Die emsländischen Fußballfreunde dürfen sich auf einen Leckerbissen in der Sommerpause freuen: Am 19. Juli um 20.15 Uhr treffen in Meppen Werder Bremen und der niederländische Meister Ajax Amsterdam aufeinander.
Eine hochinteressante Partie“, stellte Markus Lohle, der-Geschäftsführer des Ausrichters SV Meppen, fest. „Solche Spiele kommen in Meppen immer an“, zeigt sich der ehemalige Manager Gerd van Zoest angetan vom deutsch-niederländischen Vergleich, das für regen Besuch in der MEP-Arena auch aus dem Nachbarland sorgen dürfte.
Die Bremer gelten ja schon fast als Dauergäste in Meppen. Zuletzt traten sie hier vor zwei Jahren gegen Piräus an. Die Hanseaten werden sich mit neuer Mannschaft und neuem Trainer (Robin Dutt?) präsentieren.
Amsterdam setzt weiter auf Meistermacher Frank de Boer, der mit Ajax gerade den 32. Landestitel feierte. Die Niederländer treten zum dritten Mal in Meppen an. 1973 siegten sie mit Johan Cruyff und Johan Neeskens vor 17500 Zuschauern 4:0 gegen den SVM.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Werder Bremen vs Ajax Live Stream July 19, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Manchester City vs Amazulu July 18, 2013
Manchester City vs Amazulu
Match InfoManchester City are pleased to announce the opposition for two matches to be played during the Club’s summer tour of South Africa as part of the Nelson Mandela Football Invitational. Manuel Pellegrini’s first game in charge of the Blues will be in Pretoria against Supersport United FC on 14 July at 3pm (2pm UK time) at Loftus Versfeld. As pre-season preparations continue, City will then take on AmaZulu FC on 18 July at 8pm local time (7pm UK) at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. Ndaba Mandela, Chairman of Africa Rising and grandson of Nelson Mandela, said: “The Nelson Mandela Football Invitational it is fitting way to celebrate a larger than life icon. Africa Rising is proud to support what is undoubtedly going to be a magical moment. ” Manchester City's Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano said: “We are very excited about visiting South Africa this summer to begin our preparations for the new season. As well as competing in two games we have chosen Durban as our base for our training camp. Supersport and AmaZulu will provide us with an excellent test and it is an exciting time for the club as Manuel Pellegrini takes charge of the team for the first time. “South Africa showcased itself as a footballing nation in 2010 with a wonderful World Cup. They have first-rate facilities and a passionate footballing fanbase, and this trip will be a fantastic opportunity for us to train and compete in front of our African supporters.”
Ural vs CSKA Moscow July 17, 2013
Ural will play against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday July 17, 2013 for Russian Premier League at 9:30 AM (New York time). Ural has played its last previous games against Montreal on 6/29 where they won 4-3, NY Red Bulls on 7/4 in which they won with a final score of 2-0, and last game played against DC United on 7/7 in which Ural tied with a final score of 0-0. Upcoming games for Ural will be against New England on 7/17, Seattle on 7/20, and against Los Angeles on 7/27. CSKA Moscow has played its last previous games against Loko Moscow on 5/12 where they won 4-1, Kuban Krasno on 5/18 in which they tied with a final score of 0-0, and last game played against Rostov on 5/26 in which CSKA Moscow lost with a final score of 0-3. Upcoming games for CSKA Moscow will be against Ural on 7/17, Kryliya Sove on 7/19, and against Kryliya Sove on 7/22. Based on previous results and other factors surrounding this match, The Latest Result predicts that CSKA Moscow will defeat Ural by a score of:Result, (Probability)CSKA Moscow 3-0 (42.9%)CSKA Moscow 4-1 (35.1%)CSKA Moscow 5-0 (13.7%)CSKA Moscow 6-0 (7.8%)Other result (3.6%)
American League Stars vs National League Stars July 16,2013
Flip on any highlight show and you're nearly sure to see them, with those peach-fuzz faces and boyish features beneath their big league caps. Mike Trout makes a diving catch on the warning track. Manny Machado whacks another double into the corner at Camden Yards. Bryce Harper belts a tape-measure home run or barrels into a catcher ... or an outfield fence ... or whatever stands in his way. The next generation of baseball stars has arrived -- straight from the senior prom, it seems -- and these guys are changing the complexion of the grand ol' game. Derek Jeter is 39 and injured, left off the All-Star team for the first time in eight years. Matt Harvey is 24 and merciless, with a polished array of breaking pitches to complement 98 mph heat. "These guys are coming up now with incredible talent, these young players," National League manager Bruce Bochy said Monday at Citi Field, where the New York Mets are hosting the All-Star game for the first time since Shea Stadium opened in 1964. "I think they are just getting better, faster, bigger, stronger still, and it's impressive to watch." No kidding. Trout and Harper, the Rookies of the Year last season, are making their second trip to the All-Star game. This time, they will start Tuesday night after getting elected by fans with a fervor for the new boys of summer. Some of baseball's best players are among the youngest on the field. Night after night, they put up unprecedented numbers and turn in spectacular plays that belie a birth certificate from the 1990s. "It's good for the game," Trout said. "A lot of young guys are playing fearless and making a name for themselves at an early stage in their career." Not only that, they move merchandise. Jersey sales for Harvey, Harper and Trout rank among the top 10 this season based on purchases of Majestic tops at MLB.com, the league and the players' association said last week. Harper is 20, and Trout is all of 21. Barely old enough to vote, let alone buy a drink. Machado's jersey ranked eighth, one spot behind Jeter, even though the Baltimore third baseman has spent less than a year in the majors. That didn't stop him from earning his first All-Star selection on his 21st birthday. "In today's era, young dudes are getting better and more prepared to come up to the big leagues," said Orioles teammate Adam Jones, an All-Star himself. "It's