Petra Kvitova, 21, may have played her first Grand Slam final, and not only that, she played against former world No.1 and 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, but apart from the shaky serve in the opening game, Kvitova showed no signs of nervousness and went all the way to the biggest tennis trophy with a 6-3 6-4 win. The most powerful sign of Kvitova's mental strength, something very welcome in women's tennis, was the final game of the match which Kvitova quickly won with great serves without losing a point.

The weakest link in Sharapova's game was her serve, and here's one illustration: in the first set the Russian three-time Grand Slam champion won just 14% of points on her second serve. I often had a feeling that Sharapova was afraid to serve. After the coin toss she chose Kvitova to start the match. Also, the crucial sixth game of the first set Sharapova lost with a double fault and Kvitova earned a 4-2 lead. Sharapova's mental toughness got its time to shine when she served an ace on Kvitova's set point in the first set, but overall in the match, the eighth-ranked Kvitova was much more solid and not even the never-give-up attitude could save Sharapova. The first seven games of the second set featured five breaks of serve, and that fifth one was earned by Kvitova, who soon worked her way to the Wimbledon title.

Kvitova, who cracked the Top 10 this year, has won her fourth title of the season, after Brisbane, Paris and Madrid. (photo via Wimbledon)

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)

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)

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 »