Seeds

1 Roger FEDERER (SUI) [2]
2 Rafael NADAL (ESP) [1]
3 Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [3]
4 Andy MURRAY (GBR) [4]
5 Andy RODDICK (USA) [7]
6 Robin SODERLING (SWE) [6]
7 Nikolay DAVYDENKO (RUS) [5]
8 Fernando VERDASCO (ESP) [9]
9 David FERRER (ESP) [11]
10 Jo-Wilfried TSONGA (FRA) [10]
11 Marin CILIC (CRO) [12]
12 Tomas BERDYCH (CZE) [13]
13 Mikhail YOUZHNY (RUS) [14]
14 Juan Carlos FERRERO (ESP) [17]
15 Lleyton HEWITT (AUS) [26]
16 Jurgen MELZER (AUT) [16]
17 Ivan LJUBICIC (CRO) [15]
18 Sam QUERREY (USA) [21]
19 Nicolas ALMAGRO (ESP) [18]
20 Stanislas WAWRINKA (SUI) [23]
21 Gael MONFILS (FRA) [20]
22 Radek STEPANEK (CZE) [25]
23 Feliciano LOPEZ (ESP) [30]
24 John ISNER (USA) [19]
25 Ivo KARLOVIC (CRO) [33]
26 Marcos BAGHDATIS (CYP) [27]
27 Thomaz BELLUCCI (BRA) [24]
28 Gilles SIMON (FRA) [32]
29 Ernests GULBIS (LAT) [29]
30 Albert MONTANES (ESP) [31]
31 Philipp KOHLSCHREIBER (GER) [35]
32 Tommy ROBREDO (ESP) [36]

There has been some talk that Nadal was somehow slapped in the face by being seeded #2. Wimbledon has always been a major that tweaked its seeding formula, particularly with the men. Federer is a 6 time winner and 7 time finalist so I don't get what the big deal is. Wimbledon did the right thing as far as I'm concerned. Roddick got bumped from 7 to 5 and Hewitt got bumped from 26 to 15.

I don't know why they bother with seed changes that make no difference. #1 vs #2 or #5 vs #7 is purely bragging rights. Hewitt's move up (and a well-deserved one based on his track record) is the only one that changes anything.

Wimbledon uses a specific formula for their seedings (Entry points+100% grass points scored in the last 12 months+75% of best grass result from the 12 months before that.)
Just because 1 and 2 don't make a difference in terms of the fact that Nadal and Federer wouldn't meet until the final no matter which way the 1 and 2 went still doesn't take away from the fact that the seedings are done based on the formula. You don't just throw it out because switching 1 and 2 don't make a difference. This isn't discretionary; its math.

They only started using a formula a couple years ago....it's not exactly written in stone.

Wimbledon 2010 Men's Singles Draw <---interactive Wimbledon website draw

First thoughts: Not so bad for Fed. Hewitt, Djoko, and Roddick in his half. Even though Hewitt just beat him I wouldn't count on it at Wimbledon if they face each other. Djokovic I just don't see giving Federer that kind of trouble on this surface and at the Big W. Also not sure Roddick is up to the task this year of last year's repeat epic match; Roddick and Djoko potential quarter. Davydenko v Federer potential quarter.
Federer in the final of Wimbledon has been about the only thing through his recent decline that you can always seems to count on. And phew...tough road for Nadal

Nadal's potential route to the final
1R Nishikori
2R Blake
3R Gulbis
4R Youzhny
QF Soderling
Semi Murray
Final Fed

Each of those players on this faster surface could give Nadal a headache if their game is on. I still think Rafa comes through though and would love to see a Nadal/Murray semi.

