Murray eases through against J. Hajek (CZE)  7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

Nadal opens title with a solid win over K.Nishikori (JPN) 6-2,6-4,6-4.

Serena off to flying start bgts M. Larcher De Brikto 6-0, 6-4.

No one could have imagined the drama in store when the All England Club opened its gates on Day 1 of the 2010 Championships. A day when the tournament came within a whisker of losing its No 1 Seed and 6 times mens singles champion Roger Federer. Federer was up against World No 60 Alejandro Falla the Colombian played the “match of his life” and found himself serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set before Federer hit back to record a 5-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 ,6-0 victory.

The 11th seed M. Cilic was the biggest casualty in the mens draw when he went down 6-2, 6-4,7-6 and the other 3 seeds to go out on Day 1 was Croat I.Ljubicic (17), S.Wawrinka (20) and Spaniard T.Robredo (30)  who all crashed out.

Last years Runner-up Andy Roddick looked in great shape as he breezed past fellow American R Ram 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

In the womens draw there was just one casualty as 5th seed Francesca Schiavone lost out 6-7, 7-5, 6-1  finding the transition from clay to grass too hard.

Venus Williams (2) blasted her way past Paraguays Rossana De Los Rios 6-3, 6-2.

Wimbledon welcomed back two familiar faces as Belgian Kim Clijsters & Justine Henin both made successful starts to their campaigns.

Jelena Jankovic had too much experience for young Britain Lara Robson.

Day 1 finally ended with the first outing of the Centre Court roof of the 2010 Championships closed due to fading light during the match between Djokovic and Rochus. After a marathon 5 setter, the Serb came back from 2-1 down and the match was stopped at almost 11p.m  at 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 around 20 mins later than Andy Murrays famous night match against Warinka in 2009.

ROUND 3 ATP BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, California, U.S.A

Melzer bt Greul W/O                                      Roddick bt De Bakker 6-3,6-4

Baghdatis bt FEDERER 5-7, 7-5 7-6       Robredo bt Sela           6-3.6-0

Murray bt Russell         6-3,7-5                  Soderling bt F.Lopez 7-6,6-4

Troiki bt Davydenko W/O                          Almagro bt Blake 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Tsonga bt Montanes 4-6,6-3 6-3

MENS RANKINGS A.T.P Singles

1. R.Federer 2. N.Djokovic 3. R.Nadal 4. A.Murray 5. Juan Martin Del Potro 6. N.Davydenko 7.R.Soderling 8. A. Roddick 9. M.Cilic 10. F. Gonzalez

Other Britons in Top 300

155. Alex Bogdanovic 249. James Ward 252. Daniel Evans 283. Jamie Baker

W.T.A RANKINGS - Womens Rankings

1. S.Williams 2.D.Safina 3.S.Kuznetzova 4.C.Wozniacki 5.V. Williams 6.V.Azarenka 7.E. Dementieva 8. A. Radwanska 9. J. Jankovic 10. Na Li

Britons in Top 250

65. E. Baltacha  100. Katie O’Brien 123. Anne Keothovang 199. Naomi Cavaday 227. Melanie South

Anne Keothang recently back from a knee injury recovered from a 3-0 first set deficit to beat World No 397 Chayenne Ewijik 7-6 (5), 6-3 and secure a 1-0 lead for GB.

In the 2nd singles rubber Katie O’Brien went down to Dutch No 1 Arantxa Rus.

In the deciding doubles Sarah Borwell and O’Brien were comfortably beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Nicole Thysson and Richel Hogenkamp.  GB Captain Nigel Sears said “they had come here to win the group and gain promotion and finishing 2nd was  frustrating but they had lost to a good team”.

Andy Murray - British No 1 reaches Australian Open Semi-Finals for the first time after Rafael Nadal retires at 6-3, 7-6 3-0 down. Murray was playing outstanding tennis up to this point.  Afterwards Murray said he was gutted for Nadal as a repeat of his knee trouble caused him to retire. Murray will now meet Cilic in the semi-finals who defeated Andy Roddick in the previous round.  Murray goes into the Semi-Finals as favourite as he is fresh and in the form of his life and Cilic has had to play three 5 set matches to reach this point.

