Look what the perspective of time does. Both Hampton and Halep have proven to be up-and-coming players who probably gained confidence by beating someone as accomplished as Daniela, so those losses make a lot more sense now. It makes her win last week, especially over Vekic, who many say is the next big thing in the sport and who many picked to beat her on Sunday, all the better. So whenever Dani takes a seemingly inexplicable loss, I need to keep in mind my own Spice Girls motto...Never give up on the good times! May we see some next week!

The odds on Hampton-Vesnina....mmmm....maybe about the same as Vekic-Daniela!?

Yes I think it's good Daniela got a seed in round 1. The lowest seed too. Daniela's got to bring her A game from the first point, it's as simple as that.

Nice to see Vesnina win the whole in Eastbourne, one of my favs.

Halep's starting to piss me off. Two titles back to back on different surfaces...

Ken Massey is a US-based sport statistical analyst who provides strictly objective rankings for a variety of sports. He's best known for his college football (US football, of course) rankings which play a role in determining who plays for the championship in that sport. Anyway, recently he's developed rankings for tennis and has come up with a simulation of Wimbledon based on those rankings.



Most notably, Serena is an overwhelming favorite -around 1-2, and most of the remaining chances to win are covered by Azarenka and Sharapova. All in all, Massey projects there's a greater than 97% chance that one of those players wins the tournament. Remember when there was that period where the last six Grand Slams were won by six different women? Seems like an eternity ago - now that Serena, Masha and Vika have become like Nadal, Djokovic & Federer.

On the Daniela front, I was pleasantly surprised to see Daniela given a 56% chance to get to round 3 and a 5% chance to reach the quarters. Massey's rankings have Daniela ranked higher than the WTAs (she's at #37 here), and as we have discussed here, she has a really good draw.

And to be an optimist, Daniela has the 16th best chance to win the tournament , albeit at 5,000 to 1.

Hantuchova loves the grass and enjoying the strawberries
das | 23.06.2013 10:00
It's been fourteen years, what Daniela Hantuchova first starred in the famous Wimbledon. She had only eighteen when the Leos Friedl enjoyed the title in mixed doubles, and a year later advanced to finals singles. Knocked her up later champion Serena Williams. Since then returned to Wimbledon year after year, or one year nevymeškala from season 2000. London grass grown very fond of her.

"They are good memories, but that I do not want to live. I believe that the grass will have to show that even after years. Winning the tournament in Birmingham I am very encouraged. It is good that I belong to the generation of tennis, which still has a lot to offer," Hantuchova said to triumph over the pre-tournament.

After less slick clay court season and the decline in the ranking of the 30-year-old experienced tennis player did taste the grass right at the first event. In Birmingham triumphed in the final generations of Croatians Donna Vekičovou who is 14 years younger. And it still had ankle problems.

"I appreciate that I have exceeded the Finals after grueling physical sense. And that's saying something," she laughed into the phone.

Hantuchova in the past often stressed that loves tennis but grass loves the game and especially in England. Why?

"I play tennis, which is effective on a fast grass. Wimbledon Britons and I am delighted. All those traditions, nice people, nice atmosphere. Looking forward to the traditional strawberries and enjoy the rain breaks. Hopefully, that will break in play as little as possible," said Hantuchova before her fourteenth Wimbledon's start.

She added that it also has fond memories of the past year, when the London grass in addition to the All England Club Wimbledon played the Olympic tournament. "I beat the Chinese woman Li and enjoyed every minute there. Was in fact a lot of emotion."

Also, due to injuries Hantuchova she was recently up to 60 ranked tennis rankings. Outside the best Štyridsiatku former world number five fell the first time in 9 years. After the triumph at Birmingham is currently forty-eighth and wants to continue to rise. If you will be healthy.

"I would like to once again become the world's best female player scores. Know that it must be hard workout, but I am ready to undergo. In the near future I am not advocating a lot of points from tournaments, so you can change for the better," she said in an interview to SkySports.
@ google translate

No matter what happens, Daniela's done at least as well as Rafael Nadal.

It's not great scheduling as Daniela will be waiting around all day and you just know that the men's matches will be long five setters. I thought that Daniela was a sufficiently big star that she'd get a better court playing a seed. She just has to get on with it and keep her focus. Daniela dealt with lots of rain delays at Birmingham and she'll have confidence and momentum going in.