Wimbledon Tennis 2008 - Latest Wimbledon 2008 Scores, Wimbledon 2008 News, Wimbledon 2008 Results, Wimbledon Final Results!

And so it begins. Roger Federer has been warned by Rafael Nadal that the world number one’s reign as Wimbledon champion is about to come to an end.

Rafael Nadal’s brilliant performances on the clay courts at the French Open have ensured him 4 successive Roland Garros titles, and yet he looked just as at home on grass during Sunday’s 7-6, 7-5 win over Novak Djokovic in the Queen’s final.

Nadal is very convinced that this will be the year that he takes down Roger Federer in the Wimbledon 2008 championship at the All England Club in London.

Nadal’s previous defeats against Roger Federer at previous Wimbledon Championships have only made him (Nadal) more determined to go on and win his first title as Wimbledon 2008 champion. And in doing so, he would be the first Spaniard to do so.

While Rafael Nadal was becoming the first male to win the French Open (Roland Garros) and Queen’s in the same year, Roger Federer has also been getting back in the winning habit in Halle.

Rafael Nadal on Roger Federer noticing the win, “For sure he will have noticed. We have very good relationship. For sure I think he’s happy for me and I am happy for him”.

“To win a prestigious tournament like this, a very traditional tournament is very nice, and it will give me more confidence.

“But I was full of confidence after Roland Garros too, so for me confidence doesn’t matter.

“You never know what’s going on in Wimbledon. I think I am playing well. And if I continue playing like this, I am going to have chances for have a good result there.

“Everybody can win it. I can for sure. I played two finals. Why can’t I win it? But it will be a lot of work to win Wimbledon.

“Right now it is very easy for everybody to say I am one of the favourites. But the second Sunday of Wimbledon, we will know who is going be the favourite.”

While Nadal has headed back to Mallorca for three days, Djokovic will stay in England ahead of the start date of Wimbledon 2008 on June 23.

Djokovic was the Australian Open champion, and was upset that he missed several opportunities to avenge his defeat against Nadal at the French Open 2008.

“It’s good to play him before Wimbledon one time, just to see how it goes and if I’m playing better on grass,” Djokovic said.

“I think I’m playing better and better match after match. I’ve improved my serve a lot. There are some things that I need to work on still, so I have time before Wimbledon.

“But I’m not thinking about Wimbledon 2008 semifinals and Wimbledon 2008 finals already. It’s a long way through.

“I’ve had an intense couple of months. It’s been great for me. I’ve achieved a lot. I just hope to keep on going. The most important thing is to find the balance between work and relaxation and taking some time off.”

For a few moments at the Queen’s final, Djokovic had the better of Nadal.

After his win at the Australian Open 2008, Djokovic believes his confidence has gone through the roof and he expect that belief to be crucial at Wimbledon.

“It makes a difference being a Grand Slam champion at any tournament,” he said. “You have a lot of confidence. You approach every tournament in a different way, with more belief.

“You know that you’re on the top. In my case, I’m happy that I can play a great tennis on all kinds of surfaces, which makes me an all around player, which is very important in today’s tennis.”

For all your latest Wimbledon 2008 news, tickets, updates, live scores, and results visit www.mywimbledon2008.com

Serena Williams

lost to Katarina Srebotnik, 6-4, 6-4, in the the round at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris.

The loss of Serena Williams insures that whoever wins this year’s French Open will be a new winner to the tournament. Williams won the French Open in 2002.

“I missed a lot of easy shots and a lot of key points that I felt like could have turned the match around,” Williams said. “I wasn’t able to capitalize.”

Rafael Nadal

defeated Wayne Odesnik, leaving the only American now left, Robby Ginepri, to put up a good fight for his country.

Top seeded Maria Sharapova and No 2. Ana Ivanovic advanced to the next round of the French Open. Sharapova beat American Bethanie Mattek 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, while Ivanovic defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-1.

Serena Williams

, earned the biggest victory of her career. She has only one win over a player ranked higher than the No. 5-ranked Williams, beating No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo at Zurich in 2005.

Williams did not play like a world class player. An overhead cost her in the sixth game of the second set, thus assisting Srebotnik to reach 3-3.

“I wasn’t nervous,” Williams said. “She was getting a lot of balls back, and I might have let that get into my head. She was just making some shots I don’t think she’s ever made before, or she probably would be in the top two.”

When Williams started falling behind, she tried to make a comeback, making grunting sounds with every shot, and screaming in celebration everytime she won a point. But she was unable to make a full comeback to win the game.

“Today I woke up and it was just another opportunity,” Srebotnik said. “This is what you work so hard for—to be in third round where you play Serena or someone like that and you have really nothing to lose.”

“That was the rhythm that I was trying … to get her on a wrong foot and stuff like that,” Srebotnik said. “When she’s serving well, she’s very tough, but once I got in the rally I had no problem playing her.”

Serena Williams

Andy Murray  beat Jonathan EYSSERIC 6-2 1-6 4-6 6-0 6-2 winning his first-ever match Roland Garros (the french open)

Andy Murray is from Scotland, and has been suffering from a throat infection throughout this last week. Andy Murray almost choked in the 1st round of the French Open. He then beat Jonathan Eysseric 6-2 1-6 4-6 6-0 6-2.