FULL DRAW

Federer - Falla
Bozoljac - Massu
Tipsarevic - Clement
Luczak - Robredo

Lopez - Levine
Berankis - Ball
Kunitsyn - Troicki
Brown - Melzer

Berdych - Golubev
Sweeting - Becker
Tursunov - Schuettler
Istomin - Wawrinka

Hanescu - Kusnetsov
Ilhan - Daniel
Andreev - Brands
Anderson - Davydenko

Djokovic - Rochus
Chela - Dent
Evans - Huta Galong
Lorenzi - Montanes

Monfils - Mayer
Beck - Petzschner
Schwank - Korolev
Gonzalez - Hewitt

Cilic - Mayer
Fish - Tomic
Zeballos - Lu
Pryziezny - Ljubicic

Kohlschreiber - Starace
Delgado - Gabashvili
Llodra - Witten
Ram - Roddick

Verdasco - Fognini
Russell - Riba
A Beck - Baker
Vliegen - Benneteau

Almagro - Seppi
Kamke - Garcia-Lopez
Chuidinelli - Dolgopolov
Kendrick - Tsonga

Ferrero - Malisse
Reister - De Voest
Hernandez - Dodig
Stakhovsky - Querrey

Simon - Alcaide
Marchenko - Berrer
Nieminen - Koubek
Hajek - Murray

Soderling - Ginepri
Gil - Granollers
Soeda - Fischer
Mello - Bellucci

Baghdatis - Lacko
Chardy - Gimeno-Traver
Greul - Serra
Kiefer - Ferrer

Youzhny - Sela
Gicquel - Mathieu
De Bakker - Giraldo
Mahut - Isner

Gulbis - Robert
Kavcic - Kubot
Haase - Blake
Nishikori - Nadal

I don't usually buy the complaints that Fed got an easy draw - fact of the matter is that when he can beat most any top player without too much trouble it often just looks easy - but wow his quarter his ridiculous. I was wondering who would luck out by drawing Davydenko, the top 8 seed on paper who actually is a joke on grass even when he isn't recovering from injury, so of course Fed would. At least Berdych is in the mix to keep him honest, one would hope, but that wouldn't even be until the QFs. Djoko, Hewitt and Roddick might have a shot if he is having a really bad day, but that's about it, and he only has to face one of them in the semis anyhow. Still, I'm okay with Fed lording over all he surveys at Wimbledon - we've had seven years to get used to it I guess. I'm even more glad Soderling broke the 23-semi (and 8-final!) Slam streak when he did. Worst-case scenario, Fed ties Sampras for seven Wimbys, keeps breaking his own Slam record, defends his points, and the world keeps turning.

Roddick does have plenty of time in his relatively forgiving draw to get his own groove back, and just has to worry about either Hewitt or Djoko (who might beat up on each other like they did here in 2007) in the quarters, where they each got last year, rather than Fed like it could have been. If he has any prayer of defeating Fed here, it might be a better shot in a semi than a final (they haven't contested a semi here since 2003). He'll need to not relax against Kohlschreiber, who already took him out early in a Slam once and is decent on grass, and not get too cute against Llodra, who is the probable Eastbourne champion after tomorrow and could surprise him in tiebreakers, and has to watch out for a Croat who defeated him this year already (Cilic or Lubo) in the fourth round, but these are all surmountable challenges for the three-time finalist.

As for Nadal, he's destined not to take the most consecutive Slam sets won record from Fed (who himself only beat McEnroe by one with 36 sets won). Gulbis kept him from doing it here in 2008, and he might do it again. I'd think Isner might have a better shot at reaching the fourth round against him than Youzhny, which actually might be the scarier match-up for Rafa, who already broke his Youzhny hex a couple of years ago and always seem so tense against the big American. Still if he's playing well he can reach a fourth final, but it won't be easy, especially if Soderling plays with confidence and Murray finally starts playing like himself again.

Thoughts on the blokes:

While FEDERER did luck out in getting Davydenko as the top seed in his section, likely match-ups against Tipsarevic and Feliciano Lopez make it a little more difficult in the early going than I initially thought.

Though his draw is far from terrifying, DAVYDENKO is dreadful on grass at the best of times and seems a good bet to fall to Kevin Anderson in the first round. Berdych, who has been playing with more consistency lately, is the best bet. There are a few interesting floaters close to Berdych…Istomin, Benjamin Becker, back-from-injury Tursunov, Wawinka.

