Maria Sharapova advanced to the final of Wimbledon for the first time since the year she won the title in 2004 as a 17-year-old, and Petra Kvitova made her first Grand Slam final, while her best Grand Slam result until today were the semis of Wimbledon last year.

The first semifinal was the one between Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova. Before you knew it Kvitova took the first set 6-1 and in the last game of that set she hit three aces. In the second set the momentum switched, and Azarenka built on her initial 3-0 lead to win the set 6-3. Interestingly, in that set she won, Azarenka scored only one winner! Kvitova’s unforced errors made all the difference. In the final set, the eighth-ranked Kvirova broke Azarenka’s serve in the beginning, for a 2-0 lead, and in the final game again to win 6-1 3-6 6-2.

The second semifinal featured Nick Bollettieri’s students, Maria Sharapova and Sabine Lisicki. The match started with Lisicki’s dominance, as she stormed to a 3-0 lead, but that was pretty much all we got to see from the German wildcard, as from that score until Sharapova’s 3-0 lead in the second set, the 62nd-ranked Lisicki won just one game. Final score: 6-4 6-3. (photos via Wimbledon)

Maybe Andy Murray is that golden link between the Serbian sisters and success? Together with Andy’s brother Jamie, Jelena Jankovic won her first and only Grand Slam title, the magical 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles, and today we got the news that Ana Ivanovic will be coached by Nigel Sears, father of Andy’s girlfriend Kim.

Nigel Sears will be Ivanovic’s full-time coach. He has quit his job as Head of Women’s Tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association and will travel with Ivanovic wherever she goes. Remember how important it was for Ivanovic to find a fully-dedicated coach?

"I couldn’t be happier," said Ana. "I’ve admired Nigel for some time now, and I can’t wait to start working with him on court." (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Dominika Cibulkova hit just two winners in the first set and one in the second as Maria Sharapova stormed past her in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, 6-1 6-1. Sharapova scored 23 winners in the one-hour match.

In the previous round Cibulkova upset world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and in that encounter she was first behind 1-6! Sharapova, though, didn’t give Cibulkova any chance of a comeback.

Sabine Lisicki will be Sharapova’s opponent in the semis. The German wildcard had a much more difficult time in her quarterfinal against Marion Bartoli but she won it 6-4 6-7(4) 6-1. Both Lisicki and Bartoli won a tournament on grass in the lead-up to Wimbledon – Lisicki won Birmingham, Bartoli won Eastbourne.

Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, but hasn't played the semis since 2006. Lisicki played the quarterfinals of Wimbledon two years ago, but this is the first time she is in the semifinals of a Grand Slam. (photos: Ralf Reinecke, © Neal Trousdale)

What a day at Wimbledon! The first matches of the second week of the grass-court Grand Slam said goodbye to world No.1 and top seed Caroline Wozniacki, twice-defending champion Serena Williams and five-time champion Venus Williams. My poll has now lost three more of the eight names included (the only players still standing are Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli and Petra Kvitova).

Wozniacki lost to Dominika Cibulkova 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5 and has yet again failed to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon even though in her first three wins this year she hadn't lost more than three games per set, the least of any other player in the draw, and as you can see, she started the match with Cibulkova in similar fashion. Wozniacki is already on the defensive: "I don't really care what people think or say or do."

As for the Williams sisters, who had won nine of the last 11 women's singles titles at Wimbledon, Serena's 17-match winning streak was ended by Marion Bartoli 6-3 7-6(6), while Venus lost to Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 6-3. The 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli won two marathons in the previous two rounds, against Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Flavia Pennetta, and followed them up with the biggest victory of her career, a dream victory, as Bartoli herself described it. The world No.33 Pirokova played the semifinals of Wimbledon last year and to reach them she defeated Venus by the same score as today! Pironkova beat Venus in their last three encounters, and is now 3-1 against her in head-to-head. Read more »

Wimbledon is the most traditional tennis tournament and that conservativeness is reflected in the white clothing rule. But the color restriction is not limiting players to express themselves and challenge the set rules.

Bethanie Mattek Sands is always attracting a lot of attention with her look and for Wimbledon 2011 she reinvented herself in cooperation with Lady Gaga's designer – the jacket adorned with white tennis balls may have challenged the officials, but it is likely to end up in the Wimbledon Museum (one Bethanie's Wimbledon outfit is already there).

Venus Williams' outfit for Wimbledon is the second biggest shocker of the tournament. Her EleVen zipper jumper with an open back is definitely unique, whether you like it or not. I like the piece for bringing something new (it's not a dress, it's not a shorts and a top), but it reminds of pajamas. Also, I don't appreciate the visible brown bra in the back.