Here’s what Murray said:

“I didn’t play particularly well and he made me do a lot of running which wasn’t the plan. Playing a young guy you’ve not seen takes a little bit of time to get used to.

“But I never felt I was going to lose the match. I was happy I came through.”

Murray did not play in the 2007 French Open due to a wrist injury and he lost in the first round in 2006 to Gael Monfils. Murray is now up against Argentina’s Jose Acasuso, who defeated Dominik Hrbaty 6-4 6-2 6-4.

For all your latest French Open, Wimbledon 2008 news, tickets, updates, live scores, and results visit www.mywimbledon2008.com

It has been said that the likes of Maria Sharapova or Ana Ivanovic to win the French Open 2008.

But  Serena Williams believes this could be the year she adds a second Roland Garros crown to the one she won in the final against sister Venus in 2002.

Still only 26 years old despite having been in the spotlight for a decade, Williams was bubbling with confidence when she met the press ahead of Sunday’s kick-off to the year’s second Grand Slam tournament.

“It’s probably the best preparation I’ve had since 2002. I feel like I’ve played so many clay court tournaments,” the American former world No. 1 said.

“I just really am feeling like a real clay court player, which, I think, is important for me. I’m really comfortable out there on the clay, so it’s great.”The younger of the Williams sisters is just one of the potential story-lines in what is gearing up to be one of the most unpredictable women’s tournaments in Paris in years.

Henin, had she competed, would once again have been the hot favorite having won the last three straight in Paris.

But her shock retirement announcement last week has suddenly opened the doors for a number of players.

Sharapova is the new world No.1 and freely admits that the slow clay surface of Roland Garros is not her favourite surface, but she is dismissive of those who say that she can never win in Paris as she has already done at Wimbledon and at the US and Australian Opens.

“To be quite honest, it’s quite amazing to be 21 years old and have somebody tell you that it’s the only Grand Slam that you not haven’t won,” she said.

“Coming here last year I knew that this was one of the two I haven’t won, And coming in this year it’s the one that I haven’t won.

“I’ve always said it. It’s the toughest one - it’s always going to be in my career, to win. But that’s why I’m here. I’ve said it every single year. I love the challenges.

“When someone puts something in front of the line, that challenge in front of me, I’m hungry to go and try to achieve that challenge.”

Sharapova’s win in the Australian Open in January came in the final at the expense of Serbia’s rising Ana Ivanovic, six months her junior and bent on usurping the Russian’s crown.

But while she clearly has the raw talent, there remains a question mark over her resolve and mental fortitude on the big occasions.

This was showcased in last year’s final when she collapsed to an embarrassing 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Henin after breaking the Belgian’s serve in the opening game and going 40-0 up on her own serve only for one dodgy toss up to derail her.

“It just hit me where I was in that single moment as I tossed the ball up to serve,” she said.

“I started to think ‘Oh, my God, don’t panic now’ and the more I thought about it the more I panicked.

“You just don’t know if it will happen again, but I will definitely know how to deal with it better.”

That leaves the rest of the Russian brigade with any of 2006 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2004 runner-up Elena Dementieva, Anna Chakvetadze or Vera Zvonareva capable of mounting a challenge.

Hopes of a first French win on home soil since Mary Pierce in 2000 look dim.

Amelie Mauresmo looks set to be in a downward spiral and will be lucky to make it past the first week, Marion Bartoli is not at her best on clay and last week’s surprise Italian Open finalist Alize Cornet is still too tender at just 18.

Federer and Nadal Play Mind Games Before French Open

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have turned to playing mindgames ahead of the latest instalment of their epic French Open rivalry.

Federer, desperate for a first Roland Garros title to add to his 12-strong Grand Slam collection, believes he is the more positive of the two men while Nadal, bidding for a fourth historic trophy, says the world number one’s decision to bring in Jose Higueras as coach could backfire.

Nadal, with a perfect record of 21 wins in 21 matches here, holds a mesmeric stranglehold over the world number one, winning eight of their nine claycourt meetings, including the last two finals here, and 10 of their 16 total career clashes.

That dominance has continued in 2008 with Nadal beating Federer in the finals of the Monte Carlo and Hamburg Masters.

But the Swiss superstar, who needs a Roland Garros title to become just the sixth man to clinch a career Grand Slam, insists his approach has not reaped its rewards.

“I know I can beat him. I’m the one playing aggressive. I’m the one trying hard. I’m the one taking the risks in those matches, so I think I have positive chances of winning here,” said Federer who will face tricky American Sam Querrey in his opener.

“Two years ago I was more pessimistic, because I saw that Rafa was completely dominating the game on clay. But now I think I’m really close, and I believe I have the good tactics.

“I showed it in Monte Carlo and Hamburg. I just need to be broken one time less.”

Frustratingly for Federer, he surrendered healthy leads in Monte Carlo and Hamburg where he was defending champion.

In an effort to iron out the problems, he has turned to Higueras who coached Michael Chang and Jim Courier to the title.