Another potential first-round flameout is DJOKOVIC who drew Olivier Rochus in the first round, against whom he is 1-3. If he survives, he may face Taylor Dent after that. In any event, with his current form and confidence, I can’t see him beating Hewitt on grass.

RODDICK’s only real challenge in the early going would seem to be Llodra. His fourth round opponent by seed would be Cilic, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mardy Fish instead. Ljubicic is inexplicably poor on grass. A Hewitt/Roddick quarter would be tasty, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Hewitt pull off the upset.

VERDASCO is the top seed in this section, but he’s not noted for grass-court prowess, but Tsonga would seem to be the pick…if he’s healthy. If not, this is kind of a soft section, Verdasco might make it through. An opportunity for young Dolgopolov?

I actually think MURRAY got the softest draw of the top seeds--and he needs it, given his current form. I can’t see him losing before the fourth round and he really shouldn’t lose to Sam Querrey. Querrey could flop early against Stakhovsky or the resurgent Xavier Malisse, making his path even easier.

SODERLING should be favored to reach the quarters, but his section of the draw has its dangers, beginning with a first round match against French Open surprise Ginepri. Baghdatis is also in this section and has performed well at Wimbledon in the past. Despite his overall style of play being poorly suited to grass, I’m reluctant to dismiss a player who returns as well as Ferrer, but his opening match against Kiefer could be tricky.

I’m not sure what NADAL did to offend the draw gods of Wimbledon but they certainly gave him a rough road. While I don’t see Blake being the danger to Rafa that he was a few years ago, but Gulbis is a whole other story. Then, either Youzhny or Isner will challenge him. Isner has to make it out of a dangerous first round match with Mahut, though. It’s not an impossible draw for Rafa, but he doesn’t have a lot of room to have an off day.

Federer has a twofold problem coming to Wimbledon this year: the mental pressure of having to maintain points he's got now just to keep within shouting distance of the #1 ranking despite mounting losses; and Serving that isn't doing the damage it used to do. And it's more this second situation that's the bigger problem. Since Australia his losses have had a repetitive pattern: tightly played matches are now going against him more than they used to. His 2nd Serve Points Won looks like it's dropped by about 3-5% or so. That small margin has been enough to make the difference in many of these tight matches. He had probably the best 2nd Serve in the game for years; at least the most reliable. Not sure whether guys are just reading it better or a new generation of strings is helping out, but Federer's 2nd's are coming back a little deeper, a little wider and a little harder than he's normally seen them. So his First Serve is now under more pressure to pick up the extra 3-5% he's missing on the 2nd one. That explains why on clay he did much worse results-wise overall this year than other years: a great serve doesn't necessarily help you on clay, even if it's working well. There's no doubt he's feeling more pressure here now, especially after losing in Halle to Hewitt despite taking the opening set. If Federer doesn't win this event he can pretty much forget any chance of retaking #1 for this year.

The top half has the other Top 4 guy with lots of pressure building from mounting losses: Djokovic. And grass won't help him - he's not athletic enough for the surface. He needs the ball to come to him fast but also come up to his hitting zone, and it will stay too low for him here. The real shot to get to the Final in this half is really Roddick. He had a great Hard Court swing in IW & Miami, and as usual bagged the clay season. He probably thinks he should have won that match here last year in the Final, so if he meets Federer in the SF, he'll be completely fearless.

Murray? Eh. When he himself admits his own best chance to win a major is at The US Open and not here, then it makes you wonder if he really believes. Martina had always said Grass Court Tennis is about 2 things to succeed: the surface brings out "The Athlete" in a player, and you need to have at least 1 super-aggressive shot. You could say Murray is athletic enough; but a super aggressive shot? Nope. He's a Counter-Puncher through and through, and he spends his time waiting for other guys to "lose the match" to him. Hard Courts are better for him because the ball comes through higher so he can time his junk-balling more regularly. Bad bounces on a grass court, especially in Week 2 after it's chewed up some, will not be helpful. Especially if he's up against a guy with 1 Super Shot, like a Serve or a Forehand, that's on fire.

