign began. No, I thought not. And yet she posed Serena's most formidable challenge of a clay season during which the world No. 1 went undefeated from wire to wire. To be fair, Medina Garrigues received considerable assistance from across the net in becoming the first woman to bagel Serena since 2008. The American spent much of the match showing us why she had not won a title on red clay in a decade, struggling to stay focused, patient, and disciplined against a grinder fond of the surface. Then the last few games showed us why this year would be different. Serena bent but did not break, rallying from within two points of defeat rather than letting her frustrations overcome her. She would lose just one more set in the rest of the clay season, strewing 14 bagels and breadsticks across Madrid, Rome, and Paris. Medina Garrigues, who lost 6-1 6-1 to Dinah Pfizenmaier this week, gave Serena the wake-up call that she needed to reconquer her least favorite surface.
4) Victoria Azarenka d. Serena Williams, Doha F, 7-6(6) 2-6 6-3
When 2012 ended, only one woman looked like a realistic threat to Serena's stranglehold over the WTA. But that woman, Victoria Azarenka, had just absorbed her ninth consecutive loss in their rivalry. As competitive as some of those losses were, such as last year's US Open final, Azarenka needed to stop the skid to bolster her confidence. The Australian Open champion had started slowly in most of her matches against Serena, finding her rhythm only in the second set. Always at her best early in the season, Azarenka started with more determination in Doha and won that crucial first set in a tight tiebreak. She weathered the inevitable response from Serena in the second set and did what she could not do in New York, serving out the match comfortably in the third. Azarenka still has not defeated the world No. 1 at a major, or when fully healthy, so much remains for her to prove. (And Serena won a Premier Five final rematch convincingly in Rome.) All the same, the victory in Doha confirmed suspicions that something like a rivalry might develop here, sometime.
3) Serena Williams d. Maria Sharapova, Miami F, 4-6 6-3 6-0
Six weeks after the previous match on this list, Serena's dominance over her other key rivalry threatened to falter as well. Not since 2004 had she lost to Maria Sharapova, thoroughly stifling the Russian in most of their recent meetings. Disappointment at the Australian Open and the Doha loss to Azarenka blunted Serena's momentum heading to Miami, her home tournament, but most still ranked her a heavy favorite against Sharapova based on history. For the first half of their final, history took it on the chin as the underdog methodically built a set-and-break lead. But Serena vindicated history in the end, using a handful of long games late in the second set to reverse the momentum. Once she regrouped, neither Sharapova nor anyone else could have done much to stem the torrent of blistering serves and forehands that flowed from her racket. Miami marked the first of Serena's five consecutive titles this spring and laid a cornerstone of confidence without which her winning streak might not have taken flight. She extended her reacquired dominance over Sharapova in two straight-sets finals on clay.
2) Maria Sharapova d. Victoria Azarenka, Roland Garros SF, 6-1 2-6 6-4
With Serena firmly entrenched on the WTA throne, the rivalry between Azarenka and Sharapova loomed ever larger. Azarenka had won their two most significant meetings in 2012, an Australian Open final and a US Open semifinal. Holding a surface advantage over the younger blonde on clay, Sharapova struck back at Roland Garros to recapture the edge in their rivalry. A barrage of pinpoint returns and forehands swept the first set into her ledger, but Azarenka exploited an erratic passage of play to level the match. At that stage, parallels linked this match with their US Open semifinal, which Sharapova had started in torrid form before steadily fading. There would be no déjà vu on this day when the two rivals contested their second 6-4 final set in three majors. Sharapova built a commanding lead in the third set, only to throw Azarenka a lifeline as she squandered a handful of match points. The ear-shattering shrieks and ball-shattering blows from both competitors escalated with the mounting drama. When a bullet ace streaked down the center stripe, Sharapova reasserted herself as the best of the rest—for now.
1) Victoria Azarenka d. Li Na, Australian Open F, 4-6 6-4 6-3
Never a fan favorite, Azarenka has endured a discordant relationship with media and many fans throughout her tenure at the top. The simmering turbulence there boiled into the open after she took a dubious medical timeout near the end of her semifinal against Sloane Stephens. When Azarenka took the court against Li with her title defense at stake, the air in Rod Laver Arena felt heavier with hostility than humidity. The Chinese star emerged the less battered of the two from a rollercoaster first set, high on tension and low on holds of serve. Steady returning and unsteady emotions extended into the second set, when Li added a plot twist of her own by sustaining successive injuries. Made of tenacious stuff, she gallantly returned to the fray after striking her head on the court. But Azarenka's head had grown clearer while Li's head had grown cloudier, allowing the former to claw her way to an impressive title defense. With almost nobody in her corner for one of the biggest matches of her career, Azarenka showed how she needs nobody but herself. She echoed fellow world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in her ability to thrive on animosity and turn it defiantly to her advantage.
Wimbledon Rewind: Thoughts on the Women's Quarterfinals
For the second time in three years, Wimbledon will crown a first-time champion on the women's side. That development seems fitting in view of the upsets that have riddled the draw. Here are some thoughts on the women's quarterfinals.
Match of the day: It spanned three and a half hours, including rain delays, medical treatment, and multiple squandered leads. At the end of it, Agnieszka Radwanska needed eight match points to close out world No. 6 Li Na and move within one victory of a second straight Wimbledon final. The only woman in the top 10 to reach the semifinals, Radwanska cannot expect to get a better opportunity to join the elite club of major champions. Despite a right leg injury that bothered her enough to call a medical treatment, she will do whatever it takes to secure these last two victories.
Upset of the day: A year ago, Kirsten Flipkens did not even make the cutoff to play Wimbledon qualifying. Now, she has moved to the brink of the final as the 20th seed after knocking off the only former major champion left in the draw. Down a set to Petra Kvitova, Flipkens did not crumble under the onslaught of her opponent's superior power. An underrated serve and a surprising poise in tight moments helped the 27-year-old Belgian topple the world No. 8 in her Centre Court debut. Her mentor, Kim Clijsters, would be proud of how crisply she played in the final set, committing just one unforced error.
Maid Marion immaculate: Remember when Marion Bartoli struck nearly 20 double faults in a loss to Coco Vandeweghe this spring? Or the coaching turmoil when she dismissed her father from her team before quickly summoning him back? That same woman has won all ten sets that she has played at Wimbledon to reach her first major semifinal since Roland Garros 2011. By defeating a top-20 opponent, Sloane Stephens, Bartoli legitimized a hot streak that previously had scorched only third-rate challengers. Six years have passed since Bartoli's only major final, which also came on these lawns. A bit of déjà vu will await if she can solve Flipkens on Thursday.
Li's lost chance: Serving for the first set, the world No. 6 appeared to clip a line with her serve on set point but declined to challenge. Li ultimately lost that set in a tiebreak and received the grim news in her press conference that the serve in fact did clip the line. A correct challenge would have given her the first set and perhaps completely changed the trajectory of the second week.
No hangover for Lisicki: Just 24 hours after she astonished the world, the woman who halted Serena Williams recorded a more routine victory over Kaia Kanepi. Lisicki transitioned smoothly from heavy underdog to clear favorite, reaching her second Wimbledon semifinal in three years. Like Flipkens, and arguably like the other semifinalists as well, her game suits grass better than any other surface. Wimbledon lacks star power near its climax, but it should feature plenty of drama and high-quality tennis as these four women vie for a prize that most thought beyond the reach of any of them.
Petra, the enigma: She looked like a serial major champion and perennial contender when she won Wimbledon two years ago, becoming the first woman of her generation to break through at a major. But Kvitova has not reached a major final since then and has regressed even further over the last year, losing by the quarterfinals at her last five majors. Unlike Radwanska, she could not overcome a physical issue that forced her to seek medical attention (an apparent breathing problem). Kvitova has the weapons of a champion but not the mind or the will at the moment.
Americans in London: With Stephens gone, we're down to the legendary doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan. The ageless twins moved within two victories of their third straight major title with a triple-tiebreak victory over the No. 8 seeds. Keep an eye on the Bryans' quest for a calendar Slam. If they go to New York with a perfect record at majors this year, doubles could get some real attention.