just an improvement in the game. These young dudes are phenoms, and he's put his name up there. "He's probably more mature than I am, and I'm 27." Machado was voted in by players, a significant sign of respect from his peers. Well, mostly elders, actually. He certainly deserved it at a power-packed position after hitting 39 doubles in the first half, threatening the single-season record of 67 set by Earl Webb in 1931. "Swing and hit the white ball coming at you. That's all it is," Machado said. "There's no secret to it." Just like Little League, apparently. Sometimes he makes it look that easy, too. But take a swing around the majors and you see it's not only Trout, Harper and Machado. There is Miami rookie Jose Fernandez, a 20-year-old All-Star with a Cy Young future. Don't forget lefty Patrick Corbin (23), who is 11-1 with a 2.35 ERA for Arizona. And second-year shortstop Jean Segura in Milwaukee, who leads the NL in hits at age 23. "I feel pretty good when they compare me with those guys," Segura said about his place among baseball's new breed. Then there's Harvey, the New York Mets ace with 29 major league starts to his name. His next one will be Tuesday night on his home mound opposite Detroit Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer. "For me, he's the best pitcher in the game," Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross said this month. "Not even just in the National League. He's really good. I faced a lot of those guys in the American League last year and I can't say that I saw anyone better than him. "His mound presence is as good as you'll see." There are 12 All-Stars this season 24 or younger, seven in the National League. That's the most since a dozen were selected in 1993, according to STATS -- a group that included Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza, Gary Sheffield, Mike Mussina and Juan Gonzalez. The only player from that bunch under 23 was 21-year-old catcher Ivan Rodriguez. This year, there are four. That doesn't include Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig, left out of the game after six electric weeks in the big leagues at 22. More to come from him, for sure. "Every guy that you just mentioned plays the game hard, plays it the right way every day. It's so much fun to be part of that," Harper said. "I'm not going to back off the throttle at all. I'm full speed every day." In all, 12 players who qualified as rookies last season made the All-Star team this year. So much for sophomore slumps. "There's definitely a different breed of ballplayer coming out," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said last weekend. "This seems to be one of those cycles where a lot of young players are flashing quick." Although fresh faces are taking over, that doesn't mean all the old guys are out. Mariano Rivera, Torii Hunter, Carlos Beltran and Bartolo Colon are back at the Midsummer Classic, bringing decades of experience and wisdom. And what impresses veterans the most about this crop of young stars is the way they carry themselves on and off the field. Harper occasionally flashes a hot temper with Washington, but opponents predominantly praise them for their all-around skill and steady performance. "It's different from when I first came up. Just the attention, the media coverage, the pressure," said Twins catcher Joe Mauer, a No. 1 draft pick who made his first All-Star appearance at 23. "To keep everything in perspective and go out there and do your job every day and stay consistent is really what makes it pretty special. "A lot of guys can come up and have immediate success right away and the league can kind of figure you out a little bit. But those guys keep going day after day and keep producing." Yankees manager Joe Girardi is reminded of the mid-90s when Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra all broke in at shortstop in the American League. "It is kind of amazing the level that these young guys are playing," Girardi said. Making them just the sort of stars baseball wants to build around. "I like the fact that they play the game the right way. They seem to get it," Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan said. "They're gifted, they're energetic. It's good to see a young, up-and-coming player that represents not only their franchise well but the game well."
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Dwight Howard chose Houston Rockets
Dwight Howard Houston Rockets
Wimbledon 2013 Final | Novak Djokovic v Andy Murray July 7, 2013
Djokovic, N. v Murray, A. Wimbledon 2013 Final Live Stream
Although he'll be the underdog, Murray did beat Djokovic en route to gold at the 2012 Olympics—which were at the All England Club—and in the final of the 2012 US Open. This could be one of the most famous matches in British tennis history. No British male has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. No matter what the outcome, this should be a thrilling match. Here is a breakdown of the positives and negatives for each player going into the final.
Djokovic is the best player on the planet. When he's at his best, nobody can touch the 26-year-old. Djokovic had a bit of a hard time on grass in the past. This year, though, you've seen him make the necessary adjustments to ensure that he's as good of a player on grass as he is on other surfaces. One of Djokovic's best assets is his ability to go from defense to offense in one shot. Right when Murray thinks he has the advantage, the Djoker can hit a vicious shot that changes outcome of the point. Djokovic also has the ability to win more cheap points with his powerful groundstrokes. If Murray can turn each point and, in turn, the match into a grind, he has a very good chance of pulling off the upset. But Djokovic is playing his best offensive tennis, he may be able to win this match in fewer than five sets.
As stated earlier, fatigue could turn into a major issue. Djokovic won't be that far removed from a tough five-set win over Juan Martin del Potro on Friday. If Murray can make Djokovic run from sideline to sideline, he might be able to tire Djokovic tire out as the match goes on. Power is one of the things that makes Djokovic so good. On grass, though, some of that power is softened, which should allow Murray to stay in more points.
