Wimbledon has been witness to so many nostalgic moments. Some which I have witnessed over the last almost a decade and a half I have followed the sport (title moments)

Sampras winning his final WImbledon with tears in his eyes and the light fading
Ivanisevic finally coming out 3rd time lucky
Agassi’s wimledon triumph
Federer winning the title for the first time

Add to this list the win of Venus Williams, 9-7 in the final set against Davenport. Now Davenport winning would be nostalgic too considering no one though she could win it, 5 and half years after winning here in 1999, despite being No. 1, in probably her last attempt.

Venus Williams winning is sweeter though for me than a win for Davenport would have been. Williams has had a rough road the last couple of years and it was time for redemption for the now 3 time Wimbledon Champion.

She is quite simply the best womens grass court player I have seen ahead of Graf.

Here is hoping she comes back for more and has some memorable battles with a more experienced Sharapova in the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

from BBC Wimbledon Blog

Wimbledon referee Alan Mills, speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme
I think grunting spoils the spectacle of the game, certainly for television viewers and also, you know, for spectators here. I personally would love the players to stop doing it.

I’m not sure whether it is necessary or not, but I know with Maria (Sharapova), she is saying that she started grunting or screaming when she was four-years-old and she actually hates herself when she watches it on television.

Sharapova says her grunting is involuntary according to this article . So it is indeed out of her control. So should it be allowed or what should be done regarding it? The player facing Sharapova with her atleast 4 different grunts can ofcourse lose focus. Looking at recent tennis history, Monica Seles used to grunt a lot too.

Comparing the grunts Seles’ grunts are a mere shadow of the power that is Sharapova’s screamers. The grunts are okay till they dont affect the concentration of the opponent. If the grunts continue when the opponent is about to hit the point, it is likely to affect the shot making. So even though it is involuntary, it should be made sure the other player is not affected. In other words, I feel Sharapova should modify this aspect of her game, reduce it perhaps before a tennis player objects to it with media decibels and causes unnecessary chaos in womens tennis.

For Sharapova is brand tennis herself. Any damage on Sharapova is a damage on the tennis industry.

When Venus won two consecutive Wimbledons, there was no stopping her. She was near perfect on grass. What always came to mind was how would Venus vs Graf, both in their prime, match up. Venus then declined and Sharapova emerged last year, a breath of fresh air, to grasp the title.

Sharapova is strong, both mentally and physically, and overpowers every one she faces. Against Williams though, she found some one who matched her power stroke for stroke. What ensued in the Wimbledon semi finals was a power hitting display I have never seen in womens tennis.

Williams is the more experienced player and Sharapova, for all her calmness, couldnt get the best out of Williams. Williams at her best over powered the defending champion to reclaim her spot as the ‘Queen of Wimbledon’.

Sharapova will be disappointed but she will be bcak stronger and tougher for another battle. She truly is a champion herself and will show that by winning many Wimbledons in the future hopefully.

Venus will win many more too I hope, and have some memorable battles with Sharapova. With a possible final vs Davenport in the offing, tennis fans couldnt have asked for more.

Federer is good. So good that when the Chilean Gonzalez forced Federer to fight hard for a victory, Federer fought hard, showed his greatness yet once again, and showed no weakness.

Gonzalez played good. So good infact that he forced Federer to raise his game a gear. Federer fought and Federer came out triumphant. But was Federer stretched? No. He gave the impression he still had another gear he could raise when needed. Maybe that will indeed be needed when he faces Hewitt.

Roddick was troubled by Grosjean though and how he fares versus Johansson remains to be seen.

Venus versus Sharapova looks like a battle royal with the winner likely to face a rejuvenated Davenport in the finals. Or does Mauresmo have her own secret reserves to raise her game a few gears? We will know.

Its been raining every where, Calcutta, Edgebaston and Wimbledon. That didnt stop some excellent sports to ensue yesterday. Whether it was classic McEnroe playing doubles with Fleming with trademark Nadal pants, or Hayden and Jones slugging it on the cricket pitch or the pencil thin, still growing Sharapova as the commentator so aptly described her.

That the England-Australia match contained classic cricket with a tussle all the while, entrhalled me. The bouncers, the early stroke play from Martyn, the building of pressure from Giles and Flintoff before an excellent partnership between Hussey and Symonds got Australia out of trouble was a pleasure to watch.

And Gough struck again and Lee managed a few runs before a low scoring final over to balance it and make every one smack their lips.

Almost too early though as the rain gods had the last laugh.

So Wimbledon Quarters today and another classic tussle between Brazil and Argentina likely in football. The rain gods will hopefully take a rest for the sports gods to have the say on this day.