Stat of the day: The four semifinalists have reached four total major semifinals among them (Bartoli has two, Flipkens none) and two major finals (one each for Bartoli and Radwanska).
Question of the day: Are you excited by the wide-open women's semifinal lineup ahead? Or uninspired by the absence of stars?
Wimbledon Rewind: Serena Stunned, Djokovic Dominant, Radwanska Resilient, Li Lethal, Ferrer Fierce on Manic Monday
Monday got manic in a hurry with a titanic upset in the women's draw, only to settle down into more predictable outcomes for most of the day. Catch up on any of the fourth-round action that you may have missed with the daily Wimbledon rewind.
Match of the day: Twists and turns pervaded the clash of rising star Jerzy Janowicz and grizzled veteran Jurgen Melzer. In the intimate surroundings of Court 12, Melzer started the match on fire but gradually lost his momentum in the second set and later trailed two sets to one. Able to rally in the fourth, he secured a clutch break in the tenth game to force a deciding set. With his first major quarterfinal on the line, though, Janowicz refused to let the opportunity escape him as he edged across the finish line 6-4 in the fifth.
Comeback of the day: The other half of an all-Polish men's quarterfinal, Lukas Kubot trailed Adrian Mannarino by a set and later by two sets to one in the most important match of his career so far. Nobody would have expected Kubot to reach a major quarterfinal in singles, yet he wrested away this five-set encounter from his fellow journeyman. His semifinal chances may hinge on whether Janowicz or he can recover from their draining victories more efficiently.
Upset of the day: None. Tomas Berdych deserves credit for snuffing out the most plausible upset threat in Bernard Tomic. Splitting the first two sets in tiebreaks, Berdych gradually asserted himself against the Aussie talent in the next two sets and avoided the nerve-jangling scenario of a fifth set.
Gold star: Before 2013, Juan Martin Del Potro never had reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. This year, he has reached the quarterfinals without losing a set. Del Potro overcame a knee injury to defeat Andreas Seppi after wondering whether he would be fit to play on Monday. Despite all of the surprises at Wimbledon this year, all of the top-eight seeds in the men's top half reached the quarterfinals.
Silver star: Winless in two previous grass meetings with Tommy Haas, Novak Djokovic seized control of the third from the outset and never let the veteran catch his breath. Like Del Potro, Djokovic has not lost a set en route to the quarterfinals, but this victory impressed more than those that came before because of his history against Haas. He will seek his fourth straight Wimbledon semifinal, not bad for a man whose worst surface is grass.
What doesn't kill you…: …makes you stronger? World No. 4 David Ferrer has not won any of his four matches in straight sets, three of them against unseeded opponents. Struggling with a painful ankle injury, Ferrer fell behind early again on Monday before dominating the latter stages of the match, as he had in the third round. Wimbledon is the only major where he has not reached the semifinals, so he will aim to end that futility by repeating last year's victory there over Del Potro.
Foregone conclusion of the day: Even with Nadal's early exit, two Spaniards reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Joining Ferrer there was Fernando Verdasco, who rolled past Kenny de Schepper in straight sets.
Stat of the day: In addition to Agnieszka Radwanska in the women's draw, the quarterfinal appearances of Kubot and Janowicz gave Poland more Wimbledon quarterfinalists than any other nation.
Question of the day: World No. 2 Andy Murray again took care of business efficiently today, dispatching 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny. Can Murray continue his uneventful progress to the final, his path barred only by Verdasco and one of the Poles? Or will the escalating pressure of the second week lead to some unexpected drama in the bottom half?
Match of the day: One of the greatest grass specialists in WTA history, Sabine Lisicki reached her fourth Wimbledon quarterfinal by shocking heavy title favorite, defending champion, and world No. 1 Serena Williams in three sets. Serena had not looked as sharp in the first week as she had at Roland Garros, but one expected her to prevail once she recovered from a dismal first set. The defending champion dominated Lisicki in the second set and rolled to an early lead in the third, at which point many underdogs might have surrendered. Lisicki is a different player on this court than she is anywhere else, though, and she swung freely with the match in the balance at 4-4 in the final set. Hitting through her nerves and a staggering Serena, she scored perhaps the biggest upset in an upset-riddled draw.
Comeback of the day: When Tsvetana Pironkova claimed the first set from Agnieszka Radwanska, Wimbledon suddenly looked in danger of losing all of the top five women before the quarterfinals. But grass specialists would split their two meetings with top-four seeds on Monday as Radwanska ground through a second straight three-set victory. As has been the case with much of her 2013 campaign, she has not shown her best form while doing just enough to win.
Gold star: Li Na had survived consecutive three-setters to end the first week, including an 8-6 epic against Klara Zakopalova. She needed to fasten her teeth into the tournament more firmly, and she did by losing just two games to the 11th seed, Roberta Vinci. Having defeated Radwanska in a quarterfinal at the Australian Open, Li will hope to repeat the feat in a Tuesday match between the two highest-ranked women remaining in the draw.
Silver star: Only one woman has reached the quarterfinals without losing a set or playing a tiebreak. Take a bow, world No. 15 Marion Bartoli, who has threatened only occasionally at majors since reaching the Wimbledon final in 2007. Granted, Bartoli has faced no opponent in the top 50 to this stage. She participated in a bloodbath of Italians by ousting Karin Knapp for the loss of just five games. (None of the four Italians who reached the fourth round won a set on Manic Monday.)
What doesn't kill you…: …makes you stronger? The only former Wimbledon champion left in the women's draw, Petra Kvitova had dropped sets in both of her first-week victories and easily could have done so again on Monday. Former nemesis Carla Suarez Navarro took Kvitova to a first-set tiebreak and the brink of an emotional meltdown, but the Czech steadied herself once she survived it. Kvitova can look ahead to a quarterfinal against Kirsten Flipkens, also fortunate to avoid losing a first set for which her opponent served twice. Flipkens won their previous meeting this year in Miami.
All eyes on Andy: A round after she upset Angelique Kerber, Kaia Kanepi sent home local darling Laura Robson in two tight sets. The match could have tilted in either direction, so Kanepi's experience probably proved vital in securing her second Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance. She also earned the last laugh on British tabloids that lampooned her burly physique before the Robson match.
Americans in London: In the wake of Serena's loss, the United States plausibly might have gone home without a single quarterfinalist in either singles draw. Sloane Stephens averted that disappointment by winning a second straight three-setter, this time against Monica Puig. Trailing by a set, Stephens showed resilience in battling through a tight second set and then dominating the third. She has won twelve matches at majors this year, more than many higher-ranked women.
Stat of the day: In Lisicki's last four Wimbledon appearances, she has defeated the current Roland Garros champion every time. Her repeated denials of Channel Slams protect a record held by compatriot Steffi Graf, who completed the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double four times.
Question of the day: The first three majors will crown three different women's champions for the third straight year. With all of the top three gone before the quarterfinals, who becomes the new title favorite? One might favor Kvitova, the only woman who has won here before, but conventional wisdom has taken it on the chin all fortnight.
Wimbledon Ladies Quarterfinals Preview: Will History Be Made?
(July 1, 2013) What a week at Wimbledon. If your women's draw predictions have somehow upheld to the quarterfinal stage, sincere congratulations. If your draw includes only two of the eight correct names, like mine, don't worry. You're in the majority. The shake-up at this year's Wimbledon Championships has been an unprecedented event, and the draw has opened up drastically to allow a first-time winner to take the title.
Current oddmakers have Sabine Lisicki as the top contender for the title, followed by 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and 2011 French Open champion Li Na. Last year's Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska and 2013 Australian Open semifinalist Sloane Stephens round out the top 5.
Let's take a further look at the four quarterfinal matchups and how the ladies stack up against each other.
[23] Sabine Lisicki vs Kaia Kanepi
- First career meeting
- Plays winner of Radwanska-Li
- Best previous Wimbledon result – Lisicki: 2011 SF (as a wildcard); Kanepi: 2010 QF (as a qualifier)
With Lisicki's surprise defeat of Serena Williams in the fourth round, the German is now 17-4 at Wimbledon (compared to 16-15 at the other Slams). She also now has the distinct honor of having beaten the reigning French Open champ at the last four Wimbledon Championships she has played, including Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009, Li Na in 2011, Maria Sharapova in 2012, and Williams this year. She did not play in 2010.