Possibly the biggest thing going for Murray isn't anything that has to do with him as a player. As a Briton, he'll firmly have the crowd in his favor. Murray is an emotional player, so it will be great to have that much of a groundswell backing him. This is perhaps the strongest Murray has been at Wimbledon. He's had his low points, but he's overcome them with strong tennis. Murray's defense and accuracy have been superb so far. He won't be able to match Djokovic's strength, but Murray can no doubt work the world's No. 1 around the court and tire him out, all the while taking his best blows.
As an emotional player, Murray can sometimes let the match get away from him. A run of bad points can lead to a run of bad games, which can then lead to a bad set. He's kept it in check for the most part, but the problem could arise again. Murray can't afford to let his frustration get the better of him. Djokovic is going to have his runs. Withstanding the onslaught and still coming out strong will be key for Murray. There are many things that have to go right for Murray to win. He'll really have to hit his shots perfectly from the baseline to get Djokovic moving so he doesn't have time to blast winners. Even if Murray plays his best, it might not be enough. He'll need some slip-ups from Djokovic. You can't feel good about a player's chances when he has to rely on the best player in the world messing up.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 Final | Sabine Lisicki v Marion Bartoli July 6, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 Ladies' Singles Final: Sabine Lisicki v Marion Bartoli Live Stream
Sabine Lisicki guaranteed her place in the final after a battling three-set victory over Agnieszka Radwanska on Centre Court. The German set up a Saturday showdown for the title against Marion Bartoli by outlasting the Polish fourth seed 9-7 in the third and final set to seal victory 6-4 2-6 9-7 overall. The 23rd seed had caused the shock of the women's draw at this year's Wimbledon by dumping Serena Williams out of the event, and she followed up by making it all the way to the final. Behind her booming serve and aggressive ground strokes, Lisicki powered to the first set and looked well in control of matters, before Radwanska started to get a foothold in the contest. The Pole was more consistent and soon Lisicki's attacking shots were missing their mark and as errors crept into her game, Radwanska levelled to send the semi-final into a third and final set. Radwanska grabbed an early break and a 3-0 lead in the third set as she rattled off nine games out of ten to firmly move onto the front foot. Lisicki conjured up a break of her own to level at 3-3 and then broke again in the ninth game to go 5-4 ahead and serve for a place in the final. Radwanska was not done though, and at the fourth time of asking managed to break right back and draw the match level once again, with both then holding serve to make it 6-6. The pressure was mounting but both managed to hold serve until Lisicki found an extra gear in the 15th game of an extended set to finally break again and serve for the match once again at 8-7. This time the German made no mistake with some trademark big serves putting her 40-0 ahead in the game, before sealing her spot in the final by taking the second match point. "It's unbelievable. The last few games were so exciting," said a smiling Lisicki. "We were fighting, Agnieszka played so well throughout the match. "It was a battle. I'm so happy to have won that. "I fought with all my heart and believed I could still win no matter what the score was." Lisicki was in a similar situation in her fourth-round match against Williams, winning in three after squandering a one-set lead. "It was a little bit like that in the third set when I was down 3-0," Lisicki added on the BBC. "I thought, 'Okay, you did it against Serena so you can do it today as well'. "It gave me so much confidence. I'm so, so happy I was able to finish it. "Wimbledon is my favourite tournament, I love it so much and I love being in England. I cannot believe I'm in the final."Earlier, Bartoli took just 62 minutes to reach her second Wimbledon final with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Kirsten Flipkens. The Frenchwoman, runner-up to Venus Williams six years ago, completely overwhelmed a Belgian opponent who had not previously been beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam before this year's tournament at the All England Club. Bartoli reeled off 23 winners as Flipkens' frequent attempts to come to the net more often than not ended with the ball flashing back past her. Flipkens has climbed to 20th in the world after a blood clot problem last year caused her to take two months out of the game, but her inexperience in the latter stages of the major tournaments was brutally exposed. Bartoli set the tone in the second game as a backhand winner brought up two break points and a long Flipkens backhand sealed the early advantage. Warm applause greeted Flipkens when she put her first game on the board by holding serve, but Bartoli then won three straight games to wrap up the first set in under half an hour. Flipkens had beaten former champion Petra Kvitova in the last eight but by the start of the second set it was clear this match was a bridge too far as Bartoli raced into a 2-0 lead. Another simple break of serve put her three games to the good, with Flipkens then getting some temporary respite as she was seen to by the trainer for an apparent knee problem. It seemed to do her good as she claimed her first and only break straight afterwards, but she dropped her own serve next up as Bartoli ended any hopes of a comeback. Flipkens did manage to delay the inevitable with one more service hold, but Bartoli soon served the match out. "I slept right before the semi-final. You can ask the physio in the locker room," Bartoli told the BBC. "I slept from 12pm to 12.30pm, right before going on, and you can see I was razor-sharp today. "Maybe tonight it will be hard to sleep but I will be having fun tomorrow." Flipkens confirmed her knee problem had flared up, but she said: "I'm not going to use it as an excuse. Marion played an amazingly good match.'' A fall in the first set had seemed inconsequential at the time, even to Flipkens. "At that moment I didn't feel it but a couple of games later I started to feel a really sharp pain,'' she said. "It definitely needs a rest. "All credit to her today for the way she played. I tried everything but it didn't work out.''