Nadia Petrova's message still hasn't reached her sponsor Ellesse, they simply don't want to give up the fluffy outfits.

Let's move on to some good examples. Read more »

Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki still hasn't lost a set at the tournament and she hasn't lost more than three games per set. Today the Dane defeated Jarmila Gajdosova 6-3 6-2 and in the fourth round against Dominika Cibulkova she will be looking for her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam where she hasn't played at that stage.

Twice-defending Wimbledon champion Serena Williams hit 10 aces and 32 winners to Maria Kirilenko's nine winners and scored her first straight-set victory in five matches since her return from a year-long absence. Final score was 6-3 6-2 and Serena will play Marion Bartoli in the fourth round, who beat Flavia Pennetta 5-7 6-4 9-7.

Maria Sharapova is also through and if she defeats Peng Shuai in the fourth round, a clash with Wozniacki is a possibility in the quarters. The fifth-seeded Russian, besides the Williams sisters the only player in the draw who has a Wimbledon title to her name, beat Klara Zakopalova in the third round, 6-2 6-3, but the victory didn't come smoothly. Read more »

Last year’s finalist and second seed Vera Zvonareva lost in the third round of Wimbledon to world No.33 Tsvetana Pironkova, the Bulgarian player whom she defeated last year in the semis of the grass-court Grand Slam. Final score: 6-2 6-3.

Zvonareva committed 18 unforced errors to Pironkova’s 5 and converted only 1 of seven break point opportunities.

In the Wimbledon warm-up event in Eastbourne, Pironkova scared Serena Williams’ fans by defeating her 6-1 in the first set. Williams won, but in the second round fell to Vera Zvonareva, whom she defeated for the 2010 Wimbledon title.

Pironkova’s next opponent will be Venus Williams, who advanced with a solid 6-0 6-2 victory over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Let me remind you that the Bulgarian took the five-time champion Venus out from last year’s Wimbledon, at the quarterfinal stage.

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki was solid on Friday, with a 6-1 6-3 win over Virginie Razzano and just one unforced error! Svetlana Kuznetsova suffered a 4-6 6-3 6-4 defeat by Yanina Wickmayer. Maria Sharapova defeated Laura Robson 7-6(4) 6-3. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

For the previous Grand Slam I didn't include Li Na in my poll and she won the title, and now that I included her she lost in the second round! I know, she didn't lose to just anyone, she lost to Sabine Lisicki who won the Birmingham title on grass in the lead-up to Wimbledon, but still, my polls has been ruined too soon.

Anyway, the world No.62 Lisicki, a wildcard at the tournament, lost the first set, battled back to win the second and saved two match points in the decider when serving at 3-5 15-40. The German fired two service winners to bring the game to deuce and managed to hold serve with two aces. After a series of breaks Lisicki held for 7-6 and then broke the fourth-ranked Li to win the match 3-6 6-4 8-6.

The 8-0 win-loss record this grass season must be very rewarding to Lisicki, whose 2010 was marred by left ankle injury. Read more »

Amidst a heated discussion about the role of the Williams sisters in today's tennis, world No.58 Simona Halep of Romania played an impressive first set against Serena Williams, but when the American found her rhythm she shook her opponent with her well-known powerful game and experience. Final score of this second-round match: 3-6 6-2 6-1.

Interestingly, in the first set Williams didn't earn a single break point, and in the next two sets it was Halep. It's also interesting to note that Halep committed zero unforced errors in the set she won, while Williams hit nine. In the third set, Halep had zero winners, compared to Williams' 13.  Read more »

Our regular contributor John Bolan, irritated by the behavior of Serena and Venus Williams who, he believes, are disrespecting the WTA Tour and the other players who work hard all-year long, is sharing his opinion with us. Read on!

For the last several years I have been following the antics of the Williams sisters. I have seen the broken agreements between them and various tournaments. I have been there when tournaments marketed them only to have them pull out at the last minute.  The fake injuries and the appearance fees taken to show up but they play only one match losing to a no body. All this stuff is well documented. It is too crazy to make up.

Last week the Williams sisters actually showed up for a couple of matches at Eastbourne before bowing out so they can model their newest togs in London. The tennis media went bonkers about them while forgetting all about the women who now lead the WTA and where tennis priorities should be. These two players make a mockery of the tennis world and the media but it seems people keep falling for their antics.

Read more »