Wimbledon Finals

Kvitova beats Sharapova in straight sets to become Wimbledon champion for the first time at the age of 21.

Sharapova did not play a bad match - she returned well, her serve, although not devastating, was not a liability, she ran around that court like a bat out of hell and although she's never been the quickest on court, she was looking pretty fit and slick... Kvitova, however, was just better in every way that a player can be. Her groundstrokes were something to be seen to believe as she continuously pummelled the corners with frightening accuracy; her serves were fast and devastating and her quiet concentration was louder than any Shara scream as she beat her - and comfortably so - in straight sets - 6-3 6-4.

The tennis world has a new champion in Kvitova. The fact that she is Czech and left-handed sends the media into a frenzy of comparisons with Navratilova, but I think Kvitova has some way to go before she can boast 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 ladies doubles, 10 mixed doubles) and 167 titles all-told (the record for any man or woman in the sport).

Saying that, she is an exciting talent and if she is able to build on her success at Wimbledon and to continue improving her game, great things could lie ahead for her. The new ear of women - Kvitova, Lisicki, Azarenka - are coming and the veterans and champions of old - Sharapova (she's 24, I know) and the Williams sisters - should watch out. As for the maybes, the so-near-and-yet-so-fars, the will-she-evers? - Wozza, Zvo, Janko and Ivano - they better step up because with Kvitova's win and the others all appearing in the semis, ladies tennis looks to be shifting and the maybes could become what ifs?


Djoko beats GoNads in four sets to make his 'dream' come true and win his first Wimbledon title.

Playing as good as he's ever done on grass, and probably as good as anyone could ever do on grass, Djokovic's scintilating pace and aggression was largely too much for Nadal.

Djoko took a tight and tense first set when Nadal was serving at 4-5. The crowd were restless waiting for the inevitable tie break where most of them, I'm sure, thought Nadal would step it up and outplay his Serbian opponent. It was Djoko, however, who stepped it up, and long before a tie break was even necessary. He hit deep and hard and accurately and GoNads found himself a break and then a set down to the man who would take his world number 1 spot the following day, no matter what the result.

The second set, where the commentators were calling on Nadal to 'push' and get it to one set all and even pegging, was a masterclass from Djoko. His defense was remarkable and GoNads got a real taste of his own medicine as he saw ball after ball coming back to him. Nadal made 15 unforced errors in total in the final, which is more than double how many he made against Ray-ray in the semis. He won only 44% of points behind his second serve and hit a mediocre 21 winners compared to Djoko's 27.

Something had to change in the third but when Djoko threatened to break again early on, the crowd, the commentators, and the viewers at home all suspected a straight sets annihilation. Nadal was not about to let that happen and he rallied himself admirably (as Djoko's level dropped) and broke Djoko twice on his way to a 6-1 third set victory.

The fourth set started shakily for a shocked Djoko and he was break points down in his first game. Now, the pundits were saying, this has the makings of a classic five-setter. Djoko is rattled and Nadal's on the hunt - final set shoot out here we come. Djoko managed to cling on to those early games and grew in confidence with every forehand cross court and backhand down the line, whilst Nadal, failing to capture that early break, started again with the unforced errors we'd seen in the first and second sets. He did not play the big points well which is something I've never said or even thought about GoNads before. His forehand, so often a weapon feared and revered in the tennis world, was misfiring long and into the net and his serve and backhand - his most improved shots - were not finding the placement or power consistently enough to trouble Novak. He got the break and found himself serving for the Championship at 5-3. A nervy few points got him to 30-30 and with a beady GoNads at the other end of the court Djoko needed some inspiration to see him win his fairytale Slam... and he served and volleyed for the first time in the match. Now that, my friend, is balls. On his first Championship point he sent a crushing serve down the tee, powered a beautiful forehand to the corner and flopped to the ground as GoNads could only push a desperate backhand wide and long.

Djoko becomes the first man other than Nadal or The Fed to win Wimbledon since 2004. And as his world number 1 ranking is confirmed today, have we stepped into a new era of a Djoko/GoNads rivalry? Can The Fed find his way back to winning ways? Can Ray-ray find any winning ways? Will the return of Del Potto tear the top four open?

We shall see, Mr Bumble.

I'll keep you blogged...