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| Wimbledon 2013 Final | Sabine Lisicki v Marion Bartoli July 6, 2013 |
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| Wimbledon 2013 Final | Sabine Lisicki v Marion Bartoli July 6, 2013 |
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Jerzy Janowicz July 5, 2013
Andy Murray vs Jerzy Janowicz Live Stream
Murray has had a wealth of Grand Slam experience and big matches. Wimbledon is his backyard and the launching pad to his career improvement in summer 2012. There, he reached the finals, and followed this up with a gold-medal victory at the Olympics in London. He holds a major advantage in this regard. Janowicz is blazing a new trail in his young career. He has not advanced past the third round in any Grand Slam event until now. They have faced each other only two times, with very interesting results. Murray easily defeated an 18-year-old Janowicz in a 2009 Davis Cup match, but showed unusual and perhaps questionable etiquette. He seemed to deride Janowicz's opening game double fault, according to Richard Jago of The Guardian. There were several other shouts of "Come on" in his straight sets victory. In November, 2012, Janowicz upset Murray 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-2 on the fast indoor courts at Paris. This led to his finals appearance, where he fell to David Ferrer. It also awakened the world to Janowicz's potential. Now he comes into the semifinals knowing he can beat Murray. This will be huge for his confidence. Either player can say he has the historic edge. Murray has the better career and is at home, but Janowicz has to feel that he can beat him one more time.
This is Murray's greatest opportunity to win Wimbledon. He will fight to the death before letting this slip away, and it's unlikely he will fall to his inexperienced opponent. He has all the ingredients and intangibles to control the match, make adjustments and persevere in a tight match. Following the Verdasco match, he will be alert. He also has a score to settle with Janowicz after his loss at the Paris Masters, so incentive will not be a problem. Janowicz can only win if he resembles something close to the legendary form of Pistol Pete Sampras. It's unlikely, but he also has a puncher's chance to do exactly that. If Janowicz wins he must do it in three or four sets. Janowicz might get one set off Murray, but the semifinal will likely see Murray pull away by the third set. Take Andy Murray in straight sets, but expect the sets to be tight with a slim margin of a few points. It could be an entertaining match with a lot of barking and fist pumps.
Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Juan Martin del Potro July 5, 2013
The semifinal is No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia against No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
"This is my first semifinal ever, so I don't know what to expect."
The rest of the guys left are more accustomed to being at this stage.
Especially Djokovic, who extended his streak to 13 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals - second in history only to Roger Federer's 23 - by beating No. 7 Tomas Berdych 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3.
Djokovic entered Wednesday with a 13-2 lead in their head-to-head series, but one loss came at Wimbledon in 2010, when Berdych was the runner-up, and the other came in their most recent meeting, at Rome in May.
Wednesday's first set was tight as can be, and Tomas Berdych led 5-4 in the tiebreaker before faltering. He sent a return long, missed what should have been a routine backhand, then pushed a forehand wide for another error.
That gave Djokovic the opening set, but Berdych responded toughly, breaking twice to lead 3-0 in the second.
Not surprisingly, Djokovic arise again, taking seven of the next eight games.
"I don't know how I managed to turn the second set around," said six-time major champion Djokovic, who won Wimbledon in 2011. "I managed to step in and just tried to be a little bit more aggressive. That brought me a victory."
He's won all 15 sets he's played the past weeks, as has Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, after his 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (5) win against No. 4 David Ferrer.
At the start, though, things looked grim for del Potro. On the fifth point against Ferrer, the 6-foot-6 Argentine's left foot slid out from under him as he sprinted to reach a ball. Del Potro's heavily wrapped left knee, which he hyperextended on a face-first tumble in the third round, slackened, then bent backward.
"Really painful," del Potro said.
"I was scared."
He fell to the turf and rolled over twice, then stayed down until a trainer came out to check on him and dispense anti-inflammatory medicine.
"Magic pills," del Potro called them.
After a 10-minute break, he resumed playing - and playing quite well.
He has until Friday to get ready for his third career major semifinal, and first at Wimbledon. Del Potro is 3-8 against Djokovic, but won their most recent meeting (at Indian Wells in March) and their only previous encounter at the All England Club.
"I will need to be 100 percent - or 110 percent - against him," del Potro said.
Twelve months ago, he wept after losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, dropping to 0-4 in Grand Slam title matches.
Four weeks later, also at the All England Club, Murray defeated Federer for an Olympic gold medal. And then Murray finally earned a major championship, beating Djokovic in five sets at the U.S. Open.
Murray then reached a third consecutive Grand Slam final at the Australian Open in January, but lost to Djokovic there.
All of that recent success helped Murray against Verdasco.
"When you play more and more matches, and gain more experience, you understand how to turn matches around and how to change the momentum of games," the 26-year-old said.
It has been a Wimbledon fortnight filled with more than its share of upsets. The men’s two top seeds, however, have not been part of the landslide of eliminations which took out the top three seeds on the women’s side of the draw.
Novak Djokovic has progressed through his section of the draw without much difficulty. Coming into the semifinals, the No. 1 seed has not dropped a set.
Also surviving into the semifinals is former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro who’s finally beginning to regain the form that won him a major championship in 2009.
The No. 8 seed, del Potro also breezed through, not not dropping a set.
