By Randy Walker
“Manic Monday” is what many refer to the second Monday of Wimbledon, where all fourth-round men’s and women’s singles take place on the same day. Rain, however, prevented the full schedule of matches from being completed, causing a bit of a manic situation with the schedule.
Monday’s highlight was Sabine Lisicki of Germany upsetting top-seed and French Open champion Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3, a loss that will bump Sharapova from the No. 1 ranking following the tournament. Either Victoria Azarenka, the world No. 2 who defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-0, or Agnieszka Radwanska, the world No. 3 who defeated Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3, will overtake Sharapova in the top spot, depending on which player goes farther in the tournament.
On the men’s side, Roger Federer, despite suffering from a bad back which forced him to take a very rare medical time out during play, advanced into his 33rd straight quarterfinal at a major tournament by defeating Xavier Malisse 7-6(1), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Top-seed Novak Djokovic and Mikhail Youzhny also advanced into the Final Eight. All other men’s singles matches were not completed due to the weather.
The day was certainly “manic” on several fronts and here’s how it shaked out from start to finish via the wacky world of Twitter. The following are my “tweets” throughout the day from my Twitter profile “@TennisPublisher.” If you are unfamiliar to the ways of Twitter, when you place an “@” before a name, that signifies someone’s “handle” or profile and “RT” means that you are “Re-Tweeting” a tweet from someone else, which I performed several times through the day. The activity below resulted in me picking up 34 new followers, being retweeted 61 times and having 14 people commenting on my tweets, as of 4 pm eastern time Monday. As managing partner for New Chapter Media (www.NewChapterMedia.com), my tweets are aimed to be informative and entertaining to my audience and to promote my business partners, clients and products that I sell.
6:50 am Rain Monday at Wimbledon… The Manic Monday that never was? “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was ….” by Sidney Wood http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257847?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257847&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=the%20wimbledon%20final%20that%20never%20was&qid=1341226045&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1
6:55 am Olympic stories of elation and heartbreak in “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257405?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257405&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=boycott%20stolen%20dreams%20of%20the%201980%20moscow%20olympic%20games&qid=1341226880&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 #London2012
7:09 am Serena Williams serve ranked No. 1 all-time by Steve Flink in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=Greatest%20tennis%20matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341227441&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1 #Wimbledon
7:22 am How things change…Shvedova has won only four points in four games vs. Serena Williams, says Cliff Drysdale on ESPN2
7:27 am Miss Golden Set Shvedova on the verge of being bageled herself vs. Serena Williams – the American leads 5-0 in the first set #Wimbledon
7:33 am Born today in Paris is 1904 was RENE LACOSTE, the 1925 and 1928#Wimbledon champion http://www.TennisHistoryBook.com @Lacoste
7:36 am Full Olympic Tennis Entries From the ITF http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/6963 From @WorldTennisMag
7:55 am ITF ruled Tamira Paszek ineligible for Olympics having not met Fed Cup minimum requirements. She’s now one set from #Wimbledon quarters
8:09 am RT @Ataraxis RT @rennaestubbs: Scottie Pippen @Wimbledon watching @serenawilliams on court 2.
8:12 am @BenRothenberg @rennaestubbs @Wimbledon How about some one-on-on later with Dirk Nowitski, who is on site to watch Lisicki’s match, per ESPN
8:13 am Federer going for 33rd straight major tournament quarterfinal now on ESPN! “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257723?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257723&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=Roger%20Federer%20Quest%20for%20Perfection&qid=1341227173&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
8:15 am July 2, 2001: Roger Federer, 19, registers 76(7) 57 64 67(2) 75 upset of 7-time #Wimbledon champ Pete Sampras in 4th rd http://www.TennisHistoryBook.com
8:17 am @WhiteStarLine Did you know a future #Wimbledon champ survived Titanic sinking? “Titanic: The Tennis Story” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937559041?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=1937559041&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=Titanic%20Tennis%20Story&qid=1341230951&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 @Amazon
8:20 am Interesting to note that Xavier Malisse played his #Wimbledonsemifinal in 2002 vs. David Nalbandian on Court No. 1.
8:22 am RT @NYSportimes NY Sportimes begins action in 8 days! Be sure to get your tickets..give us a mention because we’ll be giving out free tickets for matches!
