Andy! Andy! Andy! And More Andy!

The engine that could chalked up a big one on Friday on Centre Court in front of 15,000 unappreciative fans. Prior to the match Andy Roddick quipped that he would pretend every time he heard the crowd scream “Come on Andy,” he would pretend it was for him, not for Andy Murray. Andy Roddick stood alone on Centre Court surrounded by Brits pleading for an end to the 73-year drought that has plagued the nation.

Perhaps, it will happen next year, but for now, the Brits will have to wait one more time. Andy Murray is a wonderful tennis player. At 22 years young, there is little doubt that his day will come.

In an unexpected twist, Andy Murray out-aced the sultan of serve 25-21. However, Murray chose to play Roddick’s serve from 12 feet behind the baseline. Next time around, the Scotsman may re-think that strategy.

The match started as expected. When the twosome settled into points, Murray inevitably won. Roddick dominated the shorter points. Both players sported robust serves. The crowd was in the game and part of the contest and very much in Murray’s corner. It was a field day, the day the All England Club had awaited for 12 months.

In addition to the 15,000 fans around Centre Court, Henman’s Hill had thousands more passionate Murray fans. This was unsafe terrain for Roddick fans.

After a devastating setback in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2007,  Roddick began to question himself, his ability and his future. In that fateful quarter match, he jumped out to a 2 set lead over controversial Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Inexplicably, the play turned. Roddick could not execute. He was out of gas and soon out of the tournament.

More questions arose in 2008. He was ousted in the third round at Melbourne, did not enter Paris and out in the second round at Wimbledon before reaching the quarters at the U.S. Open. Andy Roddick’s career was headed the wrong way down a one-way street. Roddick stared at the “this way only” sign and made a bold commitment to a coaching change.

In November 2008, Roddick hired accomplished coach Larry Stefanki. Larry had some ideas. They all began with a more dedicated work ethic and recognition that the sultan of serve needed more diversity in his game. The twosome went to work in the off-season.

Roddick and Stefanki were rewarded at Melbourne with a semifinal appearance. They were pleasantly surprised in Paris reaching the fourth round on clay, a surface with which Roddick has struggled all his career. There were other signs of a comeback. His 2009 won lost record stood at a very respectable 33-8.

Andy Murray’s 2009 record is 40-6. He championed the Queen’s Cup. He is the best tennis player Britain has put forth in a very long time. He is a heavyweight contender. He is in need of a big win. Once he gets that win, the sky is the limit.

In the first set of the match that was to launch a weekend of celebration culminating with the home country’s first Wimbledon title in 74 years, Andy Murray was serving at 4-5, deuce.

Andy Roddick disguised a forehand and went with a show-stopping drop shot. Silence! Advantage Roddick, set point.

At set point, Roddick drove a deep forehand crosscourt. Murray nets the sideline drive. Set over.

Silence on Centre Court. A magnificent set of tennis was observed by a cheerless audience; just what Andy Roddick wanted.

Andy Roddick had silenced the crowd, temporarily taken them out of the match. The pressure was squarely on The Scotsman. Commentators reported that Murray stood to gain $100 million pounds in endorsements with a Wimbledon title. That is a fair amount of pressure, maybe more than anyone should bear.

Much like Elena Dementieva the day before, Andy Roddick took the first set, went to the service line and blinked. Murray jumped at the opportunity and broke, then held to go up 2-0. Murray served brilliantly through the set, winning 6-4. Match on! Crowd back.

This match had everything; spectacular shotmaking, an abundance of athleticism, courageous serving, daring net play and two highly gifted professionals.

Andy Murray leads the tour in games broken in 2009. He has broken more serves than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Roddick. He is the king of the break. He has speed, incredible touch and power, power and more power.

Andy Roddick is known as a server extraordinaire. That is the old Andy Roddick. The new Andy Roddick has dimension. He makes players play to his strength. He has patience, but he is not waiting. He is forcing, pressing. He comes up, cuts of shots, takes angles, hits deep crosscourt forehands and sharp down-the-line backhands.

Hey, this Andy Roddick is better than the old Andy Roddick, plus he knows more. He has been there; to the top of the mountain and to the bottom of the well.