Djokovic will be trying for his second Wimbledon Championship after capturing his first during his historic season in 2011. Del Potro will be trying to reach his first championship match at the All England Club.
Which man will advance to the final?. Read the following analysis and prediction of their upcoming match.
Djokovic has, of course, been here before in the final rounds on Centre Court while his opponent is reaching the semifinals for the first time at Wimbledon.
In 2013, the world No. 1 won the Australian Open, Dubai and Monte Carlo while reaching the semifinals of the French Open. He owns a 33-5 record this year, coming into Wimbledon.
During the past three seasons at Wimbledon, Djokovic has reached the semifinals, winning the title outright in 2011 over Rafael Nadal.
Juan Martin del Potro holds a 20-8 record so far in 2013, showing vast improvement as the Wimbledon fortnight got underway. Earlier this year he won the tournament in Rotterdam and reached the finals at Indian Wells where he lost to Rafael Nadal. He went out in the third round at the 2013 Australian Open but was forced to skip the French Open this year due to illness.
Del Potro’s furthest reach at the All England Club prior to this year was the fourth round. He lost in that round first to David Ferrer in 2012 and then to Rafael Nadal in 2011. Altogether, the Argentine has played the Wimbledon tournament five times.
Del Potro has faced Djokovic 11 times throughout his career, winning three. The last time they met at Indian Wells this year, Del Potro won in three sets. He also defeated Djokovic at last year’s Summer Olympics held on the grounds of the All England Club. That was there only contest on grass.
Based only on their total history, however, you have to give the nod to Djokovic who's been here before.
Novak Djokovic has looked stronger as the Wimbledon fortnight progressed. He’s not lost a set so far in the tournament.
On his way to the semifinals, he defeated two seeded players, starting with (28) Jeremy Chardy in the third round and then (13) Tommy Haas in the fourth.
His quarterfinal opponent was the No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych. They played to a first set tiebreak with Berdych blinking down 6-5. Djokovic capitalized to win the opener 7-6.
Falling behind 0-3 in the second set, Djokovic fought his way back to level the set at 3-3. Then he broke Berdych's serve, winning the second set 6-4. Finally he took the third 6-3 to close out the match in three sets.
It was a very impressive display on Court No. 1 by the world No. 1. He will be primed and ready to face the Argentine during the semifinals on Friday.
After taking a big spill in the opening game of his quarterfinal match against David Ferrer, Juan Martin del Potro eased his way back into their match, breaking the Ferrer serve twice to win the first set 6-2.
Then the Argentine won the second set 6-4 with single break of serve, growing more comfortable on the terrain of Centre Court.
Their third set went to a tiebreak with del Potro finally prevailing 7-6 to take the match.
Del Potro has not not lost a set so far in the Championships. He also did not face a seeded player until the fourth round when he took out (23) Andreas Seppi in straight sets.
His match against the No. 4 seed Ferrer was impressive because the Argentine was able to keep up with the scrambling, energetic Spaniard stroke for stroke. They played high level tennis throughout.
Del Potro looks as good as he’s ever looked during the Wimbledon fortnight.
Given the compromised state of the world No. 8’s physical condition, Novak Djokovic looks like the better bet on Friday.
He definitely leads in their head to head. Another thing you must keep in mind is that since his wrist injury and recovery after winning the 2009 U.S. Open, del Potro has fought to regain his game. It has been a very slow process.
Complicated by further injury and illness, del Potro seems to be rounding into form at this moment in time. He will not simply fold up his tent and go away. If Djokovic wins this match, it will be because he earned his spot in the final.
Were the Argentine in better shape physically, the match could conceivably go his way.
But under the circumstances, Novak Djokovic will advance to his second Wimbledon final in three years.
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Juan Martin del Potro July 5, 2013 |
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Juan Martin del Potro July 5, 2013 |
Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 Ladies' Singles Semifinals Sabine Lisicki vs Agnieszka Radwanska Live Stream
In the other half of the draw, France's 15th seed Marion Bartoli beat Sloane Stephens 6-4 6-4, and Belgian 20th seed Kirsten Flipkens upset 2011 champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 3-6 6-4. Kvitova's defeat means there will be a new name on the women's trophy on Saturday. Lisicki had caused arguably the shock of a tournament characterised by upsets when she beat defending champion Williams on Monday, and she suffered no comedown 24 hours later. It was the German's returning, rather than her big serve, that proved the difference in the first set as she broke in a lengthy opening game and again to take the set. Kanepi, who beat Laura Robson in round four, edged ahead in the second when Lisicki double-faulted twice. The German responded immediately though, reeling off four straight games and closing out the match, rather nervily, on her third match point. "I am very happy," Lisicki told BBC Sport. "It was an amazing match yesterday and I had to calm myself down, but I think the experience that I got from three previous quarter-finals here helped me. "There is no pressure for me because it is a game that I love so much and I want to keep it that way."
Radwanska, 24, demonstrated why she has become a fixture in the world's top four over the last year, despite lacking the stature and power of her leading rivals. Battling with a thigh problem and a more powerful opponent, the Pole sealed victory in a dramatic final game on her eighth match point after two hours and 43 minutes. She had fended off four set points with some superb returning and recovered from 5-3 down in the tie-break to win the first. Li hit back with four games in a row to take the second, at which point Radwanska had a medical timeout to get her thigh strapped, and the Pole promptly broke at the start of the decider. A second burst of rain caused a delay as the Centre Court roof was brought across, but the momentum stayed with Radwanska on the resumption and she clinched victory in a dramatic service game. "I'm very happy to have got through, and even when I was struggling a little bit in the third set," she told BBC Sport. "I'm very, very happy to be in the semi-finals." Asked about her thigh injury, she added: "Too much tennis the last few days, that's why I was struggling with that, but I think it's a good problem to have.
