unfortunately due to my problems with wireless network, I haven’t been able to post my previous columns, so I am giving you recap of what had happened on Wimbledon grass, even though I am certain that you already know what had happened.

Okay, let’s start with shocks that surprised many. Seeds have been loosing like never before, not to mention that they were considered as the top favorites.

Ana Ivanović, by far the biggest shocker. In my very first articles, I have mentioned that she is the number one favorite by your truly because the fantastic game that she had displayed on clay in Paris. You will all agree with that she made a bad judgement when she had canceled her participance in Eastbourne, two weeks ago. The same goes for Maria Sharapova. The biggest favorite by far had lost to 18-year-old compatriot in straight sets. Novak Đokovič lost to former world number one, Marat Safin in straight sets. We can all agree that Marat plays fantastic tennis when he is the mood. I really cannot call it a shocker, hence the Marat displayed aggressive game that we all like seeing him play. Andy Roddick as well couldn’t cope with Novak compatriot Janko Tipsarević. The Serb played excellent tennis against best server on men’s tour. It was a good match to see, but a bad match for Roddick seeing him leave Wimbledon sooner than ever before, hence this was his earliest exit from Wimbledon since he started playing as a pro. Again injured Jelena Janković’s campaign is going as planned, at this moment. The highest seed remaining will be tested all the way on her way to reach her first slam. On the other side, on men’s tour everything seems normal. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are playing their best tennis and are expected to cross racquets in Wimbledon’s final. The Williams sisters are playing good as well. I must say that the two can be the very best again if they weren’t so busy with their outside activities. They have brought high level competitiveness into the game and nowadays they only enter Tier I tournaments just for the sake of their game.

I must admit that I miss ‘90s generation of tennis player from both sides of the game. Sampras, Seles, Hingis, Aggasi, Rafter, Muster, Dokic, Davenport…

That is all from me,

Read you on Monday with the latest from Wimbledon,
Branko

Anyway, lets see who had a good start on Day 1 in Wimbledon. The World Number Ones Roger Federer and

Ana Ivanović had a really impressive start, but yet again relaxed enough to get the thing going for them. I was glad to see Fedex playing Dominic Hrbaty. I always loved Slovak for his game – he is enjoying tennis so much, making match a bit entertaining, rather than Roger for whom tennis is business as usual. New tennis queen had impressive start as well. She played fine tennis, and I am glad to see her playing confidently on the start of season’s third slam. Her opponent wasn’t a resistance you would expect, but good training for AI. Both number one seeds are expected to reach the finals; their draws are supposedly not problem for their ultimate goal.

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic has a very tough draw. He had a stumpy start playing unseeded German. En-route to semis he could face Nalbandian and Fedex in the semis. It’s going to be tough for him. Jelena Janković, the second seed, has a very tough opponents as well – Serena and Sharapova are on her side of draw, so we could except a lot of good matches – JJ will surely pick up an injury or two, but yet again it wouldn’t be our JJ if she didn’t reach semis with war wounds.

Rafael Nadal. I must say, that he is my favorite. I wasn’t so much impressed by his victory over Djokovic at Queen’s club last week, but he played good tennis when needed. The question is: Is Nadal finally going to take over world no 1 spot from Federer? Rafa’s campaign starts with match against Beck today. Tune in tomorrow for summary of Round 1 matches, off course the most interesting ones.

Branko

Wow, check out the girls, all-dressed up. Impressive. Too bad they will have to wear traditional white for the Wimbledon. Imagine if Jelena Jankovic wore something similar to her stunning dark blue dress. She can certainly pull-off something dark, it would fit hers competitive personality. At least she would be the only one in dark wear. No#1 at last.

Maria Sharapova has a deal with Tiffany&co. We certainly noticed her earrings. Bling-bling. Maybe she’s in a look out for a rap artist

According to me Venus and Ana I. looked absolutely fabulous. More is less and these two ladies with their little black dresses are queens of style.

Boys didn’t have a party so unfortunately I can’t comment on what they are wearing.

I can just imagine Andy Rodick in a tuxedo, hopefully without his recognisable hat. There are few more favourites, like Marat Safin, Roger. Speaking about the boys, I personally like clean cut in a guy. Do you think that Rafa would look much better with a different haircut.

I just don’t understand why they don’t throw mix parties. Now, that would be so much more interesting. Don’t you?!

Fashionably ironically yours,

Sanja

Tennis is as we all know one of the most prestigious and oldest sports. It is graceful, dynamic, wonderful… But, I’m not going to write about all that. We all know that, even the birds know that. Let’s try to explore it’s darker side, shall we?!

I can’t help the felling that during the last few years tennis lost a lot of it’s glamorous and scandals that used to follow it.