There was no way Andy Roddick was caving in. If Andy Murray wanted this match, he was going to have to play better, play like someone who could challenge Roger Federer, not like someone who was ordained a title. Andy Murray was going to have to take this match away from Andy Roddick and it was not going to be easy.

Admit it or not, everyone around Centre Court could sense it. This was going to be a dogfight.

Roddick cast aside childish things. He did not dispute calls, he did not argue with the chair umpire. He stared Andy Murray down, then drew from the holster and shot from the hip.

He broke Murray to go up 3-1. He served a love game to go 4-1. At 5-3, Murray took charge, dominating the game. Roddick absorbed the loss. Murray pulled even and they held serve to get to 6-6.

Andy Murray may have the most breaks on the tour but Andy Roddick is a gunfighter. Roddick possesses the best tiebreaker record on the tour. Prior to today his tiebreaker record in 2009 stood at 25-4.

At 6-6, Roddick scored a break to go up 2-1. Murray answered to go 2-2. They went back and forth. At 4-5, Murray pitched two aces. Roddick would not go away.

He scored a 138 mph ace to go up 7-6. Murray hit a winner. 7-7. Roddick went crosscourt, Murray missed a forehand. Set point with Roddick up 8-7. Another crosscourt forehand by Roddick, another net ball from Murray. Set over!

The stunned crowd put their hand son their laps. Who is this new Roddick?

Set three had a similar feel. The spreading shadows foretold a dark day for the Brits. Murray served and played well. He appeared more athletic. Roddick was amazingly fit. He continued to press play, forcing shots, drop-shotting, slicing forehands, being annoying, totally uncompromising.

At 6-6, the tiebreaker began. The American jumped ahead when Murray missed a backhand at 1-2. Roddick followed with two big serves for 4-2. Murray barely caught the baseline to pull to 4-5. Roddick blistered a service winner.

At 6-4, Murray came up with a critical save passing Roddick at net. 5-6 Murray serving. Roddick thunders a return across the court. Roddick nets the retrieve. Match over.

Hail Andy Roddick, the sultan of serve, the master of pressure, the consummate underdog. Roger Federer will have to earn this championship. Andy Roddick does not go away easily.

In a semifinal match that cannot be surpassed, two of the world’s three best women grass court players went head to head for nearly three tense, exciting hours. When two athletes like Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva rise to the moment, rise to the setting and perform at the highest level, everybody wins.

Serena Williams showed why she is the fiercest competitor on the tour and why she should be the game’s top ranked player. Elena Dementieva showed her full potential and clearly established herself on a par with the Williams sisters, something that no other professional tennis player has accomplished in many years.

Serena’s 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 victory was a win for the ages, a credit to Elena Dementieva and an emotional ride for more than 15,000 Centre Court spectators. What Elena Dementieva has accomplished is a vastly improved serve, a superb forehand and the foot speed and grace it takes to win big matches. Elena Dementieva has not only developed the athleticism to play with the Williams sisters but the mindset to play on the big stage.

There is no bigger stage than Centre Court, Wimbledon. Steeped in glorious tradition, these wonderfully graceful and powerful athletes gave tennis fans a match to remember, a match to tell children about and a match that may create change in women’s tennis.

Elena Dementieva came from the locker room with purpose. She carried the play, challenging every Serena serve, every Serena outburst, every Serena drive. There was a feeling that it would not last. It has happened so many times before. When the key point, the key game was on the line, other players have succumbed to Serena Williams.

At 6-6 in the first set, that feeling of doubt was thick in the air. Suddenly Elena Dementieva blasted two returns and was pressuring Serena, who was committing uncommon strategic and errors and errors in execution. This just does not happen.

With two breaks of serve in the tiebreaker, Elena sat at set point at 6-3. She double faulted. Okay, she did not believe she could win. It was understandable. Elena dug deep inside herself, deep inside that new serve and fired a wide serve to Serena’s forehand. Surprised, Serena lunged and tried to go down the line. Wide! Game, set to Elena Dementieva. The match was on! We are going three today on Centre Court. You just knew it.