"I'm just going to keep going and try my best in the semi-finals." Bartoli, 28, remains on course to reach a second Wimbledon final after coming through a rain-interrupted match against American 17th seed Stephens. The Frenchwoman moved ahead with the only break of the first set in game 10, and edged a second that saw 10 breaks as Stephens won just five points on her own serve. "Obviously the grass is really suiting my game," said Bartoli. "It was a very tough battle." In an unexpected semi-final line-up, Flipkens is the most surprising name after seeing off eighth seed Kvitova in her first major quarter-final. The Belgian, who was ranked 262 in the world last year after suffering blood clots in her calf, played a terrific final set. Kvitova was feeling unwell in the latter stages and required treatment from the doctor, but despite pushing hard the Czech could not recover the solitary break in the decider. "It's amazing, more than a dream coming true," said Flipkens. "Semi-finals of a Grand Slam, ridiculous. Last year I didn't get into qualifying of Wimbledon."
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013 |
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Agnieszka Radwanska July 4, 2013 |
Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 Ladies' Singles Semifinals | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens Live Stream
The good and bad news for both of these women is that they have never played against each other before. Generally semifinal opponents are rivals or at least familiar faces. This concept could help Kirsten Flipkens, though she has been around long enough for Bartoli to have seen her style of play. In terms of past history at Wimbledon Marion Bartoli should be viewed as the favorite by a long shot. She was a finalist against Venus Williams in 2007. And in terms of previous Major results Bartoli takes the cake again. This will be her third Grand Slam semifinal appearance, and she has been to the quarterfinals or better in each of the four tournaments. This week marked Flipkens' first Major quarterfinal and semifinal, but she has earned her spot in the final four.
Bartoli has not just looked excellent these two weeks—she has looked the best of all the 128 competitors. Though she only faced one seeded player (Sloane Stephens, who is ranked slightly lower than her) so far, her form has been brilliant. Also Flipkens would normally not even be a seeded player, but she has been having a great year herself. Not only has the French No. 1 not dropped a set this entire tournament but she hasn't even been stretched to a single tiebreak. She has played four 7-5 sets, though, which could help Flipkens to know that the chance is there. This run, along with her 2011 French Open venture, have been her best performances ever in my eyes.
Kirsten Flipkens looked great even before reaching the quarterfinals, and now she has a chance to participate in the final. The only set she dropped this fortnight was the opening set against Petra Kvitova in her last match. Her storming-back-from-a-set-down in the quarterfinal match was an unusual sight to see, but she wore her opponent down and was very protective of hitting any unforced errors. That was her first big upset at Wimbledon but it proved that she has what it takes to beat the woman currently ranked five spots higher than her.
Flipkens knows what it is like to play under the Centre Court roof at Wimbledon. She is used to the atmosphere around the indoor stadium and how the lights may or may not affect play. Because she played her last match in this environment due to rainy conditions, she could have an edge. Experience - Flipkens has much less experience (and career prize money, which could be a motivator) than Bartoli but has not been fazed by that yet. Bartoli has been in the final here before and has posted other big Wimbledon wins in her career. This is the perfect court for her to win her first Major title, if she is to do so. Playing style - Bartoli swings with two hangs on both sides and plays flat, hard balls in nearly every point. Flipkens has a somewhat dull game and much less power, but her backhand slice could work wonders for her against Bartoli's also unusual game.
Though Kirsten Flipkens has a few shots that could match up well against Marion Bartoli, I do not think this one will be too much of a contest. Bartoli is the better player overall, especially at Wimbledon, and has been even more dominant for the last five matches. Maybe Flipkens could try to extend a set to a tiebreak but the odds of her taking two sets are slim. I will say Bartoli wins in straight sets, with one of those sets being fairly close, to make her way back to another Wimbledon final.
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013 |
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Marion Bartoli v Kirsten Flipkens July 4, 2013 |
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 | David Ferrer v Juan Del Potro July 3, 2013
Amid the chaos and the carnage elsewhere, the top half of the men's draw is the only element that has shown some respect for the form-book. By the end of manic Monday, the four seeds due to reach the quarter-final had all done so.
Novak Djokovic led the way, without for once being at his supreme best as he defeated Tommy Haas 6-1 6-4 7-6. A first set lasting only 25 minutes was misleading in that Haas, who according to his countryman Boris Becker is playing the best tennis of his career at 35, had his chances.
He became the first man to break the No 1 seed this tournament, doing so twice, but had to be content with that as well as a brave third set in which he saved a match point but made a couple of tired errors in the tie-break.
As the match grew competitive there were some excellent rallies, one of which ran to 37 strokes. "He's a grass court specialist so I'm really glad to have come through in three," Djokovic said. He will now play Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed, who beat him in the 2010 semi-final here.
The Czech ended Bernard Tomic's fine run by 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-4 in a match that took a while to catch fire.