Lisicki has been looking sharp all week on her favorite surface, overpowering with her serve and improving her footwork and movement with each match. She only lost seven total games in the first two matches against Francesca Schiavone and Elena Vesnina. Sam Stosur pushed her in the third round, but she rallied back from a 6-4 first set deficit to take the next 12-of-15 games.
Kanepi, though the underdog, is in her fifth Slam quarterfinal over the last five years. She was mere points away from being defeated by Angelique Kerber in the second round here at Wimbledon, but came back to win 6-3 in the third. While two of Kanepi's matches were against wildcards ranked outside of the top 100, Lisicki has had to come through two singles Slam champions (Schiavone and Stosur) and one doubles Slam champion (Vesnina).
Result: Lisicki in straight sets
[4] Agnieszka Radwanska vs [6] Na Li
- Li leads 6-4, but Radwanska leads 2-1 on grass
- Plays winner of Lisicki-Kanepi
- Best previous Wimbledon result – Radwanska: 2012 F; Li: 2006, 2010 QF
Despite many of the women's top seeds falling early, this quarter is the only one with its top seeds still intact, and last year's finalist, Radwanska, comes in as a slight favorite. The Pole was not tested until her last two rounds against Madison Keys and grass-court specialist Tsvetana Pironkova, which both went the full three sets. Her execution and court coverage have stayed consistent, and her crafty game has taken full advantage of the low bounce.
Though Li was pitted by some as crashing out early, she has kept her composure while many seeds fell and is the oldest player left in the draw. Her rollercoaster match against newly-resurgent Simona Halep in the second round gave way to another topsy-turvy match against No. 32 seed Klara Zakopalova, before she finally easily closed out Roberta Vinci in 55 minutes. She hasn't had any remarkable play thus far and has flown under the radar, but it could be a tight match.
Results: Radwanska in three sets
[15] Marion Bartoli vs [17] Sloane Stephens
- Bartoli leads 1-0, on hard
- Plays winner of Kvitova-Flipkens
- Best previous Wimbledon result – Bartoli: 2007 F; Stephens: 2012 Third Round
Other than Kirsten Flipkens, Bartoli is the only other player left in the draw that has yet to lose a set this Wimbledon, the Slam where she saw her best results by reaching the final in 2007 losing to Venus Williams. Her quirky game has been relegated to the smaller outside courts this week, but she is sure to give the American trouble with her variety especially in the spotlight. The French woman is making her 47th Slam appearance which dates back to 2002, and is in her third quarterfinal at Wimbledon. When on, her game can trouble even players at the top of the game, as evidenced by her brutal defeat of Petra Kvitova at last year's US Open, so Stephens needs to come out swinging.
As the last American left in the draw (who would have guessed that last Monday?), Stephens has reached the fourth round or better in her last three Slams. Three of her first four matches went the distance, with two coming down to the wire against Andrea Petkovic and Petra Cetkovska. Her game is powerful yet still developing, and her play in the third set against Monica Puig on Monday was on another level. Stephens has risen to the challenge and her focus and endurance will surely be tested against Bartoli.
Results: Bartoli in three sets
[8] Petra Kvitova vs [20] Kirsten Flipkens
- Flipkens leads 2-1, all on hard
- Plays winner of Bartoli-Stephens
- Best previous Wimbledon result – Kvitova: 2011 Winner; Flipkens: 2009 Third Round
Kvitova may be the only past winner left in the draw, but she has not been looking as sharp over the last year. Her play at time has been questionable, but she managed to overcome a near-upset in the first round here against world No. 108 CoCo Vandeweghe, with a 7-5 win in the third set. Since then, she has shown flashes of her tennis genius but it has been wildly inconsistent.
Flipkens, possibly the biggest surprise quarterfinalists, had never been past the third round of a Slam before this year's Australian Open. With new mentor Kim Clijsters in tow and a renewed fitness and ball-striking ability, the Belgian came from being ranked 175 during this time last year and not even playing Wimbledon, to reaching her first Slam quarterfinal and sitting at a career-high No. 20. Despite the strong showing, her draw has been rather light, playing No. 90 Yulia Putintseva, No. 97 Vesna Dolonc, No. 39 Bojana Jovanovski and No. 166 Flavia Pennetta who used her protected ranking. It may just be the end of the road for her.
Results: Kvitova in straight sets
Wimbledon Rewind: Djokovic and Serena Thrive, Radwanska and Li Survive, Ferrer and Kvitova Rally, Grass Specialists Sparkle on Day 6
Miraculously after the rain on Thursday and Friday, Wimbledon has set all of its fourth-round matchups for Manic Monday. More than half of the top-ten players there (five men, six women) fell in the first week, and Saturday featured its share of drama despite the welcome sunshine.
Match of the day: Even with the cloud of his father hanging over him at a distance, Bernard Tomic has compiled an outstanding Wimbledon campaign. The enigmatic Aussie has upset two seeded players to reach the second week, most recently No. 9 seed Richard Gasquet. Showing his taste for drama, Tomic played five sets in the first round against Sam Querrey and reached 5-5 in every set against the 2007 Wimbledon semifinalist.
Upset of the day: Few tennis fans knew much about Kenny de Schepper entering this tournament. The 26-year-old Frenchman benefited from a Marin Cilic walkover in the second round and made the most of the opportunity. Not losing a set in the first week of Wimbledon, de Schepper upset No. 20 seed Juan Monaco to reach this stage at a major for the first time.
Comeback of the day: Imperfect in his first two matches, world No. 4 David Ferrer predictably fell behind the mercurial Alexandr Dolgopolov two sets to one. After Dolgopolov steamrolled him in the third set, though, Ferrer regrouped immediately to drop just three games in the next two sets. His far superior stamina gave him a valuable advantage against an opponent who struggles with sustaining energy or form.
Foregone conclusion of the day: There's death, there's taxes, there's Nadal winning on clay, and there's Tomas Berdych beating up on poor Kevin Anderson. Nine times have they played since the start of 2012, including at four majors, with Berdych winning all nine. At least Anderson took the first set this time and kept the match more competitive than most of its prequels.
Gold star: Considering Kei Nishikori's promising start to the tournament, Andreas Seppi merits special attention for his five-set battle past the Japanese star. Like Ferrer, Seppi trailed two sets to one before digging into the trenches and holding his ground with an imposing fourth set that set the stage for a tight fifth. As a result of his efforts, Italy leads all nations with four players in the second week of Wimbledon, an odd achievement for a clay-loving nation.
Silver star: One day after demolishing an unseeded opponent, Tommy Haas overcame a much more worthy challenger in Eastbourne champion Feliciano Lopez. Haas bounced back from losing the first set to prevail in four, arranging an intriguing Monday meeting with Novak Djokovic. The German has won both of their previous grass meetings—four years ago—but lost to Djokovic at Roland Garros.
Wooden spoon: At a minimum, one expected some entertaining twists and turns from a match pitting Ernests Gulbis and Fernando Verdasco. The firecrackers fizzled in a straight-sets victory for the Spaniard, who now eyes his first Wimbledon quarterfinal with de Schepper awaiting him on Monday. Gulbis joined a string of unseeded players unable to follow their notable upsets with a deep run.
Stat of the day: World No. 2 Andy Murray cannot face a top-20 opponent until the final. (No. 20 seed Mikhail Youzhny, his Monday opponent, is seeded higher than his ranking because of the grass formula used in making the draw.)
Question of the day: Top seed Novak Djokovic seems to grow more formidable with each round, dismantling Jeremy Chardy today for the loss of only seven games. Can anyone slow his path to the final? Juan Martin Del Potro, the only other man in this half who has not lost a set, might have the best chance. He defeated Djokovic earlier this year at Indian Wells and on grass at the Olympics last year.
Match of the day: One of many players who rallied to win after losing the first set, Li Na rushed through a second-set bagel against Klara Zakopalova but then found herself bogged down in a war of attrition. Li finally opened the door to the second week in the 14th game of the final set. She continues to show more tenacity at this tournament than she has in several months.