It was match on! What a set!

Serena Williams had a little conversation with herself. It was time. This is to be her tournament. She may not be the world’s top ranked player, but she is clearly the world’s best player. Serena Williams has not won 10 Grand Slam Championships by not rising to the occasion. Sometimes, she even needs to bring her game along for the ride. Serena Williams is that most dangerous combination of prizefighter and figure skater, very fluid with a real knockout punch.

If you drop your guard or look the other way, forget it. Serena will be in your face.

Elena Dementieva took one minute to savor her first set victory. Elena had blinked. Serena broke at game one second set. It took about as long as a Muhammad Ali knockout punch.

The crowd knew what would happen next. All the other players have done it. They sulk, get angry, express frustration. They know you cannot give Serena Williams breathing room. She is human, you know.

But, Elena Dementieva has won three of their last four meetings. Elena Dementieva is healthy, she puts her long legs to work and gets to balls other players simply stand and watch. After losing that first game of the second set, Serena held twice and Elena held twice.

With Serena serving at 2-3, Elena Dementieva unleashed a series of shots that had Serena shaking her head and looking to her corner for help. Like the champion she is, Serena came right back at the Russian pretty girl. At 30-40, Elena went down the line for an astonishing winner. This lady came to play. At deuce, she pitched an ace, her third of the match. Then another resounding serve to hold and go 4-3.

The crowd was into this match. It just does not get any better. You could sense that Elena was going to go for it. Elena was going to lay it out on the line and play for the break. It was in the air. At 5 foot 11 inches, Elena tends to look frail, but she is sturdy, composed and filled with game.

So, is Serena Williams. She might bend, but she does not break. And, Elena would not break her twice in a row. But, at 30-30, she doubled. Is it possible? You knew the match was on the line. Right now. Serena hit a shot that was called out, but which replay declared a winner. 40-40. That one hurt. Elena thought she had the game. She had spent the set, right? Wrong!

Elena now hits a backhand crosscourt, outright winner. Advantage Dementieva. Serena catches her breath and fires a huge wide serve. Deuce. Now, a long rally, and Elena comes up short. A big serve follows and Serena holds.

Now, Elena will fold like a tent. She put it all out there and came up short. Too bad. Wrong! She battles for a win, overcomes another double (they are starting to mount) and holds.

At 4-5, Serena does not play with this game. She serves out in love. 5-5. At game 11, Serena scorches four winners to break. She survives four ad out points before getting back to deuce and pitching two more aces to go up 7-5.

Does this ever have to end?

The ladies may have been tired. It was hard to tell. The women may have been nervous. It was hard to tell. This was about none of the above. This was simple. This match was now about who was the better player, who had the stronger will on this court at this moment. This was a beautiful heavyweight prizefight, with all the choreography of a Broadway show.

With Serena serving at 4-5 and ad out, it was match point. Inexplicably Serena found herself charging the net. Elena had an open court backhand. She elected to go crosscourt; the only place Serena could reach the ball. It was Elena’s biggest strategical error. Serena volleyed the ball. It clipped the net and staggered over to save the match, win the point.

Another big rally, Serena wins with a sterling crosscourt drive. Elena nets a return to go to 5-5. Both women hold to go 6-6. With the ad, Serena goes behind Elena for a winner.

Serving at 7-6, there was a feel of desperation. Even at 30-30, there was weight in the air. When Elena missed a down-the-line attempt, it all ended too quickly. Serena Williams won this elegant display. She deserved it. So did Elena Dementieva. What a contest!

When beautiful 19-year old Victoria Azarenka wins the 2009 Wimbledon Championship, she will have prevailed over the most difficult draw in women’s tennis history. There, I have said it. I have said that Victoria will prevail and win the championship. I have said the draw was stacked against her.

You might remember that I also said Melanie Oudin would be Wimbledon’s Cinderella. She was. But, Victoria Azarenka is not too far behind. When she hoists the silverware, she will have earned the right, believe me.

Many of the Brits do not like Victoria. She grunts, groans and moans her way through points and matches. Apparently, these Brits are unfamiliar with LaMaze. Women’s tennis today sounds like a maternity ward. But, that’s the way it is. It is far easier to count the touring non-grunters than to count the grunters.