With Tomic's supporters' club, the Fanatix, having failed to get show court tickets, there was a distinct lack of atmosphere on Court One. For two sets the serve dominated and each man won a tie-break until the match went haywire with three breaks in five games, Berdych taking two of them and then the set. The fourth set also finished 6-4 in his favour, so the one remaining Australian in either draw is out.
One of the mysteries of tennis is how a player can find a match so difficult for an hour or more and then suddenly run away with it.
David Ferrer, the number 4, has become an expert in the genre over the past few days, twice struggling and then reducing opponents to gibbering wrecks.
The Spaniard had dropped at least one set in all three previous matches and on Saturday was 2-1 down to the Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov before coming through the last two sets 6-1 6-2.
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| Wimbledon 2013 | David Ferrer v Juan Del Potro July 3, 2013 |
Yesterday he was at it again, dropping the first set against Ivan Dodig of Croatia on a tie-break, drawing level on another one and then racing through the gears 6-1 6-1. Not that he seemed to know the secret, unless it was all a matter of confidence. "When I won the second set, the third and the fourth, I receive better, I play more confident with my game," he said. "And of course him take down"; presumably meaning lost belief. Ferrer had caused a certain amount of consternation by not turning up on the far-flung Court Two until almost ten minutes after the scheduled start-time of 11.30, which he insisted was nothing to do with needing treatment. Unlike many at this tournament he has not been making an excuse of injuries, despite the odd problem with his ankle and toe. In the early games he regularly held break points without being able to capitalise and should never have been taken to a tie-break. He then went 0-3 down and never recovered, netting a backhand to concede the set in just under an hour. The second set tie-break went his way and from then on it was all downhill, dominating the next two sets while conceding only two games.
Dodig had reached new heights by playing in a fourth round of a Grand Slam, albeit with the benefit of two retirements by opponents, Philipp Kohlschriber and Igor Sijsling. Ranked 49 in the world, he can look back with satisfaction, while Ferrer prepares for a quarter-final against the eighth seed, Juan del Potro, of whom he said: "He's a very great player. It's going to be difficult, and in grass court I think is more difficult. He play better than me in grass court." Ferrer did, however, beat the Argentine in straight sets last year before losing to Andy Murray in the quarter-final, when three of the four sets went to tie-breaks.
Del Potro saw off Italy's Andreas Seppi, the 23rd seed and a five-set specialist who never looked like going that far this time. Three sets and saving three match points in the last of them was the best he could manage in going down 6-4 7-6 6-3. Thus Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, makes the last eight without having dropped a set. It is the first time he has done so in this tournament, although he was bronze medallist in the London Olympics here, beating Novak Djokovic.
"All players feel nerves towards the end of the match and he made fantastic winners but I played really well to win the last two points," he told. "I'm so happy to be in the quarters for the first time at Wimbledon. I'm improving on grass and I like it a lot." His assessment of Ferrer, who leads him 6-2 on head-to-heads, was: "He's playing fantastic this season and I think he's the favourite but I like to play this on grass if my knee is okay. It's really painful but I'm having ice all the time."
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013
Fernando Verdasco accepts that he will have his work cut out to deny Andy Murray a Wimbledon semi-final berth – but insists he is not just going along for the ride.
Currently unseeded Spaniard saw off Frenchman Kenny De Schepper 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in an all left-handed clash on Court Three to reach the last eight at SW19 for the first time on his 11th appearance.
But the 29-year-old clay court specialist accepts he will be a big underdog against second seed and home favourite Murray when they meet in their last eight showdown with the Scot boasting an 8-1 head-to-head record.
‘I’m going to go out there and try to do my game like I did every match and like I try to do every match that I play,’ said Verdasco, who is now joint-second on the list for the most attempts before reaching the quarters at the All England Club.
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013 |
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco July 3, 2013 |
Verdasco, who warmed up for Wimbledon by reaching the quarter-finals at Eastbourne, revealed he is on good terms with World No.2 Murray, but that will count for nothing when they face off on Wednesday ‘Yeah I have a good relationship with Andy. I mean, I know him for many years. He was practicing in Spain when he was younger,’ he added. ‘We always had a good relationship out of the court and on the court also. We played many times. It was never a problem, ‘But when you are out there, you try to win, he try to win, everybody try to win. ‘But this my first quarters.
I’m happy to be here and happy how I have played the whole tournament. Of course, is going to be a special match because it is going to be against Murray here in Wimbledon in quarterfinals, but it is going to be just one more match for me.’
Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013
Novak Djokovic tackles Tomas Berdych for a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals Wednesday still feeling the pain of his lost against the Czech at the All England Club three years ago.
World number one Novak Djokovic was beaten in straight sets in the semi-finals by Tomas Berdych in 2010, a defeat which raised serious doubts over whether or not the gifted but unpredictable Serb would ever build on his Australian Open breakthrough of 2008.
He lost that match but has since has gone on to win five more majors including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns in 2011.
"Yes, I had quite a turbulent five, six months of 2010 but the semi-finals of Wimbledon came in the right time for me because I felt that was like a springboard for me," said Novak Djokovic.
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013 |
"From that moment on everything started going uphill really."
Not that Djokovic, who boasts a 13-2 winning record against Berdych will be taking anything for granted.
"I hadn't played great at that match against Tomas, but credit to him because he played finals that year, and he beat Roger and myself, played a good match against Rafa in the final. So he knows how to play on grass. That's the only time we played on this surface. I'm expecting a difficult match."