8:24 am “On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology” by Randy Walker http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257421?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257421&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=on%20this%20day%20in%20tennis%20history&qid=1341227570&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1
8:26 am RT @Jeff Salzenstein The Inspirational Brian Baker Comeback Story 2012 http://www.jeffsalzensteintennis.com/brian-baker-comeback-story-2012/#.T_GUMtr-YjQ.twitter via @jeffsalzenstein
8:34 am Have never seen Roger Federer being treated for medical timeout
8:35 am RT @WorldTennisMag Info on ROGER FEDERER’S FITNESS GURU and how he has always stayed in top physical shape http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/2004 #Wimbledon
8:36 am RT @WorldTennisMag This may have been the last time Federer called for a trainer on court during a match…. http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/4510 #Wimbledon
8:38 am vs. Lopez in ’03 #Wimbledon 4th rd Federer had trainer rub heat cream on his back after 2nd game during medical timeout http://RogerFedererBook.com
8:39 am “I thought about giving up” Federer says in http://RogerFedererBook.com of back injury in ’03 vs. Lopez “But then I hoped for a miracle” #Wimbledon
8:43 am “This looks like survival for Roger Federer…This is the worst I have ever seen him. I have never seen him like this.” Cahill on Federer
8:44 am RT @PatrickMcEnroe Fed needs a rain delay then roof to close
8:44 am RT @BenRothenberg If you’re a #Wimbledon champion, you’re not doing so well. Sharapova, Serena, Kvitova, and even Federer all trailing.
8:45 am Download, read how Federer overcame back injury in 4th rd match vs. Lopez at ’03 Wimbledon in “Quest for Perfection” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00440D9BO?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B00440D9BO&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=roger%20federer%20quest%20for%20perfection&qid=1341233692&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
8:46 am Federer prayed for rain with back trouble, medical timeout vs. Lopez in ’03 #Wimbledon. His prayers were not answered, but he got a miracle
8.59 am RT @Suzanpettersen Gotta love Federer! Nice sweater , classy guy!
9:01 am Must be a small rain cloud over Centre Court if Serena-Shvedova are playing on Court No. 2
9:11 am Serena wins 7-5 in the third set vs. Shvedova “I think she is going to take a lot of positives from this match,” MJ Fernandez says of Serena
9:11 am “I thought she played with a lot of confidence to close out this match,” says Mary Joe Fernandez on ESPN of Serena.
9:12 am “I am not tired. I feel good. I can play so much better than I have been playing….I am never satisfied.” Serena Williams to ESPN
9:14 am RT @Wimbledon Serena: “Drama, I love drama.” Says she has nothing to lose if she plays potential opponent & defending Champ Kvitova next #Wimbledon
9:14 am July 2, 1937: Don Budge wins first major singles title, defeats Gottfried von Cramm 63 64 62 in #Wimbledon final http://www.TennisHistoryBook.com
9:15 am “It’s a very delicate dance,” says ESPN’s Hannah Storm on roof open/roof closed debate. Roof closed 12 times ever at #Wimbledon, she says
9:17 am So, I guess, umbrellas are open on Centre Court, but they are not open on Court 3. But will the umbrellas remain open on Centre?#Wimbledon
9:20 am “He looks better, straight away…” says Darren Cahill on ESPN of Roger Federer and his bad back as play resumes on Centre #Wimbledon
9:31 am “Roger Federer, limbered up, stretching his lead. He’s now up two breaks,” Chris Fowler on ESPN. Federer leads 76 41 on Malisse #Wimbledon
9:33 am July 2, 1988: Steffi Graf, 19, ends Martina Navratilova’s 6-year grip on #Wimbledon, wins title with 57 62 61 win http://www.TennisHistoryBook.com
9:37 am “She’ doesn’t want to think. She just wants to instinctively hit the ball” ESPN’S Chris Evert on Lisicki wanting to play fast vs. Sharapova
9:38 am Is this #Wimbledon opening up for Kim Clijsters fairy tale? Potentially to play Kerber, Lisicki, Radwanska to reach SW19 final in swan song
9:39 am Lisicki needs to channel her inner Rosol or her inner Honey Badger and be fearless here serving for match vs. Sharapova
9:40 am “How about that second serve…HELLO!” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe “That is a quite a way to end it. A 108 mph second serve ace.” Lisicki wins!