As Victoria recently said, “I have been doing it since I was 10 years old. I wasn’t really strong and that was what helped me to accelerate more, to put more power to the ball.” You know what, Victoria, if it works for you, it works for me. But, please don’t do it when you hoist the Championship Trophy.

On a day where my other Cinderella, Melanie Oudin, succumbed to the effects of too much media, too much hype and forgot that this was another match against another girl that she could beat, Victoria Azarenka overcame a very stubborn Nadia Petrova in three tense sets.

On a day where Venus beat Ana into submission and where Serena lost just four games and where the surprising Elena Dementieva looks ready to snap out of her slump and move past Elena Vesnina, Victoria Azarenka was out there a long time, working hard, hitting one gorgeous drive after another and moving gracefully across the court. We were blessed to see her play.

And, Nadia Petrova had it working. The Russian 10 seed, served powerfully, hit beautiful shots of her own and used a devastating drop shot to counter every move Victoria made. Victoria was soon grunting and surging, groaning and reaching and winning.

You may remember that Victoria had Venus on the ropes at Melbourne before all sorts of unusual things happened. You may remember that Victoria reached the quarters at Roland Garros. You may forget that she is a very nice, very elegant 19-year old. She is, trust me. You would like to have her over for dinner.

She is also trying to fend off a well-traveled group of American and Russian hierarchy. The Brits have made sure it was a full time job. In the 3rd round, she drew the testy Sorana Cirstea, of Paris fame, today Petrova, tomorrow Serena, Thursday Elena and most likely Venus in the finals. Wow! Could it be any more difficult?

Take for example Dinara Safina. She overcame hard playing Amelie Mauresemo and now plays Sabine Lisicki. Dinara may choke again, but could it be an easier?

Venus draws Odin conquerer, Aggie Radwanska, who I am sure is very pleasant despite not being welcome at my house anymore. Elena, who has yet to lose a set and is quietly and quickly moving through the draw plays unseeded Francesca Schiavone. Elena has some choking issues of her own, but really how does that happen? How are all these talents at the bottom of the draw sheet?

Hey, if you looked at Victoria’s draw, you would grunt and groan too. So, instead of being a typical tennis frontrunner, come on over to the world of Victoria Azarenka and see how it is in the real world of a non-prima donna tennis champion. You see that is what Azarenka is all about. That is why she has so many fans. She is a hard-working, grind-it-out player that leaves nothing on the court. When Victoria walks off the court, she is spent, emotionally and physically.

After Azarenka took the first set from Petrova in a tiebreaker, Nadia needed a timeout to get some ice on her legs and have her blood pressure checked. These things happen when it is going well for Azarenka.

Petrova recovered. You knew she would. She stormed through the second set at 6-2. The Russian’s serve was dominant and it looked like the cooled off Azarenka would not avenge last year’s loss.

In the third set, there were five breaks but Victoria captured the key one at 4-3. In the final three games, Victoria lost just three points. Yes, she groaned, yes she grunted and yes she played like a champions for 2 hours and 35 minutes in the grueling heat.

Victoria Azarenka, your time has come. Remmeber what you did to Serena in Key Biscayne this year. Take no prisoners. Play like a champion and grunt as loud as you like. You are the best!

The flamboyant defending champion and tournament top seed has rocked the tennis world once again. This time it is with his absence. The world’s number one has withdrawn from the grandfather and most prestigious of all the Grand Slams. Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal after the original draw had been formed and sent tournament organizers into a tailspin. Critics score Nadal’s late decision as unfortunately typical. The Spaniard might have been better served by announcing his withdrawal earlier in the week, but that is not Rafa’s style.

There are many players who benefit from Nadal’s departure. Remarkably, the second seed, 14-time Grand Slam Champion and five-time Wimbledon Champion, Roger Federer has the most difficult path to the semi-finals.