Nadal will be the most pressure-free among the Top 4 seeds, and he'll probably play like it too. Any round he reaches will just pad his lead at #1. That he's already won here will help ease any pressure on him also. He could win again for sure. But like at The French he's probably going to play only as well as he needs to early on and no more. Even someone like Soderling might not pose a lot of trouble. Nadal will be happy to use his rather effective Slice to the Soderling two-handed backhand all day long, forcing the 6'4 Swede to scoop the ball off the court rather than drive through it off the higher bounce of clay or hard courts. If Nadal gets to the Final expect him then to empty out with his best stuff.

Federer's fortunes will be all about how his Serve holds up. Overall history says this is his event to lose; more recent history says his losing here is more possible now than in the past. He could well pull a Sampras in that his year will revitalize winning Wimbledon. So few guys play really really well on this stuff, and he's one of them. But the few others who play really well on it have upped the ante on him over the last 3 years too. It wouldn't surprise me to see a Final that looks like Roddick-Nadal, or even Hewitt-Nadal if Federer's serve gets solved.

Voicemale, I see what you're saying about Murray but I don't see many guys in his quarter of the draw that have enough firepower to hit through him. Tsonga could, in good form, maybe Querrey? Who else?

On Soderling...hmm...yes, Nadal's slice backhand has improved over the past few years but Robin pushed him pretty hard on grass a few years ago and every aspect of Robin's game is better than it was then. He hasn't made it very far at Wimbledon in the past, but he's been hitting Federer and Nadal early on, so he may be better than he's shown.

Speaking of match stats, Djokovic has the 2nd highest percentage of return games won on the tour this year, but his serve has completely fallen apart. Not a good sign for grass, which has never been a good surface for him.

I understand about The Sod. It's great how he backed it up at The French again. But he's still rather unpredictable. In 2010 he's had four opening-match losses (he lost 1st Round at The Australian Open this year to Granollers after winning the first two sets). When he's "on" he can get microwave-like (very similar to Petr Korda). But The Sod can also fall of the radar screen at any given tournament in the flash of an eye.. I guess we'll have to see which Soderling makes it deep into this draw.

Murray at The Majors in the last 2 years, starting with Wimbledon in 2008, has lost to guys who are bigger hitters in some way than he is. Chronologically: Nadal, Federer, Verdasco, Gonzalez, Roddick, Cilic, Federer, and Berdych. Both Tsonga and Nadal have beaten Murray at a Major - no reason to think they couldn't again.

As for The Djoke - he's clearly challenged these days by a successful negotiation of winning seven Best of 5 matches at the same event. Whether it's the Serve, or the continuing physical maladies is anyone's guess. Last year he made 10 Finals and won 5 of them. He's way behind that schedule this year, having made only 1 Final. And that's always been the problem: lack of consistent results. I remember when he broke out in 2007, a former tour player commented that he had a solid game, but he didn't see that one "Killer Shot" from Novak. He hasn't really added much to his game since - other than a revolving door of secondary and "specialty" coaches. Time's running out for him to fulfill the greatness that so many predicted what seems like ages ago.

Well, okay, if you're evaluating Murray's chances of WINNING Wimbledon that matters. But his draw is still very good to the semis unless Tsonga is his QF opponent. And Tsonga is just as unpredictable as the Sod.

Gulbis pulled out, making Nadal's life easier. Where is the justice?

WAKE UP ROGER!!!!

I'm more amused than anything. I saw this movie twice last year: Fed against Berdych at the AO, and against Haas at the FO. Taking a third set from Fed is still one of the toughest feats in tennis. Still, I give Falla credit for one thing: unlike Roddick last year, he was able to convert a fourth set point to go up two sets to love.