Djokovic reached his 17th successive Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win over German veteran Tommy Haas.
But with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both suffering shock early defeats, he is taking nothing for granted against Berdych.
"It's the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. He's an established top 5, top 10 player in the world.
"But I feel good about myself in this moment. I think I actually play better tennis on grass than I played two years ago when I won this tournament. For now I'm feeling good. I'm No. 1 of the world. I have no reason to be concerned about my game."
World number 2 Andy Murray insists he can cope with the burden of shouldering growing expectations that he will finally end the 77-year wait for a British man to win Wimbledon.
Murray was in commanding form once again as he swept into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny.
The second seed has yet to drop a set in his first four matches and looked more at ease than ever in the All England Club spotlight as he prepares for a last eight clash with Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday.
Losing to Federer in last year's Wimbledon final provoked a tearful response from Murray.
But, after winning the US Open and an Olympic gold at Wimbledon, the 26-year-old has appeared increasingly in command of his emotions both on and off court.
"There's always pressure coming into this event and it builds with each match," said Murray as he continues his bid to become his country's first men's champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
"But I've dealt with it well over my career. I've played well at Wimbledon. It's been consistently my best slam over the course of my career."
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| Wimbledon 2013 | Novak Djokovic v Tomas Berdych July 3, 2013 |
If he gets past Verdasco, against whom he has an 8-1 winning record, then he will face either Jerzy Janowicz or Lukasz Kubot with the two Polish Davis Cup teammates meeting in the other quarter-final in his side of the draw. Janowicz, the 24th seed, defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on the back of 16 aces and 34 winners as he reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 22-year-old was joined in the last eight just moments later by 31-year-old Kubot, the lowest-ranked player left at 130 in the world, who defeated France's 111th-ranked Adrian Mannarino, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The last Pole to reach the last-eight at Wimbledon was Wojtek Fibak in 1980. "It's unbelievable what is going on right now. We have two players in the quarter-finals and a woman in the quarter-finals. I think this is by far the best that possibly could happen to Polish tennis," said Janowicz.
Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer reached the quarter-finals for the second successive year by firing 53 winners in his 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-1 win over Croatia's unseeded Ivan Dodig. He goes on to tackle Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro who reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 win over Andreas Seppi, the 23rd seeded Italian.
Wimbledon 2013 | Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli July 2, 2013
Sloane Stephens is chasing her second slam semi-final of 2013 after French Open. Can former runner-up Marion Bartoli stop her at Wimbledon?
Stephens came of age at the Australian Open, cementing her status as one of the most talented youngsters in the game by reaching the last four and after a successful French Open, she's once again in the latter stages at Wimbledon.
The draw is wide open and Serena Williams says that Stephens is capable of going all the way.
She's really had to dig deep this fortnight coming through three desperately tight matches. She saw off Andrea Petkovic (who used to be ranked in the top ten) 8-6 in the third in round two before winning a topsy-turvy battle with Petra Cetkowska and then battling past another talented youngster in Monica Puig 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
But in Marion Bartoli she's up against an opponent with a wealth of experience. Bartoli stunned Justine Henin in the semi-finals back in 2007 to reach the Wimbledon final, her first and so far only Grand Slam final. The Frenchwoman ended her coaching relationship with her father earlier this year and she's currently playing her best tennis for quite some time. She's through to the last eight without dropping a set and Stephens told the press that it's going to be a very tough match.
"She hits really flat, really hard. She goes for all of her shots. It's tough playing someone who is going for it all the time. You kind of have to adjust, you know, just do your best really."
Stephens style is quite different. She's capable of hitting a big ball from the back of the court but her main strength is her athleticism and she will be hoping to wear Bartoli down eventually.
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| Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli Live Stream |
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| Sloane Stephens v Marion Bartoli Live Stream |
Wimbledon 2013 | Sabine Lisicki v Kaia Kanepi July 2, 2013
Who anticipated this at the beginning of the Wimbledon? Sabine Lisicki will face Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2013.
Manic Monday certainly lived up to its billing at Wimbledon 2013, with world No. 1 and undisputed Wimbledon 2013 favourite Serena Williams falling to a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 defeat against Sabine Lisicki. The German grass court specialist fell behind by a break twice in the third set but kept on digging deep and incredibly managed to overturn the Serena momentum.
With the victory Lisicki set up a quarter-final showdown with Kaia Kanepi. The powerful Estonian managed to hold her own despite having the crowd against her when she took on Laura Robson in round four. There was no booing or impolite cheers for double faults, but the crowd were evidently desperate to see Robson reach the last eight. Kanepi eventually ground out a 7-6, 7-5 win, shaking off the nerves to finally claim victory on her fifth match point.
Lisicki and Kanepi should provide an entertaining matchup. Both players have games well suited to grass.
Also, they're both considered as the best servers in the WTA. Kanepi perhaps has the superior power game but Lisicki is good at rushing the net, and as we saw against Serena, she's lightning quick across the court.
This showdown will be the first competitive meeting between Lisicki and Kanepi. With so much up for grabs it's hard to pick a winner. It could simply come down to who holds their nerve. If it's not such a tentative affair, we're going to see a very exciting display of attacking tennis.
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| Sabine Lisicki | Wimbledon 2013 |
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| Sabine Lisicki | Wimbledon 2013 |
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| Kaia Kanepi | Wimbledon 2013 |