In the greatest player of all-time’s quarter are heavyweights Fernando Verdasco (7), Ivo Karlovic (22), Jo-Wilfreid Tsonga (9), Robin Soderling (13) and Feliciano Lopez (21). If form holds, Round Four will be a rematch of the French Open finals pitting Soderling against the five-time winner. In the quarters, Verdasco should be looming, but Tsonga does not go away quietly. Tennis experts are shaking their collective heads and wondering how it could be any more difficult for the focused Federer to claim his 15th title.

Meanwhile, Scotsman Andy Murray, winner of the Queen’s and now top seed in the top half of the draw, has a comparative cakewalk to the quarters. His chief combatants will be Stanislaus Wawrinka (19), aging Marat Safin (14), Fernando Gonzalez (10), Victor Hanescu (31) and 8 seed Gilles Simon, who is not at the top of his game. If form holds, Murray’s fourth round would pit the testy Scot against Wawrinka. The Scotsman would meet the Frenchman, Simon, in the quarters. For Murray the path is clear to the semis.

The fourth seed is Serb Novak Djokovic, who escaped a quarterfinal matchup against Juan Martin del Porto when Nadal withdrew. Djokovic’s quarter has Mardy Fish (28), Tommy Robredo (15), Rainer Schuettler (18), Marin Cilic (11), Tommy Haas (24) and the struggling James Blake (17) who was moved to fill del Porto’s slot. What a mess!

If form holds, Djokovic will meet the tough Robredo in the fourth round and Cilic in the quarters. Djokovic is unaccustomed to such a relaxed draw and this may be just the spark the moody Serb needs to make a big move.

Juan Martin del Porto (5) slides into Nadal’s place. He is far and away the biggest beneficiary of Nadal’s damaged knees. In his quarter are Radek Stepanek (23), David Ferrer (16), Nikolay Davydenko (12), Tomas Berdych (20) and probable quarterfinal matchup Andy Roddick (6).

Like del Porto, Roddick must be licking his chops. Roddick is two-time runner-up at Wimbledon and is enjoying a fine year. It has been a long time since the American has been positioned so well at a Grand Slam.

The Ladies Singles’ Draw

Wimbledon will be Dinara Safina’s most difficult Grand Slam Draw of the year. The number one seed will be challenged to get through the quarters where her decisive Roland Garros conquerer, Svetlana Kuznetsnova (5), will be waiting. The top of the draw looks to provide some other hefty challenges for the nervous Safina, who has a more difficult path than Svetlana to the probable quarterfinal pairing. Fiava Pennetta (15), Amelie Mauresmo (17) and Caroline Wozniacki (9) stand in the way of the French rematch.

Third seeded Venus Williams looks to have the most favorable quarter. The five-time winner at Wimbledon has not needed a lot of help in the past. She is an expert grass-court player. With her sister in the lower half of the draw, the possibility of a Williams-Williams final matchup looks very possible. However, there are stumbling blocks aplenty for both sisters. The main competition in Venus’s quarter will come from the well-conditioned Samantha Stosur (18), Ana Ivanovic (13), Agnes Radwanska (11) and French disappointment Jelena Jankovic (6). Stosur is in top form and poses a stern test for the three seed. Jankovic looks to have a clear path but seems to stumble in Grand Slam tournaments.

Number two seed, Serena Williams is chomping at the bit to regain her former number one ranking. The tough American is well suited for the Wimbledon grass and plays her best when the pressure is highest.

The younger Williams should have smooth sailing to the quarters. A likely fourth round pairing with Patty Schnyder (21) should not present much of a test. However, the quarter possibilities are intriguing. 24th seed and fast returning to form Maria Sharapova (24) is a strong candidate along with hard-hitting Victoria Azarenka (8), and Nadia Petrova (10). There are four potential champions in this quarter.

Elena Dementieva whose sub-par performance in Paris has raised previously unasked questions about her fitness and heart will need to play better to knock off Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round. Elena will probably face the always-ready Vera Zvonareva (7) or Marion Bartoli (12) in the quarters.

Our longest shot of the Wimbledon event is American 17 year old Melanie Oudin who arrived in the main draw via three qualifying wins. A month ago, the pretty Georgian was finishing her junior year in high school. Oudin plays 29th seed Sybille Bammer in the first round. Oudin could well surprise but will certainly be game.