The jokes do write themselves, though. Can Switzerland win more matches at the World Cup (they had a huge upset against Spain already) than Federer at Wimbledon? Is Falla the Bastl of 2010? Is Fed's 2nd-round streak at the majors in danger? Etc.

okay, someone has to say it. DON'T BOTHER ME, DON'T BOTHER ME, ALEJANDRO, ALEJANDRO

I'm notcha babe I'm notcha babe....lol...I was thinking of that too snicks when Alejandro went up two sets. And the Fed has life....2 sets to 1!!

Yawn. Cue the Tommy Haas reel, except Falla had even more break points. Maybe he'll retire in the fourth set to save himself the disappointment. I'm convinced that Fed does this for fun & profit since Tipsy at the AO 2008. I'm sure both Andys were dusting off their trophy shelves in eager anticipation.

What a crappy opening service game from Fed in the 4th after getting the third set.

Just noticed Falla is using the same new Babolat Strings that Nadal, Stosur and Schiavone have started using this year. Have we found the newest Super Strings?

Roger's break point conversion is horrid Its really comin down to the wire here.

Wow. For someone who seems to really choke on break points, Fed does do the damn thing in tiebreaks, and he has played some really dominant ones and made some crucial shots in them at this tournament. Falla had his chances.

Writing was on the wall after the 4th set breaker!! ALLEZ ROGELIO!!!!!

Routine match for Nadal. Looked very nice returning back to Centre Court for the first time since winning the championship. Has Haase next who took out Blake in straights. Did anyone see when Pam Shriver commented about how she didn't know how much longer James was going to be able to hang around as a tennis player and James saying something like "Its amazing you play tennis. I can hear you". Then she said something about how he must have rabbit ears. Then he turned around and said something else a few moments later. He was probably more pissed about how he wasn't playing well but I can understand his frustration if I had heard that. She was just commenting though and doing her job and obviously didn't know he could hear her, but thats not a comment as a player I would want to hear from an American commentator as I'm struggling through a match. Awkward and she probably apologized later. I know he's had knee problems lately but I think he had his moment where he reached #4 and had those couple of good years at the Open. Had he switched coaches 4-5 years ago, I think he may have been able to win more consistently and done better at more tournaments than the Open.

Edited to add: Article that gives me a different perspective about the incident. I never did like Pam and can see her being an ass about it.

James Blake blasts Pam Shriver during match

James Blake vs. Pam Shriver is kinda like Donald Trump vs. Rosie O'Donnell. Whole lotta losing going on.

Mahut-Isner: the match that will never end. They're now on game 46 in the 5th. They played 45 in the first 4.

Isner just went up 27-26! Just unreal!

I don't think either of them have faced a break point in the fifth set. For all the talk about how slow Wimbledon supposedly plays now, you never see these matches (like this one and last year's Federer/Roddick final) where nobody can break serve at the other majors.

and funnier is that the winner of this will face de Bakker, who won in the 5th 16-14.

33-32?!!! This is psychotic.

I see Fed lost the second to Bozoljac in a tiebreak. Not another repeat Rogelio. He's lookin real vulnerable at Wimby this year.

Are you kidding me? We might actually see 50-something at this rate. Can we substitute, say, Murray and Djokovic so we can actually get some of these returns into play? The next time people complain about a break-fest WTA match, show them footage of this one! Heh. All credit to both guys though - showing a lot of heart out there.

Meanwhile Fed is locked at 5-all in the fourth set against a player ranked in the 150s. The top half of the men's draw seems doomed to drama (there was a 16-14 as noted above and also a 9-7).

Fed-Bozo is like a tree falling in the forest and no one's around to hear it. Sounded like there was a whoop though on the first serve of that last point that threw Bozo off.

Are you kidding me? An entire work day of tennis that is suspended yet again!!! This is the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. Its really moving into ridiculous mode.

Play will resume tomorrow, due to lack of sunlight today (again). They are tied at 59!! That's just nuts! Oh, and Isner is pretty darned cute, too.