Upset of the day: Sabine Lisicki's victory over the grass-averse Samantha Stosur came as a surprise only on paper. In fact, the greater surprise may have come from Lisicki dropping the first set before dominating the next two. Lisicki has reached the second week in four straight Wimbledon appearances, proving herself the epitome of a grass specialist.
Comeback of the day: British hearts quailed when Laura Robson started a winnable match against Marina Erakovic in dismal fashion. The feisty home hope did not quite recover until late in the second set, when Erakovic served for the match. Needing some help from her opponent to regroup, including a string of double faults, Robson asserted control swiftly in the final set and never relinquished the momentum once she captured it.
Foregone conclusion of the day: There was no Williams déjà vu at Wimbledon, where Kimiko Date-Krumm could not repeat her epic effort against Venus Williams there two years ago. Notching her 600th career victory, Serena surrendered just two games to the Japanese star as she predictably reached the second week without losing a set. Since the start of Rome, the world No. 1 has served bagels or breadsticks in nearly half of the sets that she has played (15 of 31).
Gold star: In trouble against Eva Birnerova when Friday ended, Monica Puig rallied on Saturday to book her spot in the second week. Unlike most of her fellow upset artists, she used a first-round ambush of Sara Errani to light the fuse of two more victories. An almost intra-American match awaits between the Puerto Rican and Sloane Stephens.
Silver star: Tsvetana Pironkova extended her voodoo spell over these lawns with a third second-week appearance in four years. A non-entity at almost all other tournaments, Pironkova could not have chosen a better place to plant her Bulgarian flag. thou
What a difference a day makes: Shortly before play ended on Friday, Petra Kvitova had lost seven straight games to Ekaterina Makarova and narrowly avoided falling behind by a double break in the final set. When she returned in the sunshine of Saturday, Kvitova won five of the last six games to abruptly wrap up a match full of streaky play from both sides.
Americans in London: Also able to collect herself overnight, Sloane Stephens recovered from a second-set bagel to outlast qualifier Petra Cetkovska. Stephens became the only woman outside the top four to reach the second week at every major this year. Nearly joining her was Madison Keys, who gave 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska all that she could handle in a tight three-setter. The impressive serve and balanced baseline power of Keys suggest that we will see much more of her at future Wimbledons.
Question of the day: In 2009, 2011, and 2012, Sabine Lisicki halted the previous month's Roland Garros champion at Wimbledon. Can she do to Serena what she did to Svetlana Kuznetsova, Li Na, and Maria Sharapova? Plenty of massive serves will scar the grass on Monday.
Wimbledon Rewind: Murray Shines, Janowicz Soars, Kerber Crumbles, Ferrer Survives, Kvitova Wobbles on Day 5
The rain continued to make its presence felt on Friday as a mixture of postponed second-round matches and third-round matches unfolded. Here are the studs and duds from the fifth day of Midsummer Mayhem, where no seed is safe.
Match of the day: The tremors of Wednesday's earthquakes have not quite left Wimbledon. In his second-round match, David Ferrer split the first two sets with compatriot Roberto-Bautista Agut and needed a tiebreak to salvage the third. Perhaps emboldened by the feats of other underdogs, Bautista-Agut battled deep into the fourth set before the last Spanish man left in the draw limped through. After arduous four-set victories in the first two rounds, though, blood is in the water around Ferrer, the victim of multiple turf tumbles. His future opponents await their chances to pounce.
Upset of the day: This upset mostly happened yesterday, in fact, when Grega Zemlja and Grigor Dimitrov exited the court locked at 9-8 in the fifth set. The longest final set of the tournament in terms of games ended with Dimitrov excused to join Maria Sharapova at a sunnier location. Despite his enormous promise, he still has not reached the second week of a major and continues to struggle in the best-of-five format.
Gold star: A non-entity a year ago, Jerzy Janowicz hammered 30 aces against the 15th-seeded Nicolas Almagro to reach the second week of a major for the first time. Janowicz has not dropped a set in the tournament and should be considered the favorite to reach the (gasp) semifinals in the quarter vacated by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has shown far more discipline this week than at most previous tournaments this year.
Silver star: Last year's runner-up has become the only top-15 man left in the bottom half of the draw. Andy Murray dispatched Tommy Robredo methodically for a third consecutive straight-sets win. He will enter every match until the final as an overwhelming favorite, adding to the pressure already on him at his home major.
One-hit wonder: The man who slew Roger Federer fell victim just one round later, no more able to build on his accomplishment than the man who slew Rafael Nadal. Sergiy Stakhovsky dropped a four-setter to Jurgen Melzer two days after Steve Darcis withdrew from the tournament with a shoulder injury. But both of these men outside the top 100 will have a story to tell for the rest of their lives.
Question of the day: Brought back today for the third and fourth sets of his second-round match, Jeremy Chardy returns tomorrow to face Novak Djokovic. The French shot-maker reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year and could threaten the Serb on grass with his forward-moving attack. But will he lack the energy to make a match of it?
Upset of the day: Six of the top ten women have started their midsummer holiday already, most exiting in uneventful fashion. World No. 7 and 2012 semifinalist Angelique Kerber looked likely to survive the tsunami of upsets when she led the dangerous Kaia Kanepi, a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist, by a set and by 5-1 in the second-set tiebreak. Undeterred by those odds, Kanepi swept five straight points and eventually the tiebreak. She asserted control early in the final set against a reeling Kerber, who suffered the latest in a string of painful three-set losses this year.
Comeback of the day: Still in the draw with Victoria Azarenka's withdrawal, Flavia Pennetta has made the most of the opportunity. The Italian veteran had earned mostly tepid results since returning from injury this spring, but she now finds herself in the second week of Wimbledon. Pennetta dropped a first-set bagel to fellow clay specialist Alize Cornet, only to wrest away the momentum in a second-set tiebreak and cruise through the third. Call it Kanepi-Kerber Lite.
Gold star: Depending on the result of a postponed match, Marion Bartoli might find herself the highest-ranked woman in the bottom half of the draw when Monday arrives. The 15th seed and 2007 finalist notched another straight-sets win over another mediocre opponent. It is possible that Bartoli could reach the semifinals without facing anyone ranked higher than No. 70 Christina McHale, but one cannot fault her for the shortcomings of those around her.
Silver star: The adrenaline of playing a top-ten woman at Wimbledon probably carried Laura Robson to her first-round upset of Maria Kirilenko. Another rush of adrenaline arrived when Robson stepped onto Centre Court for her next match. She used it to her advantage in a comfortable victory over Mariana Duque Marino. With no seed left in her vicinity, a quarterfinal berth would not come as a shock.
One-hit wonder: Like Stakhovsky, Michelle Larcher de Brito subsided meekly in the wake of her massive upset. She fell to the equally unremarkable Karin Knapp, giving Italy at least two women in the second week pending Roberta Vinci's match tomorrow. The last supposedly rising star who defeated Maria Sharapova in the second round of Wimbledon, Alla Kudryavtseva, never went on to achieve anything more significant. We will see whether Larcher de Brito can build something stronger from it.
Americans in London: In a tale of two very different sets, No. 17 Sloane Stephens eked out a tiebreak against qualifier Petra Cetkovska—and then gulped down a bagel in the second set. She will return tomorrow with one set to decide who reaches the second week. If Stephens does, she would have advanced to that stage at every major this year, more than eight of the top ten women can say. Meanwhile, Alison Riske avenged compatriot Mallory Burdette's loss to Urszula Radwanska by battling past Agnieszka's sister in three sets.
Question of the day: Leading fellow lefty Ekaterina Makarova by a set and 2-1, world No. 8 Petra Kvitova lost seven straight games. The easily flustered former champion now trails Makarova by a break in the final set as a golden opportunity to plow deep into a major draw threatens to slip away. Can Kvitova collect herself when play resumes tomorrow?
Wimbledon Rewind: How the Mighty Have Fallen (And Who Might Reap the Rewards)
A wild Wednesday swept through the All England Club. We glance back through the avalanche of upsets that rendered some sections of both draws almost unrecognizable as a major.
