Murray’s Defeat Extends Britain’s 74-Year Drought

The Hopes of a Nation Are Shattered

LONDON — Sports fans endure slumps. Tennis lovers are familiar with droughts. But this is something else.  England is the font of tennis. Wimbledon is the mother church. But for 72 years, a Brit had never reached the final.  Okay, it’s not a national disgrace. It’s not an annual humilation for God and country.

The No-Name Wimbledon: Notes and Reflections

It’s a game of big names. From Bjorn and Billie Jean, to Pete and Andre to Steffi and Sharapova, Roger and Rafa,Venus and Serena.  Tennis stars are, if nothing else, bigger than life brands and international icons.

Wimbledon Wobble: The End of the Age of Federer?

On Court and Off, Tennis Suffered a Day With Little Federerian Grace

LONDON — The elder in the old school military uniform with all the medals, the housewife from Sussex in a purple frock, the attentive schoolboy with his askew blue tie and thousands of knowing Englishmen in sun hats were aghast.

Wimbledon’s Mighty Mice That Roared

Stunning Triumphs By Little Known Wannabes Shock Wimbledon

LONDON — In the hilarious 1959 Peter Sellers movie, “The Mouse That Roared,” the tiny Duchy of Grand Fenwick, nestled in the Alps between Switzerland  and France, invades America and inexplicably defeats us.
Ha ha.

Of Chickens, Buritos, Bagels and Bryans

The other day, BBC broadcaster David Mercer noted how a linesman dodged a fierce Nadal serve and quipped, “Well ducked.”
Today, it was all about chickens. Taiwan’s Yen-Hsun Lu was asked about his family  business. He replied, “My father is selling the chicken, not the meat, but the live chicken…[and] send it to [...]

Poetic Justice?: Lu Shocks A-Rod

27-Year-Old From Taipei Scores 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 9-7 Upset to Reach Quarters

Notes, Quotes and Good Ol’ Horse Sense

HORSE SENSE: Some claimed that the John Isner-Nicolas Mahut marathon was Wimbledon’s remake of “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

Wimbledon: Nadal Survives, but Danger Looms

LONDON — It was a classic case of misdirection.
Wimbledon wonks were pointing ahead to Monday’s girl wars — Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams, or Kim Clijsters vs. Justine Henin. Local sports fans were worried about Germany’s imposing soccer team that was about to play England. And these days the once dominant Steffi Graf is “mothering” [...]

Wimbledon Classic: Isner’s Song That Never Ended

Isner's Eleven-Hour Triumph Was a Dream That Was More Than Real

“This is the song that never ends, and it goes on and on, my friends.”  — Shari Lewis’ immortal children’s character, Lamb Chop
It’s been a Wimbledon that has made less than no sense.  This was Alice free-falling down the Rabbit Hole — logic imploding.  The John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6,  6-7 (7) 7-6(3) [...]

Royal Hush: The Queen Plays Wimbledon

The world of soccer gave us huge results. Tennis added an unending match for the ages and still the mere presence of a single, slighty doughty woman in a lovely blue outfit and bonnet trumped it all.