Yeah. If we're going to have a 10-hour match, at least it involved two guys who are easy on the eyes. We already knew about Isner, but I like Mahut's slightly exotic, delicate features and he's got one tight bod and isn't shy about lifting his shirt. Plus, he fills out those white shorts well and somehow his cool spiky 'do didn't look to have wilted or gone wild after all that, which would make any Parisian hairdresser proud.

Uh, right, the tennis. What's to say? Serving contest, yes, but the rallies that did take place were ludicrously high-quality given the circumstances. There were relatively few tired or desperate UEs that I saw, and outrageous amounts of winners (I think Isner broke 200 total and Mahut isn't far behind). Honestly this match blew past all the various records about halfway through that third set; now these records are basically shrapnel and this almost doesn't even count as a tennis match anymore but some sort of staged stunt for a reality TV series. For one, each man has shattered Karlovic's 78-ace record set just last year (which had topped his own 55-ace record from the year before). After a crazy historic match like this, neither man will really lose, but unfortunately neither man will quite win either - you can't fancy the 'winner' going much further in the event. If nothing else, they are now just competing for the most aces record, since John's arm got a bit heavy and Mahut closed the distance with 95 aces to 98.

Its now to the point where I'm agreeing with those who want to just have them take their racquets away and have them flip a coin. It was like oh wow when it got to like 35-34, but 59-59 is just ridiculous. To each his own but I don't find Mahut or Isner easy on the eyes. Isner is tall and moves awkwardly. There's somethin goin on with Mahut's face that turns me off..either his mouth or something with his cheekbones. Anywho...beauty is in the eye yada yada yada.

I'm kind of over it now. Hope someone can come back tomorrow and win 2 games in a row and end it. It just seems so absurd now.

Saw this pic on another tennis board and got a chuckle. They are going to feel like they are that old once this is all over!! Props to their endurance and ability to crank out 100+ mph serves and run around the way that they have been, but please end soon!!!!

I am reminded of the novel the Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W.P. Kinsella. It recounts a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Iowa Baseball Confederacy all-stars that goes on for over 2000 innings. At one point one of the players is struck by lighting and the Angel of Death fills in for him in left field. What happens if Isner & Melzer are still playing when everyone else (except de Bakker, of course) has finished their second round match?

Lost in all of the Mahut-Isner drama was a stat from the Federer match that was so eye-popping that I had to check it twice:

It reads the Bozoljac hit a total of 102 Winners against Roger Federer!!!

I don't ever remember anyone ever hitting that many outright Winners against Federer. Bozoljac's Unforced Error count was nearly triple that of Federer (37-13). But has there ever been anyone who hit that many outright Winners against Roger?

I'm over it. 67-67 in the fifth set??!!! I was over it by the end yesterday and I'm over it now. Just get it over with already!!!

Definitely beyond exasperated at this point. Are we watching two of the worst returners in the game? At least Isner really does have a legitimately huge serve that it's tough to defend against, even on second serves; Mahut does seem to be winning more of the rallies. Isner should really have broken by now but he can't return and he can't pass, and without either of those he can't make a dent against a grass court specialist (really the only one I can think of) like Mahut. It's pathetic - someone will have to get injured.

About to break into the seventies. Edited to add: Ha ha! Of course as soon as I complain about it, Isner hits two brilliant passes and breaks for the match. 70-68 - it's like they just wanted to officially reach the seventies. Feel for Mahut though, serving second in the decider is such a hurdle to climb - it's part of what made Nadal's win so special and of course Roddick caved on the very first match point last year with a shank - and yet the Frenchman really never blinked, saving four before Isner came up with the goods. Well done to the Top 20 player for scratching out a win against a qualifier.

Ironically, Mahut is the only Frenchman not to win in a fifth set today: Benneteau, Chardy and Tsonga had each done it in five.

Just amazing...Isner pulls it out 70-68. I'm really glad to have witnessed such an amazing event.