Roger rolled: 36 straight quarterfinals at majors. Seven Wimbledon titles in the last ten years. None of his legendary opponent's credentials mattered to the 116th-ranked Sergei Stakhovsky, who became the lowest-ranked man to defeat Roger Federer in a decade. His moment of truth came in the fourth-set tiebreak, as crucial for the underdog as it was for the favorite considering the momentum that Stakhovsky had built by winning the second and third sets. Federer had started to reassert himself late in the fourth, and he surely would have secured the fifth set if he had reached it.
Unlike Alejandro Falla in 2010, and Julien Benneteau in 2012, Stakhovsky made sure that the Swiss did not survive the crossroads. A barrage of unreturnable serves early in the tiebreak, a clutch backhand down the line, and a sequence of magnificent lunging volleys brought him to match point on his serve. Sure enough, Federer saved it with a pinpoint passing shot. But Stakhovsky kept his composure through what felt like an interminable rally with the champion serving at 5-6 in the tiebreak. Finally, a Federer backhand floated aimlessly wide as time seemed to stand still on Centre Court, where things like these never happen.
Maria mastered: Off the WTA radar for years, former prodigy Michelle Larcher de Brito had gained most of her publicity from distinctively elongated yodels. She entered the main draw as a qualifier, though, which meant that she had accumulated more grass matches than her heralded opponent. Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has stumbled early in the draw there more often than not in recent years. Slipping and skidding around the site of her first major breakthrough, she never found her rhythm or range from the baseline in a loss that recalled previous Wimbledon setbacks to Alla Kudryavtseva and Gisela Dulko.
The finish did not come easily for de Brito, as it never does against Sharapova. The girl who long has struggled with her serve deserves full credit for standing firm through deuce after deuce as five match points slipped past until the sixth proved the charm.
Vika victimized: Injuring her leg during her first-round victory, world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka never reached her scheduled Centre Court rendezvous with Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday. Azarenka withdrew from Wimbledon while blasting the All England Club for creating unsafe playing conditions. She now needs only a retirement or walkover at Roland Garros to complete a career injury Slam, and she will hand the No. 2 ranking back to Sharapova after the tournament.
Jo-Wilfried jolted: Also on the retirement list in a day filled with injuries, world No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga handed Ernests Gulbis a ticket to the third round after losing two of the first three sets. A semifinalist at Roland Garros and at Queen's Club, Tsonga had seemed one of the tournament's leading dark horses at the outset. But Gulbis, the most dangerous unseeded man in the draw, eyes an open route to a quarterfinal against Andy Murray.
Caro curbed: An Eastbourne semifinal aside, Caroline Wozniacki has struggled without respite since reaching the Indian Wells final in March. Another early loss thus comes as no great surprise for someone who lost in the first round of Wimbledon last year. Wozniacki secured just four games from Petra Cetkovska, not the first upset that the Czech has notched on grass.
Tall men toppled: Their opponents had nothing to do with it, but the tenth-seeded Marin Cilic and American No. 2 John Isner added themselves to the exodus of retirements. While Isner did not harbor real hopes for a deep run, Cilic reached the final at Queen's Club barely a week ago and had reached the second week of Wimbledon last year. Of the top-16 seeds in the bottom half of the men's draw, only Murray and Nicolas Almagro remain.
Serbs swiped: More comfortable on slower surfaces, former No. 1s Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic departed in straight sets on Wednesday. Ivanovic's loss came at the hands of rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard, who may rival Laura Robson (or Larcher de Brito?) for the breakout story of the women's tournament. The proudly patriotic Jankovic may take some comfort in the fact that her misfortune came at the hands of a fellow Serb. Her conqueror, Vesna Dolonc, is the only Serb left in the women's draw.
Hewitt halted: The 2002 champion soared to a straight-sets victory over the 11th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round, only to tumble back to earth against flashy Jamaican-turned-German journeyman Dustin Brown. Lleyton Hewitt's defeat leaves Novak Djokovic as the only former champion and only No. 1 in the Wimbledon men's draw.
And more…: The seeded casualties did not stop there. Fernando Verdasco bounced No. 31 Julien Benneteau in straight sets, No. 22 Sorana Cirstea lost two tiebreaks to Camila Giorgi, and No. 27 Lucie Safarova let a one-set lead get away against another Italian in Karin Knapp. Nadal's nemesis, Steve Darcis, also withdrew from Wimbledon with a shoulder injury.
Hanging on tight: In the women's match of the day, No. 17 Sloane Stephens narrowly kept her tournament alive against Andrea Petkovic by surviving an 8-6 third set. Stephens will have a real chance to reach her second semifinal in three 2013 majors with both top-eight seeds gone from her quarter. Also extended to a third set were No. 19 Carla Suarez Navarro and No. 25 Ekaterina Makarova, the latter of whom overcame rising Spanish star Garbine Muguruza. Meanwhile, men's 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny needed five sets to survive Canadian youngster Vasek Pospisil as hardly anyone escaped at least a nibble from the upset bug.
Rising above the rubble: But a few contenders did. Extending his winning streak to seven, second seed Andy Murray notched another routine victory as he becomes the overwhelming favorite to reach a second straight Wimbledon final. Murray's pre-final draw might pit him against a succession of Tommy Robredo, Youzhny, Gulbis, and Benoit Paire or Jerzy Janowicz—hardly a murderer's row, although the Gulbis matchup might intrigue.
In the wake of a difficult first-round victory, 2011 champion Petra Kvitova caught a break today when Yaroslava Shvedova withdrew. Kvitova becomes the only top-eight seed to reach the third round in the bottom half of the women's draw. She could face a compelling test from Makarova on Friday, but her most significant competition might come from Stephens or Marion Bartoli in the semifinals. Struggling mightily for most of the spring amid coaching turmoil, 2007 finalist Bartoli has picked an ideal time to find some form again. She ousted Christina McHale in straight sets today and has become the highest-ranked woman remaining in her quarter.


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Kline, Esposito Lead Keys Past Wilmington
Pitching locks down Blue Rocks in 5-2 win
By Frederick Keys | August 1, 2014 11:36 PM ET
WILMINGTON, DE - The Keys utilized three RBI's by Jason Esposito, a pair from Adrian Marin, and 5 1/3 innings of scoreless pitching by Branden Kline to win 5-2 at Frawley Stadium against Wilmington Friday night.
Esposito muscled his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot in the second, to stake the Keys (50-57/18-22) to an early 1-0 lead against left-hander Brandon Finnegan. Finnegan (0-1) came in to the start with 11 innings of three-hit, shutout baseball to his resume since being selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. The southpaw lasted four innings, allowed two hits and the one run in the losing effort.
Kline (7-5) lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up six hits in picking up his fourth win in his last six starts. The Frederick native punched out three batters while walking three.
Wilmington had it chances against the trio of Kline, Jesse Beal, and Lex Rutledge, however the home team stranded 12 on base and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. With one out in the bottom of the second, Cody Stubbs and Cam Gallagher singled, but with runners on the corners, Kline got Daniel Rockett to fly out and bounced out Logan Davis to escape ahead 1-0.
In the last of the third, Kline had to work with runners to his right and left again with one out, but Bubba Starling fouled out and Evans grounded out to end the frame.
The Keys pulled ahead for good with help from Esposito, who continued his torrid stretch by socking three hits for the second straight contest. In the seventh against reliever Johnny Walter, Jerome Pena singled, but was erased on a Johnny Ruettiger fielder's choice. Ruetigger stole second with Marin at the plate, and advanced to third on error on the catcher. Marin bounced one to second with the infield in, however Ramon Torres threw out Ruettiger at the plate. With two outs, Trey Mancini and Chih-Hsien Chiang singled, and Esposito followed with a sharp ground ball through the right side for a 3-0 Keys lead.
Kline needed help in the last of the sixth, as he loaded the bases on a single and two walks. Beal entered the game with three inherited runners, and he kept them all on base by striking out Rockett and popping out Davis to centerfield.
Walter ran into trouble in the seventh, as he pegged Tucker Nathans and walked Pena with one out. After getting Ruetigger to fly out, Yender Caramo entered. Marin clocked the first pitch thrown by him into the alley in left-center for a two-run double to make it 5-0.