When we watch a final between two of the best players in the world today, Roger and Rafael we can’t see anything new. In the box #1 there’s Mirka growing everyday, one would wonder how she keeps her “good” form after all that anxiety in this year’s RG. In the box #2 we can always see Tony Nadal and maybe some of his brothers. Except their rather nice eye-wear style, we don’t see a whole lot. Except for Mirka, of course. :8)

Remember the days when Agassi and Sampras played?! You could see Brooke Shields, Steffi Graf, Bridgette Wilson…. Remember Boris Becker and his scandals…. Ah, I must admit I’m a bit nostalgic when it comes to good old days…

Anna Kournikova…. Now that is extremely pretty girl. She is dating famous pop singer now, but there were days when all the media buzzed about her fling with one of the tennis hotties Marc Philipoussiss. What do we see today, except far rather interesting, groundbreaking romance between Lucy Safarova and compatriot Tomas Berdych. WOW, how interesting……

But we must give a little credit to these outstanding players. They just don’t have the time to pursuit romances. Who has?! They travel to different parts of the globe every other week.

Some female players manage to do something else. For example to work on themselves literally. Some of them try to match every color on their dress, shoes, bags even when they go on court. That is admirable. Some of them put on make-up, a lot of make-up. But girls will be girls, always trying to look best.

There is one girl on the WTA tour that always seem to amaze me. She’s trying very hard to look her best. She puts on make-up, designers her own clothes, she is voted the best body on the tour….. You probably guessed that I’m writing about one and only Jelena Jankovic aka JJ. She even had a little nose job. I won’t mention her teeth and breasts.

Look at the photos and see for yourself. At least she isn’t growing like Mirka, cccc….

Sincerally and ironically yours,

Sanja Avramovic

I’m certain that many of you celebrate November 6, the day on which this beautiful girl was born. She also has younger brother. Both of them are children of Miroslav and Dragana Ivanovic.
In order not to sound as many TV commentators, I’ll skip the part that we already know – started playing tennis at age of five, idol Monica Seles…
The most important thing to discuss about Ana is certainly her success at Roland Garros 2008, where she claimed the singles title and no. 1 spot as 17th queen of tennis. It is also important to mention that young Ana is 7th youngest tennis player in woman’s competition to climb top of WTA list.

However, I must say that in a certain way I was glad to see Ana win French Open as her first Grand Slam. Not to jinx her, Monica Seles (also one of my top 3 favorite players of all time) did the same before conquering the world of tennis (not to mention that lucrative sponsorship with Yonex). However, young Ana is totally different player in terms of technique, but again, you must admit that you can see a bit of Little Mo’s spirit when Ana is hitting the ball harder and harder.

But let’s talk tennis. I must say that Ana’s performance only confirms what we can except from this young lady in future. First of all, Ana’s ground strokes are so hard to return on clay and imagine her doing the same on green grass of Wimbledon. We were all amazed (especially Jelena Jankovic and later Dinara Safina) by the strength of her forehand. In this moment, I think that Ana is ‘the one’ of woman’s tennis. First of all, she finally became ruthless when it comes to winning on court – I simply love how she out strengths her opponents – I must say it again – ruthless! The fact that she became No. 1 before winning the French Open gave her the necessary confidence to reach the final goal – her first grand slam. When you look it this way it really does sound like fairytale – she got it all, didn’t she? Let’s face it, she is the one that will definitely be holding Wimbledon singles title. One of the reasons is certainly the fact that not many can stand up to her. Ana will lose only if she makes a lot of unforced errors. I do not think that will happen, especially as she is now new tennis queen.

I can only imagine what it feels like to see Ana’s strokes passing next to you while you run to at least catch with the frame of your racket. The serve. Fantastic! Forehand. Even better. Backhand. Needs improvement, but yet again, it’s very good weapon. Volleys… I must say I am a bit disappointed that Ana is not playing doubles. I can understand that she wants to be number one in singles. I have always admired Martina Hingis for that. She played tennis like no one did. What she could do with the tennis ball?! I can honestly say that Ana would do for woman’s tennis, what Roger Federer did for man’s play – be a complete player in every way – she could with ease finish every match. Slice. I love Ana’s slice, but somehow, it always places her in trouble. However, I do love that she is playing more backhand, with much more killer stroke. I do not like the fact that she will go around the ball and play forehand instead of backhand. This is something new this year for Ana. This is my only remark on Ana’s game.
Wimbledon. As junior, Ana played final year before she entered the WTA. She has many beautiful memories from that period. This time, Ana is coming hard. She will be player to beat. She was ruthless on clay, but she will be even more ruthless on grass (yes, I just like saying that over and over again). When you look on the top 10 players, or any player that will be seeded, who can outgun Ana in this moment? Sharapova… Dangerous and loud opponent. JJ? Last year’s mixed doubles winner is constantly injured, but she always manages to win and somehow always ends in semis. This time, she will be probably seeded no. 2, so she will meet Ana in final. That means that Ana will certainly have a difficult job on year’s third slam. I would like to see Ana playing (and beating) sisters Williams, Sharapova… on her way. It would give her even more confidence and strength to prove her and us that she really is the one.

The first «Focus on» is a bit of mix of my two columns that you will be able to read on one or two weeks basis. After Wimbledon, we will introduce new player to be watch on, a new blog covering all major matches that have taken place during Wimbledon. Do not forget to read «Tennis and the city», which will be posted on every two weeks covering major happenings in tennis – on court and off court.

Kind regards to all of you,
Branko