SEMI FINAL - MENS

Roger Federer (SUI 1)                                       Marin Cilic  (CRO 14)

Vs                                                                              Vs

N.Djokovic or J.Tsonga                                   Andy Murray (GBR 5)

LADIES SEMI-FINAL LINE UP

Serene Williams (USA 1)                                                        Justine Henin (BEL)

                 Vs                                                                                             Vs

 Na Li (CHN)                                                                                Jie Zhenq (CHN)  

GIRLS SINGLES

Congratulations to Laura Robson who has made the Quarter Finals and will play Ester Goldfield (USA) in the next round.

1. Roger Federer, 2.Rafael Nadal, 3.Andy Murray, 4.Novak Djokovic, 5. Juan Martin Del Potro, 6.Andy Roddick, 7. Jo

Wilfrid Tsongo, 8.Nikolay Davydenko, 9.Fernando Verdasco, 10. Gilles Simon.

W.T.A

1.Dinara Safin, 2.Serena Williams, 3.Venus Williams, 4.Elena Dementieva, 5.Caroline Wozniacki, 6.Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7.Vera Zvonareva, 8.Jelena Jankovic, 9.Victoria Azarenka, 10. Flavia Pennetta.

HENIN BACK IN TENNIS

Henin has announced that she will be returning to competition very quickly hardly weeks after her country woman Kim Clijsters stamped her comeback with a US Open title.  She will be officially back in the ring starting 2010.

FEDERER VS NADAL

Switzerland have been drawn to visit Spain in the !st round of next years Davis Cup.  Federer  said  after leading Switzerland to victory over Italy”I truly enjoy playing for my Country but i will have to see where my priorities  lie for next season”  In their 6 year rivalry Switzerland have never faced Spain in Davis Cup competition.

NADAL TO MISS DAVIS CUP FINAL

Nadal will miss the Davis cup final on November 21st due to right knee tendinitis.  The Spanish team doctor said Nadal would need 3-6 weeks to fully recover.

1. Improving the height of contact - Try to make contact at the top of  the ball toss, often players let the ball drop too low and therefore hit it too late.  Try and hit the ball at the top of the ball toss just as it is about to stop.  This should also help you avoid an excessively high ball toss and should  encourage you to generate good racquet head speed.

When the above becomes natural you could try point 2

2. Try working on more of a knee bend, bending your knees as you get ready to strike the ball,  then push up with your legs as you go up to swing thus directing all your bodys energy upwards and explode up towards the ball.

Good luck

Andy Murray Vs Andy Roddick  & Roger Federer Vs Tommy Haas

If the match is played under the roof it would probably help Murray as the slower indoor conditions would take some of the pace off Roddicks serve.  While Murrays serve does not have the speed of Roddicks, it has so far this Wimbledon been a weapon on his run into the semi-final. Murray is arguably the best returner on the mens tour but Roddick has twice been in the final losing in 2004-2005 to Roger Federer so he definitely has more experience.  Murray has more all-round variety on court than the American so hopefully the Centre Court crowd will pull him through!

Federer remains in pursuit of that record 15th Grand Slam title, and his performances so far this year have suggested that onlyan outstanding Scottish player, perhaps can stop him !!

Good luck also to Jamie Murray in the Semi-Finals of the Mixed.

Day 3 saw  Giseko Dulko overcome her Centre court nerves to beat Sharapova in 3 sets, meanwhile Federer breezed past Spains Guillermo Garcia Lopez in straight sets with another “near perfect” performance.

DAY 4 - First up  on Centre court today is Lleyton Hewitt playing the 6ft 6 Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro, should be a great match with Hewitt showing signs of the form that won him many titles.  British fans will have to wait a little longer as Murray strives to keep Bristish hopes alive when he steps out third on Centre Court against a tough opponent Ernest Gulbis who he only just managed to beat 6-4 in the third set at Queens last year.  The press havemade quite a story claiming that Gulbis accused Murray of faking a wrist injury at 4-4 in the third at Queens and then proceeding to take the next two games and the match!  Murray will definitely have to step it up a gear as Gulbis is a tough opponent!  Also later the last British girl Baltacha is playing on Court 4 against Kirsten Flipkons. 

The Court One crowd will see Venus Williams up first against Kateryna Bondarenko and she will be hoping just like Serena did yesterday that she can power her opponent off the court.