Beal struggled in the last of the seventh, allowing four hits outside of two outs, including an RBI double by Starling and run-scoring single by Evans. Rutledge came in with two on and two outs, walked Gallagher, but Rockett punched a liner right at Esposito at third base for the end of the inning with the Keys up 5-2. Rutledge would work the eighth and ninth innings without allowing a hit for his second save of the campaign.
Frederick, having won two in a row, play the middle game tomorrow against Wilmington at 7:05 p.m. RHP Sebastian Vader (1-3, 8.50) tosses for the Keys against LHP Sean Manaea (3-7, 3.94).
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More

subset: commoncrawl


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On the heels of the release of her debut album, Banshee, Kendra Morris talks kicking her ex-boyfriend out of her apartment, making connections and how artists can get the most out of CMJ 2012.
Congratulations on the release of your debut album, Banshee. How has the feedback been?
It's been amazing. I just keep knocking on wood because I put all of these emotions into this album. I spent like a year working on it, and it took a while for it to even come out. When it finally came out it felt like I had a baby.
Last year when you performed at CMJ we dubbed you one of the top 10 R&Bish acts to watch. Do you identify your music as R&B?
Absolutely, I would definitely say it's in the R&B realm. That's the music that has always inspired me. But the good thing about being a songwriter is you get inspired by many different things, whether it is people I meet or something else that I'm listening to. So my music can reach into other categories as well.
As a songwriter you can be as personal as you want. Do you do a Taylor Swift thing and list ex-boyfriends' names and kind of air them out?
[Laughs] No, I haven't gotten there yet. But they know who they are. Banshee was actually written in the middle of a breakup. There were a few songs I wrote before the breakup, some written during and some written long after the breakup. It's funny because I remember during the breakup when he was finally getting all of his shit out of my apartment, he looks at me and says (impersonating him), "Well, I hope you have a great album," kind of sarcastically, and I'm just like, "Thanks, see you around." [Laughs].
He actually had to live with me for an extra month after we broke up. I couldn't just go and kick him out. He wasn't a bad person; he just wasn't the person for me. Then he finally physically moved his body out, but then he proceeded to leave all of his stuff in the apartment for another two months. It sucked so bad. Finally, I was like, "I'm going out of town. I need you completely gone when I get back."
What can fans expect from this year's CMJ performance that is different from last year's?
It's going to be new material, but it's just come together so much. Me and the band have become more accustomed to the vocals. I think it will be a new-found confidence with the album coming out. I think people will know a lot of the songs now.
Are you reuniting with your former band, Pinktricity?
No. [Laughs] That's really funny. Pinktricity is buried with the neon Nerds. That's where I got the name from. It was a flavor of Nerds.
Now that you are more seasoned at CMJ, what part of the festival are you most looking forward to?
Probably seeing friends that don't live in town. People come from all over the festival. All of the different parties and seeing a lot of different bands. I think it's exciting seeing the city come to life in that sort of way.
What do you think are some of the benefits of attending festivals such as CMJ?
There is something really important about having a network of other musicians. Over the years, through festivals, I have really built on friendships with other artists. That's really great because that's where you are going to get the most advice and learn the most. One of my girlfriends who is playing this year is an amazing artist, and we try to do lunch once a month. What we do is sit and exchange ideas and see how we can help one another. With these networks you create, you can learn from other people's mistakes and their successes.
What tips do you have for first-time CMJ performers?
Go to as many shows as you can, and don't stay in your bubble. Some of my best connections have come from when I got over being awkward and shy and went up to someone and said, "Hey, I really like what you are doing or wearing." If you can go outside of that scary and awkward feeling, you are breaking down this wall, and that's how new relationships are built.
Kendra Morris performs Saturday, October 20, at Rockwood Music Hall as part of CMJ 2012.


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Fears about the European financial crisis began to spread on Tuesday from weaker countries to healthier ones, including Italy and Belgium, and even much stronger Germany, spurring a stepped-up search for a solution to the economic problems that are putting a strain on Europe's decade-old monetary union.
Despite the commitment of close to €200 billion ($272 billion) in bailout funds to two economically stricken nations – Greece and Ireland – borrowing costs across the continent rose as investors worried about the growing risks.
In recent days investors have been selling the debt of Germany, whose economy remains relatively robust, because of worries it will bear much of the burden of the ever-higher costs of bailing out weaker countries.
While German bonds recovered by the end of Tuesday, the cost to an investor for insuring against a German default – despite being highly unlikely – also rose, signalling growing nervousness. Further reflecting those worries, the euro slipped to $US1.3011 in the United States from $US1.3117 Monday. As recently as November 5, the euro traded above $US1.40.
No one thinks the financial problems of Italy and Belgium, much less Germany, are nearly as serious as those of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, which also suffered a blow on Tuesday when Standard & Poor's warned of an impending downgrade of its credit rating.
Instead, the fear is that Europe's strategy so far – painfully drawn-out rescues of individual countries – has failed to calm the markets. If investors panic and the contagion spreads to larger economies such as Spain and perhaps even Italy, the thinking goes, the much higher cost of bailing out those countries would be difficult for Germany to bear.
Even as the yields on the 10-year bonds of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain ended trading off their highs on Tuesday, attention turned to the increase in interest rates on Italian debt to 4.64 per cent, of Belgian bonds to 3.97 per cent and the recent rise of German bonds, the European benchmark. At 2.67 per cent, the yield on German bonds was down marginally from Monday, but well above the 2.1 per cent of last summer. Rising yields reflect increased risk in the eyes of investors, as well as inflationary expectations.
With financial markets still unsettled, fresh ideas about how to calm them have been floated. Some proposals, like a new European bond with fiscal conditions or the establishment of a European version of the International Monetary Fund, are considered more grandiose than practical. But others, especially those that call for bondholders to share the pain by taking losses, are being examined in a new light, even though investors remain adamantly opposed.
Europe's debt-ridden countries themselves are wary of any form of negotiated default that would lower the amount they owe creditors, because they fear that this would make it harder to find new lenders in the future. One reason for the increase in borrowing costs is that European countries that share the common currency agreed at the beginning of the week that, starting in mid-2013, lenders might be required to forgive debt as part of any future bailout plans.
One of the latest suggestions is for indebted European countries to consider something modelled on the so-called Brady plan, which dealt with Latin American debtors in the 1980s and early 1990s. That could require bondholders to accept a writedown in exchange for a new, more tradable instrument.
Others have suggested a so-called Abu Dhabi option under which the European Commission and IMF would promise bailout funds as long as private sector creditors shared the pain, in an echo of Abu Dhabi's bailout of Dubai late last year.
But all such plans are difficult to consider in the current atmosphere. The recent bond market attacks on Ireland and other weak European debtors increased after German Chancellor
"We have created more doubts than existed before," said Paul De Grauwe, an economist who advises EC president José Manuel Barroso.
"The interest rate now being charged for Ireland is a vote of no confidence for the package and it has obviously been inspired by a notion that we should punish our sinners."
The New York Times, The New York Times


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We want to hear your views on the closure of Union Books, send them to us using the Your Comments form.
Updated Wednesday 8th September 2010
Union Books will be closing on the 10th December 2010, but will remain open and will continue to offer the existing service through semester 1. All reading list texts will be available as normal. This follows a consultation process with Union Books staff that ended on Friday 27th August 2010.
Unfortunately, the consultation process did not secure the financial future of the Union's book shop. The Union Books team is now working hard preparing all the reading lists texts and the usual student offers for the start of semester 1.
During 2011, LUU will be looking to replace some of the non retail Union Book services with a new service which combines direct support for students on their academic work with advice on the best way to access study materials. The Student Executive will be consulting with members on what should go into our new "Academic Hub" during the next term via open meetings and feedback using our democratic structures.
Released Wednesday 11th August 2010
We are aware of a number of questions posed directly or indirectly at the Union about Union Books services. We have aimed to answer these below. We're keen to hear from you, so please send us your comments via www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/yourcomments.
Jackie Berry
Deputy Chief Executive, Leeds University Union
'Who runs Union Books?'