Finally!! Someone heard my prayer at 67-67

It wasn't the greatest tennis ever played but it was one of the most amazing sporting events and exhibits of sportsmanship I've ever seen. And given the situation, there were some pretty impressive points played. Really glad the totally a-dork-able Isner pulled it out.

I wonder when ESPN Classic will air the 11-hour match in it's entirety?

Certainly not the highest quality of tennis point-per-point, but what an amazing display of heart and commitment to the game, as well as sportsmanship.

How hard must it have been for Mahut to serve second over and over and over and over (and over and over and over and over ...) and to come through hour after hour until 68-70. Especially on grass when things can turn on you in an instant. And it was great for the game of tennis. The match even stole some sporting spotlight from the World Cup, which is unthinkable.

Congrats to Isner and to Mahut!

Totally agree with the first part of this. It absolutely was NOT great tennis, but I was compelled to watch as much as I could. Happy to have ESPN3 @ work, needless to say! And "adorkable" is the perfect word for Isner.

Certainly hope ESPN Classic does NOT show this, although wouldn't it be funny if they tried? I can't imagine sitting through it twice. Once is enough to say "I saw that match." Twice would be some form of abuse, I would think.

Oh my....a little somethin somethin brewing on Centre Court. Robin Haase up 2 sets to 1 on Nadal. Big 1 and 2 having to go 5 sets early here. They just said Nadal made his first unforced error of the set at 5-3, 30-15. Lets see if Haase can do what Alejandro couldn't. For some reason though, I don't get the feeling of panic with Nadal that I did with Roger.

The five-setter drama bug spread to the bottom half of the draw. First all the Frenchmen I named above, and then Fognini came back from two sets-to-love down for the second Slam in a row, against the studly Russell. Now Rafa is in a spot of bother, which is mainly about his having one of those days where he comes out a little tight for some reason and makes silly UEs and poor shot selection. Haase hit some stellar shots on big points (break/set point in the first and break point in the third) and boom he went up two sets to one. But it looks like Nadal is going to restore order, dishing out a bagel in the fourth - plus he broke for it, so he will serve first in the decider. That will be crucial when he breaks for 70-68!

I today's part of the epic long match. I was hoping it would end but I also secretly hoped they would reach 100-100.

well well well. Looks like Rog isn't the only one who's a bit shaky in the early goings.

I would've slit my wrists. For one thing, the drama of it all was taken away when they had to call it for darkness last night. Mahut seemed in better physical condition to where it seemed like he may pull out the win had they kept playing. So once it was called, I was over it.

Snicks...Nadal was indeed in a spot of trouble as sometimes gets when he is plays against someone who can hit through him on fast courts, but he quickly tossed away any thoughts there would be an upset today. But yeah...a test nonetheless and with Youhzny and Soderling coming up with possibly Murray it certainly won't get easier. Even though he did pull it out, it still has to raise eyebrows of possibly neither he or Federer making the final. I actually think I want to see a Roddick/Murray final more than Federer/Nadal.

I guess Mahut didn't really linger over that epic match, as I see he just lost a doubles match first set in a tiebreaker. Not surprisingly, that one has just been suspended. Doubles matches at Wimbledon go to super tiebreakers, right? It would be crazy if he forced another marathon match.

They don't. In fact, the longest fifth-set record at Wimbledon that Isner and Mahut broke belonged to a doubles match from the other year! Great sporting attitude from Mahut to come back out for doubles - I suppose once he went out in singles he figured he might as well focus on what he has left. Clement, his partner, gets Fed next so obviously he's ready to just focus on doubles also. It looks like Isner is still planning on playing doubles, which is very generous of him given that Querrey left him in the lurch after losing at the French; John would be more than justified in pulling out given what he just endured, especially since he has a not-impossible task of taking out the talented, up-and-coming but still shaky Dutchman De Bakker next (look for that to become another serving contest) to stay alive in the singles.

We thought "everything" was "dead" to you. Including vicarious living