Two surprising draws are bound to provide great play, loads of emotion and more than the usual number of upsets.

1. Dinara Safina – 8/1 –

Dinara will make use of her top seed to romp through the opening rounds. The tennis world keeps waiting for Safina to bring that early-round mentality to the finals. At some point, she begins to play not to lose rather than to win.

Her resume is dotted with success. She has earned her top billing. However, her Grand Slam final matches have not helped the public’s perception of Safina as a bit of a choke artist. Her time is now!

2. Serena Williams – 5/2 –

Watch out for the Williams women. Serena is looking for her 3rd Wimbledon title and her 11th Grand Slam Championship. She is tough on grass and has a score to settle with Safina. Serena is looking to get the number one ranking back. In a big match, it is hard to bet against a proven star.

3. Venus Williams – 11/4 –

A five-time winner at Wimbledon and a two-time runner-up, Venus is right at home on the grass. Uncomfortable on the clay of Paris, she will be a force to beat in this one.

Venus has had a disappointing season with early exits in Melbourne and in Paris. The elder sister looks fit and fans expect the juices to flow for the next two weeks. A tough out for anyone.

4. Elena Dementieva – 25/1 –

Elena has reached the semis in three of the last four Grand Slams. Her 2008 semifinal appearance was her best performance in ten outings. However, the fleet Russian’s lackluster effort at clay ground raises questions about her heart.

Dementieva needs to assert herself to hold her number four ranking. Lesser players now regard Elena as a good and doable win.

5. Svetlana Kuznetsova – 16/1 –

Svetlana has added the 2009 French Open to her 2004 U.S. Open Championship and she did it with all the qualities of a true champion. Her strategy and execution were precise and her conditioning excellent.

Svetlana has climbed up in the rankings and the bookmakers like her chances at Wimbledon, where she has reached the fourth round and the quarters in the past two years. If we had to pick an upset winner, Svetlana would be our choice!

6. Jelena Jankovic – 16/1 –

Jankovic was favorably positioned in Paris and was cruising through the draw. When Dementieva was taken down, Jankovic seemed on track to move through the draw until her game inexplicably disappeared in the fourth round.

Much like Safina, the former number one has a history of Grand Slam failure. Her fitness is in question and once again Jelena looks like a long shot.

7. Vera Zvonareva – 33/1 –

Vera’s 20-4 record this year would normally make her a better risk. The determined Russian missed Roland Garros, but is in shape for Wimbledon. If she is fully rested and recuperated, Vera can pull an upset. With $1 million banked so far this season, we look for Vera to reach the quarters and quite possibly the semis.

8. Victoria Azarenka – 12/1 –

Now here is an athlete. Entering her fourth Wimbledon, Victoria strutted her big game power in Paris and should benefit from the grass. Her 32-6 record explains her jump in the rankings and in her popularity with the bookmakers.

Azarenka has the stuff to intimidate sift servers. A native of Belarus, Victoria could very well be a semifinalist this time around.

9. Caroline Wozniacki – 25/1 –

Denmark’s consistent tour player just does not seem to have Grand Slam consistency. The hard-working blonde may not have the ability to endure the grueling two-week demands. Caroline could be out early at Wimbledon. Her serve must improve to reach the quarters.

10. Nadia Petrova – 66/1 –

A quarterfinalist last year, Nadia’s sub-par performance in Paris raises more questions than it answers. One of Russia’s dominating team, Nadia may not fare too well. We look for an early upset of the ten seed.

11. Ana Ivanovic – 14/1 –

Where have you gone Ms. Ivanovic? The pretty fan favorite lost her serve here last year and has only whimpered since. The pretty Serb and Verdasco heartthrob has dropped five notches since the season began. Without a coach and a serve, Wimbledon may not be Ana’s best event.

12. Maria Sharapova – 6/1 –

She’s back! Praise be! Have you ever seen a 24 seed at 6/1? Probably not. If Maria’s conditioning lets her compete, she will be in the mix and the player all the big guns look to avoid. She had moments of brilliance in Paris but lacked stamina. We look for a solid performance on the grass.