The Union is solely responsible for Union Books. The University and Union are separate entities, albeit that the Union receives significant funding from the University. The proposal to review Union Books services is not as a result of the economies exercise on campus.
Like many independent book shops, Union Books has been working hard to compete with online retailers, and national chains for several years. Despite the hard work of a dedicated and passionate team, the shop has been unable to generate sufficient sales or profit to sustain the business. The current recession has escalated this trend as student and University finances have been put under increasing pressure, with the need to have books priced competitively becoming paramount.
'When exactly is Union Books closing?'
We are in consultation with staff about the proposal to close. No closure date has been agreed. Union Books was closed for stock taking last week which prompted some people to assume that they had already closed; this is incorrect. Union Books will continue to trade during term one to support students and staff alike with services. As the consultation with staff progresses, we will update further on the outcome and any potential dates. We are asking Union Books staff to suggest ways in which the current Union Books business model could be changed so that we continue to provide support for students. It will be students that will democratically decide on the format of the services they want.
'What about the services Union Books offers other than selling books; for example, reading course packs, second-hand book sales etc?'
As part of our new strategic plan responding to student feedback, we will be working on what services our new academic support hub will provide. We will be consulting with students to determine what these services should be. To support this, the Student Exec will be holding a series of meetings at the start of term for students to let us know what academic support services they want the Union to provide. We ask students to send their feedback through our "Your comments" section on our website. These ideas will then be discussed by students at the Better Union Forum . It will be students that will make the decision on the format of this service democratically.
'If Leeds University Union prides itself on being a 'Not For Profit' organisation then why is it closing the book shop? It certainly doesn't have its students' best interests at heart, that's for sure.'
The Union is a charity so we use every penny that is spent in our income-generating shops, bars and nightclubs to make sure that students get a great education, learn new things, meet new people and love their time at Leeds. Therefore, we do make a profit, but we invest it back into Union services like the advice centre, clubs and societies, volunteering projects and academic representation. Union Books being loss-making puts these services at risk.
We asked students in 2009 what they wanted from their Union. They told us that they wanted their Union to help them achieve academic success through lobbying, a strong representative structure and campaigning on issues that matter to students. They also told us that they want us to help them meet new people, try new activities out, develop skills and help when things go wrong. That's why we provide over 300 student clubs and societies alongside other Union services like the Student Advice Centre. Underwriting an expensive book shop would mean that we would have to take money away from these more fundamental and valuable services. The level of underwriting would mean we would have to cut other student services.
The Union's Board of Trustees listened to student feedback and made the difficult decision that removing monies from other unique services that directly support students and could not be provided by another body would be unacceptable.
'Surely there should be a book shop on campus?'
There are two bookshops competing on campus at the moment – Blackwell and Union Books. As a national chain, Blackwell has significant buying power and has been well supported by staff and students on campus. Union Books is the only students' union-run book shop in the UK. Union Books offers a range of services, especially in relation to help with students' reading lists, but is unable to offer books as cheaply as shops like Blackwell or online like Amazon. We can't compete on price and sadly have had to accept that many students and university staff have chosen to shop elsewhere. We are actively looking for ways in which we can retain a good reading list service for students as part of a new academic support hub that students have asked for in their union. Academic support was highlighted as a key area of our work to develop over the next four years in our Strategic Plan. This strategic plan was formed in consultation with students and voted in by students at referendum last year.
'Why has there been no attempt to seek creative solutions to the book shop's difficulties?'
Over the years a number of solutions have been investigated. The Wicked café was opened alongside Union Books to try to increase footfall. We have also considered having other tenants in the space to provide a complementary offer (e.g. a retailer selling cds/dvds) and reduce the space given to Union Books. Within Union Books itself, the product range has been expanded beyond just books. A website has also been set up to sell Union Books stock. We have considered a number of other creative solutions (cutting costs, investing in reward cards) to make the bookshop a sustainable, low risk, business. Sadly, none of these efforts has made a significant difference.
We have had support at a senior level in the University from Professor Vivien Jones and others, to encourage more university faculties to purchase books from Union Books. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Union Books, colleagues at the University and Union team, we have not had the ability to influence buying behaviour at departmental level or increase buying to the extent that this is a sustainable service going forward. This has much to do with our inability, as an independent book shop, to compete with the buying power of national chains and websites such as Amazon. Academics and students have simply found better value by shopping for books elsewhere.
'Surely, you should be providing a book shop that is underwritten by taking money from other services?'
As sales and profits have declined over the last few years at Union Books, the level of risk to the Union has grown significantly. On average at least £300,000 is tied up in book stock each month, with significantly more during term one. We have also experienced increasing bad debt from book suppliers which has meant us writing off significant monies as part of the operation. This means that we anticipate making a loss this financial year and in future years. The Union currently subsidises Union Books by absorbing the businesses' management, marketing, HR, facilities, finance and utilities costs elsewhere. Any further underwriting of the business could only happen by taking money away from other more fundamental Union services such as the Student Advice Centre, clubs and societies or volunteering projects. If you like to find out more about these financial implications please contact us via www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/yourcomments.
'Have you deliberately announced this outside of term time?'
No. This difficult decision was made by the Union's Board of Trustees now on the basis of the last financial year's trading figures (the Union's financial year runs from 1st August) and because September is a crucial month for the book shop. We had hoped that we may have been able to secure a sale of Union Books to Blackwell; this proved not possible and these discussions were concluded in July.
'What are you going to do in the space instead?'
We are inviting students to give us their ideas and will be looking to develop the space. No decisions have been made, but students have fed back that they would like to see additional society meeting rooms, rehearsal and lounge space for students in 2011. That will be up to students to decide. We will continue to consult with students when they return at the start of the academic year. In parallel to the consultation with staff over Union Books, we will be asking students what services we offer in the new academic support hub within the Union. It will be students that will make the decision on the format of this service democratically.
'Is it true that UCU exposed the story?'
No. Union Books staff were briefed last Friday (30th July) and given time to consider ways to change the current business model. All other union staff were briefed later that day. We thought it was important for our staff to be consulted before making any public announcements. The Leeds Student newspaper society were briefed on Monday 2nd August and the news went on our Union website on Tuesday 3rd August.
We have invited members of UCU to a meeting so that we can share the full detail of the situation with them. Unfortunately, they have not been able to attend a meeting. UCU doesn't currently represent any staff working at Leeds University Union. LUU is working closely with Unison who represent the staff affected by this situation.
'As a disabled student, I and others would feel the loss of Union Books very keenly as the other book shops are difficult to access.'Marcus Crawley (the Union's Equality and Diversity Officer) will be looking at solutions for students with disabilities who find getting to other book shops difficult. If you have any specific concerns in this area you can contact Marcus at firstname.lastname@example.com.
'Sadly I think Union Books has proven too expensive for me in the two years I have been studying at Leeds. I have not found many books from my reading lists in there and, when I do, they are far more expensive than online (even for new copies). I would greatly miss the second-hand shelves though as I have found a few little gems - books I never would have bought but having 'flicked through' have found them ideal'.
We hope to be able to offer students a service to allow then to sell second-hand books to each other. This feedback will be passed onto the group reviewing the academic support hub.
'Union Books should continue but in a smaller self-service format with facilities to collect books from prepaid online purchases.'
We will be looking into providing services like this within our new academic support hub.
'Has the option of offering a private entity like 'Blackwell' or 'Waterstones' the opportunity to set up a satellite been explored, or even Amazon? There could be secure online ordering facility in the shop (bank of specific PCs) for academic books, with a collection facility and limited stock etc?'
As mentioned earlier, we had hoped to work with Blackwell with the sale of Union Books. As part of the consultation, we will be exploring opportunities of working with other private entities that can support us in offering better value for money. We will look at all options; the one option which is too high risk for the Union is that of maintaining a book stock holding.
'I'll be sad to see Union Books go, although with the prices available on Amazon and suchlike I'm not surprised. I bought books as often as possible from our bookstore, but finances, as always, are tight. I found some books that I'd bought for £15 - £25 at Union Books for £5 - £10 online. Still, will there be a big discount sale of the books before closure, or will they just be sent back to the publishers? Also, how will the Union Books space be used afterwards?'