However, Nadal, is not convinced by the merits of that decision.

“It’s difficult to change the style of probably the best player in history in just three or four weeks,” said Nadal who will be bidding to follow Bjorn Borg into the record books by winning four French Opens in a row.

“It’s a long job. If I had a new coach it would be impossible for me to change my game in three weeks.”

The 21-year-old Nadal will begin his campaign against a qualifier but could face world number three Novak Djokovic, the Australian Open and Rome Masters winner, in the semifinals.

Compared to Federer, he has the toughest of the two draws with a potential quarterfinal match-up with Argentina’s David Nalbandian, against whom he has played two and lost two, also to consider.

But his record on clay is intimidating.

Since April 2005, the 21-year-old Spaniard has racked up 108 wins in 110 matches on the surface.

Djokovic, who starts his campaign against Germany’s Denis Gremelmayr, is the man breathing down both Federer and Nadal’s necks.

Beaten by Nadal in the semi-finals here in 2007 and quarterfinals in 2006, the Serbian third seed, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday, is the most successful player on tour this year.

He won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne dropping just one set in seven rounds and also clinched the Indian Wells Masters before his win on clay in Rome.

Djokovic also pushed Nadal all the way in a three-set semifinal in Hamburg.

“That semi-final was one of the best matches I have played, probably the best match I have ever played on clay. I am really pleased with my form ahead of the French Open, my fitness is good, I feel fresh and that bodes well for Roland Garros.”

Djokovic is also closing in on Nadal’s world number two position and the Spaniard believes it’s just a matter of time before the Serbian is on top of the world.

“He has improved incredibly and is getting better,” said Nadal.

“He’s going to be world number one within a few years.”

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are head and shoulders above the rest of the men’s field; world number four Nikolay Davydenko is almost 2000 points adrift of the Serbian in the world rankings.

As a result, the top trio are certain to dominate court time and column inches, but there won’t be a dry eye in the house when former triple champion Gustavo Kuerten plays and, probably, loses in the first round.

The Brazilian, champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001, has featured in just nine tournaments in the last three years after failing to recover from a crippling hip injury.

This year’s emotional farewell will be the 31-year-old’s last appearance of his 13-year career.

The French Open gets underway on Sunday.

For all your latest Wimbledon Tennis 2008 news, updates, live scores, information, videos and tickets, visit www.MyWimbledon2008.com

Mauresmo withdraws from German Open

Amelia Mauresmo has been battling with a ribcage injury for some time now and was forced to withdraw from the German Open on Monday. It seems Mauresmo has been so unlucky with injuries especially last season as she missed alot of action and we all know what she is capable of having won Wimbledon 2006 and the Australian Open.

Amelia Mauresmo was due to play compatriot Aravane Rezai on Tuesday.

For all your Wimbledon news, tickets, updates, scores, videos and more visit http://www.mywimbledon2008.com

Shahar Peer fails to perfrom at Qatar Telecom

Shahar Peer, ranked no. 18 in the world, lost 7-5 6-1 to rising star Sabine Lisicki and what was a disappointing performance by Peer as she seemed so dominant after winning the quarter finals last week in prague.

Peer looked good in the beginning of the match as she went up 4-2 in the 1st set but Lisicki who is know as the comeback queen (beating Davenport recently) showed what she is made of!

For all your Wimbledon news, tickets, updates, scores, videos and more visit http://www.mywimbledon2008.com

Tennis News from around the World

Nicolas Almagro had a cracker of a game against wild card Flavio Cipolla winning 6-1 6-3 in just 58 minutes. He will next play David Nalbandian who is ranked seventh in the world, should be a classic game!

Fabrice Santoro went 6-4 6-2 down to Itallian Stallion Andreas Seppi and will face James Blake in the next round.

Andy Roddick will face his compatriot Mardy Fish after Fish won a rider of a game against Michael Llodra (7-5 3-6 7-6 (7/2))

For all your Wimbledon news, tickets, updates, scores, videos and more visit http://www.mywimbledon2008.com

Gasquet Out of Rome Masters

Richard Gasquet’s dream of winning the Rome Masters was suddenly destroyed in the 1st round of the Rome Masters on Monday when he lost 6-4 6-1 to Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna. Some would say it was fate, as Richard Gasquet committed 27 unforced errors and 4 double faults.. you cant really win a match with that style of play. The 21 year old has not been up to form this year, so let’s hope Richard’s game improves with the next tournament.

Andy Murray Progresses, While Del Porto Strikes Injury in Rome Masters

Andy Murray has made it to the 2nd round of the Rome Masters. Juan Martin Del Porto, his opponent, ended play in the deciding 3rd set due to back injury. The Argentinian had just been broken to go 1-0 down, when he realized his back was giving him problems and he could not carry on with the match.

It was no doubt Del Porto was in serious pain and while he was close to tears, he managed to keep his cool. 5 min after treatment from his trainer, he admitted defeat. Del Porto, rank no. 17th in the world, took the 1st set 7-5, while Murray made a comeback in the 2nd set winning 6-4.

Murray will play Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round of the Rome Masters

For all the latest from Wimbledon 2008, visit MyWimbledon2008.com