Kvitova downs Sharapova for Wimbledon championship

No. 8 seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, realized her dream to become a Wimbledon champion by defeating a former Wimbledon champion, No. 5 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

It looked to be a great final from the start, as Sharapova was finally able to make it back to the Wimbledon final after a seven-year drought. But 21-year-old Kvitova was up to the task in her first Wimbledon final with a powerful lefty serve and powerful lforehand that kept Sharapova off balance throughout the match.

Cibulkova dismisses Wozniacki, Pironkova sends Venus packing

No. 24 seed, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, played her heart out and narrowly defeated No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in round four at Wimbledon, 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Also, No. 32 seed, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria easily downed No. 23 seed, Venus Williams of the USA.

In the Quarterfinals, Dominika will face No. 6 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia. Tsvetana will face No. 8 seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

With Wozniacki, and both Williams sisters out of the picture, it sure opens up the field for the remaining players. Perhaps this is the year Maria Sharapova will add another championship to her list of titles.

Bartoli stops Serena Williams’ hopes for comeback

No. 9 seed, Marion Bartoli of France, shows her excitement after defeating Serena Williams of the USA in round four of the 2011 Wimbledon championships in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(8-6).

Serena had no answer for the determination and powerful strokes hit by Marion. Serena seemed a little off balance the first set, and picked up her game somewhat during the 2nd set, but to no avail. Marion took the match in the tie-break.

It was the first time Marion has defeated Serena. Serena led the head-to-head series 2-0. In fact, Marion had never won a set off of Serena in their previous meetings.

Ivanovic upset by Cetkovska in round three

No. 18 seed, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, was eliminated from Wimbledon in round three by No. 81, Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic, by a surprising score of 6-2, 7-6(0).

The only other time these two have met, Ivanovic won easily in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 at the French Open in 2008. That makes this an even more disappointing loss for the struggling Ivanovic. Just when it seems her game might be coming back together, she lets it slip away again.

Sharapova has easy win over Chakvetadze in Wimbledon opener

No. 5 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia, easily defeated her compatriot, No. 52 ranked Anna Chakvetadze in the opening round at Wimbledon, 6-2, 6-1.

Sharapova is beginning to show her old form and looking fully healthy again after being forced off the tour for 10 months with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Sharapova, with her signature loud shrieking, took apart her compatriot in the opening set with a pair of service breaks while facing hardly any threat to her own serve. In the 2nd set, Sharapova was far less effective on her own serve, with Chakvetadze having four break points. She converted on only one of them, and her own weak delivery was punished by Sharapova, who broke serve four times to make sure of her place in round two.

Serena Williams tops Rezai in first match in almost a year

After not playing for almost a year, Serena Williams of the USA won her first match at Wimbledon over France’s Aravane Rezai in a hard fought 3-setter, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, closing it out with her 13th ace.

Serena had been off the court for almost a year, first because of a cut tendon in her foot after stepping on broken glass in a restaurant, then by a blood clot in her lungs.

Serena fought through a midmatch slump, then reasserted command over her French opponent in the third set with a big serve and powerful groundstrokes. She showed why she is still considered a title favorite despite her long absence and her No. 7 seeding.

Serena Williams downs Zvonareva for 4th Wimbledon Championship

Serena Williams of the USA successfully defended her title at Wimbledon by defeating Vera Zvonareva of Russia at Wimbledon 2010 on Saturday, 6-3, 6-2.

World No. 1 Serena kept the No. 21 seed, Vera, on the run throughout the 1st set, breaking serve to go up 5-3, then holding to take the set 6-3.

Serena broke Vera’a serve again in the 1st game of the 2nd set. Vera later double-faulted game-point to go down 1-4. Both held serve, and Serena served it out, taking the match on her 1st championship point.

Venus and Serena Williams fined $4,000 each for missing press conference

Serena and Venus Williams were each fined $4,000 at Wimbledon for skipping a news conference after their loss in the doubles quarterfinals.

Serena said Thursday she is “shocked to hear” about the penalty, adding she and her sister rarely speak to the media after Grand Slam doubles matches other than finals.

Serena and Venus were the doubles top seeds at Wimbledon. They lost to Russians Vera Zvonareva and Elena Vesnina in three sets Wednesday, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Wimbledon 2010 Final – Serena Williams versus Vera Zvonareva

As happened 5 times in the last 8 years, Serena Williams will appear in the Wimbledon Final as she goes up against Vera Zvonareva.

World No. 1, 28-year-old Serena of the USA earned her berth in the Final by defeating unseeded but determined 19-year-old Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Petra pushed Serena from the start, going up a break in the 1st set. Serena was able to break back and take the 1st set to a tie-break, which she won 7-5. The 2nd set was much closer than the score reflects with many deuce games. But Serena proved to be the tougher one in the end.

Wimbledon Semifinals – Zvonareva, Pironkova, Kvitova, Serena Williams

The Semifinals for Wimbledon 2010 have been determined.

One match pits No. 21 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia against No. 82 ranked
Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

These two have met once before at Moscow in 2009 where Tsvetana won 6-0, 6-2 on hard court. Tsvetana, 22-years-old, has never made it past the 2nd round of a Grand Slam before, while Vera, age 25, has made the 4th round of Wimbledon twice and the semifinal of the Australian Open once. Thus we have a much more Grand Slam experienced Vera versus a more inexperienced Tsvetana. However, the match may well be determined by who is more hungry for the win. It is new ground for both of these players, since neither has been in a Grand Slam Semifinal before. It should prove to be an interesting match.