As mentioned earlier, we are currently in consultation with staff about the proposal. It is too early to say whether there will be a discount sale or whether stock will be returned. No closure date has been agreed. We will provide information on this page about the consultation process and other developments.
We are inviting students to give us their ideas and will be looking to develop the space in 2011. Initial thoughts from students include providing additional meeting rooms for societies, rehearsal spaces and lounge spaces. A full consultation with students will occur in term one. We will also be asking students what services we offer in the new academic support hub within the Union. It will be students that will make the decision on the format of this service democratically.
Please contact us through our Your Comments service www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/yourcomments/.
Latest statement by Elliot Jebreel, Education Officer of Leeds University Union.
The review of our Union bookshop is an emotive issue. I've received a lot of questions about the recent announcement.
Union Books offers a great service to academics and students, and we're looking at ways in which we can continue to support course packs and other student essentials. However, the current commercial format threatens the future of our other student services (e.g. advice, support, representation and campaigning).
As your Union we've looked at the feedback and I share your concern about the potential loss of learning support for students.
We are actively looking at ways in which we can support students with their studies as part of an 'academic hub' (a part of the strategic plan that students decided on at Referendum in November 2009).
The 'academic hub' could provide facilities such as:
We are looking at how we can make this happen and I would welcome any ideas that you have. Whatever happens, students will decide what they want done with their space. I also want to encourage other users of our services to share their ideas with us.
We thank the students and academics who have supported our book shop rather than buying from cheaper chains or online. We've always tried to get the best price for our students but it's getting more and more difficult to beat other people's prices.
I will answer all your queries about the difficulties that our book shop is experiencing. We are considering all emerging ideas for this transformation and on how we ask for your ideas for the future so please get in touch with me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
I will continue to make sure that students get the academic support they've asked for from our Union.
Elliot Jebreel
Education Officer
Originally published 03/08/10
Regretfully, we are proposing to close Union Books in November 2010.
Sales have been in steady decline in recent years, in keeping with the rest of the book market with online retailers such as Amazon taking market share away from more traditional book shops like Union Books. The global recession has made sales even tougher on the high street with many book shops closing. The UK chain Borders closed most recently and it is estimated that two independent book stores close every week in the UK.
Union Books has experienced the same sales trends as the high street. Despite support from many University departments, the harsh economic reality it that online sites like Amazon offer cheaper prices than Union Books can. In the current economic climate, this means that both University departments and students are spending less on books, and when they do buy, are looking for the best value for money.
The Union Books team and management have shown huge effort and commitment in working hard to find new markets, product ranges and sales over the last few challenging years. Despite all of their efforts, each year has seen a decline in Union Books financial contribution and we anticipate that Union Books will become loss making in the next 12 months. The operation is a risk to the Union finances; on average the stock holding of the shop is £300,000.
Earlier this year, we were approached by Blackwells to potentially buy Union Books, with a view to moving the operation over to the Blackwells store on Blenheim Terrace. The initial discussions included the TUPE staff to Blackwells and the closure of the Union Book site. LUU has made every effort to secure an outcome from these discussions which would protect our staff and maintain a quality service for members, but Blackwells have since decided that they do not want to pursue this option.
Regretfully now, one proposal we must consider is to only continue trading Union Books until November 2010. This means that all reading lists and texts will still be available in Union Books during most of term 1. We will no longer offer a saver account with Union Books to new customers; existing customers will be able to use their account until Union Books closes. Any credit remaining after closure will be reimbursed by the Union.
It is important that the Union continues to support students to access essential resources for their learning. Academic support was highlighted as a key area of our work to develop over the next four years in our Strategic Plan. This strategic plan was formed in consultation with students and passed at referendum last year. In parallel to the consultation with staff over Union Books, we will be reviewing with members how we can enhance the offer in the new Academic/Learning Hub within LUU which is our commitment for 2011/12.
If we are unable to find another plan for Union Books, from January 2011 we currently propose to redevelop the space for additional meeting rooms, rehearsal and lounge space in consultation with members, with additional space also being given to the café area. We will then draw up plans for the longer term development of the space in line with our new Strategic Plan.
One of the trends which also hit Union Books performance has been the growing sales in second hand books. We propose to support this with expanding the use of the Union web site to help students in both selling and buying second hand books. We also propose to continue to sell a small range of best selling fiction books in Essentials. We will also look to investigate working directly with other academic book retailers to see if there is a way we can work with them to provide a service supplying essential course texts to students.
We will be working with all staff affected as we consult on these proposals; we will seek to redeploy staff into positions within the Union wherever possible.
If you have any comments regarding the closure of Union books, send them to us using the Your Comments form.


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text:
Manager Guide: Archives
Manager Guide: Archives
http://lists.uua.org/mailman/admin/listname/archive is the home page for your "Archiving Options." For most lists, the answer to "Archive messages?" should be "Yes."
Be sure your list's archives are private (viewable only by subscribed members). Answer "private" to the question, "Is archive file source for public or private archival?" then click the "Submit Your Changes" button. The only lists that should have public archives are announcement-only lists that act as newsletters.
The other options on this page should be fine using their default settings.


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PITTSBURGH (AP) Andrew Cashner carried a perfect game into the seventh inning and faced the minimum 27 batters in a one-hitter that sent San Diego Padres past the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Monday.
Cashner (10-8) retired his first 18 batters before Jose Tabata grounded a clean single into right field leading off the seventh. Tabata was erased when Andrew McCutchen grounded into an inning-ending double play, and the right-hander cruised the rest of the way for his first complete game in 31 career starts.
Cashner struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
The Pirates lost for the second time in eight games but remained tied for first place in the NL Central with the St. Louis Cardinals, who lost at Colorado.PHILLIES 12, MARLINS 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Cliff Lee had three hits, knocked in a career-high four runs and struck out a season-high 14 to lead the Phillies to a win over the Marlins.
Lee (14-6) stroked a two-run, bases-loaded single to cap off a six-run third inning and also hit his first career triple in the fifth. Chase Utley, who also drove in four runs, hit a long three-run homer in the third.
On the mound, Lee allowed two runs while scattering eight hits and walking none, at one point retiring 11 straight en route to winning his fourth consecutive decision. He is 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last six starts and 5-1 with a 2.29 lifetime ERA against Miami.
Philadelphia has won six in a row over Miami.
In his first major-league start, Sam Dyson (0-1) allowed seven runs.
DENVER (AP) Todd Helton started his final homestand with a key single in the eighth inning as the Rockies beat the Cardinals.
Charlie Blackmon had three hits and drove in three runs for the Rockies, who prevented the Cardinals from taking over sole possession of first place in the NL Central. They remained tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost 2-0 to San Diego.
Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams had two hits each for the Cardinals.
Helton was playing in front of Colorado fans for the first time since he announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, his 17th. He received a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the first, and Cardinals starter Lance Lynn stood behind the mound and waited as the crowd saluted Helton.
MILWAUKEE (AP) Caleb Gindl had three hits, including a two-run home run, as Wily Peralta pitched six strong innings to lead the Brewers to a win over the Cubs.
The Brewers' fourth win in five games moved them 3 games above Chicago at the bottom of the NL Central.
Peralta (10-15) gave up an unearned run on five hits. He struck out seven while walking two.
Edwin Jackson (8-16) lasted only four innings for the Cubs, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks. Jackson has the most losses of any pitcher in the NL. Peralta is second with 15.
PHOENIX (AP) Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Trevor Cahill and three relievers made it stand up in Arizona's win over Los Angeles.
Goldschmidt raised his NL-leading RBI total to 116 with his 33rd home run off Dodgers starter Ryu Hyun-jin (13-7). Goldschmidt has homered in each of his last two games after an 83 at-bat drought.
With Los Angeles' fourth loss in a row and the Diamondbacks third straight win, the Dodgers' magic number to clinch the NL West remains four.
Ryu (13-7) went the distance for his second complete game, allowing only the two runs on two hits in eight innings. He walked one, struck out four and retired 23 of the final 24 batters he faced.
Cahill (7-10) won for the fourth straight decision, holding Los Angeles to one run on two hits over 5 2-3 innings.
This story has been automatically published from the Associated Press wire which uses US spellings