9:41 am “What a gutsy way to end it. That was unreal,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe on Liscki’s upset of No. 1 seed Sharapova, capped with 2nd serve ace
9:42 am RT @Jeff Salzenstein After Nadal’s loss, anything possible at Wimbledon http://awe.sm/b0aCU #Tennis #Sports #News
9:50 am The @USTAProCircuit event in Pittsburgh, Pa. starts today. Where’s the defending champion?!?!? Playing in #Wimbledon 4th round…Brian Baker
10:00 am “Just nature calling,” says Hannah Storm of Roger Federer, leaving Centre Court after losing third set to Xavier Malisse #Wimbledon
10:03 am “I am in shock. I just didn’t think Sabine Lisicki had it in her.” Chris Evert on ESPN on Sharapova loss #Wimbledon
10:10 am The Rise of Angelique Kerber from @TennisBloggers http://www.tennisbloggers.com/archives/3828 #Wimbledon
10:11 am Rod Laver says in this book, the most important point in each game is the first one “The Education of a Tennis Player” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257626?ie=UTF8&tag=tennisgrancom-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257626&qid=1336920533&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3
10:12 am If Clijsters goes down, one of these players will be in the #Wimbledon women’s final – Lisicki, Kerber, Radwanska, Kirilenko, Peng
10:14 am Clijsters down 1-6, 1-5 down now vs. Kerber…can she pull a Jimmy Connors against Mikael Pernfors-like comeback? #Wimbledon
10:16 am “At some point it ends for everyone and so it ends for Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon,” ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi on final loss for Clijsters to Kerber
10:17 am With Clijsters loss, one of these players will be in the #Wimbledon women’s final – Lisicki, Kerber, Radwanska, Kirilenko, Peng
10:18 am RT @JeffSalzenstein Subscribe to my Youtube channel for FREE Tennis training videos http://bit.ly/JScoachTV
10:19 am Can Maria Kirilenko pull a Webb Simpson? Win a major sports title without getting on TV until the very end of the championship?
10:19 am Andy Roddick’s good bye wave was more dramatic and emotional than the one from Kim Clijsters… #Wimbledon
10:20 am RT @TennisIdentity Thanks ESPN for continued live Wimbledon. Love #tennis
10:22 am For all of the complaints about non-live Wimbledon coverage from years past, got to give major props to ESPN for all the excellent coverage!
10:40 am Roger Federer through to 33rd straight major quarterfinal, beats Malisse 76 61 46 63 http://www.RogerFedererBook.com #Wimbledon
10:50 am RT @Wimbledon Federer: “It’s ok otherwise I wldn’t be giving this interview. It started to feel better as match went on. I thought I was in big trouble.”
10:51 am RT @Wimbleon Federer: “Been doing exercises for years. I hve track record for not being injured. If this is worst that happens to me it’s not too bad.”
10:51 am RT @Wimbledon Roger: “The back is ok otherwise I wouldn’t be doing this interview, it got better as the match went on.”
11:52 am RT @FedererLive Roger: “When I was getting treatment I was in a lot of pain. I’ve been doing exercises for years, if this is the worst I’ll be happy.”
10:52 am RT @FedererFriday At age of 30 Years,10 mnths & 24 days, #Federer reaches 33rd consecutive Grand slam quarterfinal @Wimbledon , with his 63rd win @ #Wimbledon
10:54 am RT @SI_BTBaseline Fed relieved, thought he was in trouble. Says rain delay helped him. Apologized to Malisse for the delay in the 1st set. #wimbledon
10:56 am @dougrobson More important to get the women’s matches done since they are playing tomorrow and men are off!
11:19 am “I had chances, but I didn’t take them. I have to hand it to her (Lisicki),” Maria Sharapova in post-match press conference.#Wimbledon
11:20 am “She did many things much better than I did today,” Sharapova in post-match press conference on Lisicki loss #Wimbledon
11:20 RT @SI_BTBaseline Q: If u had to describe ur confidence right now, how wld u express it? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I’m Serena Williams; I’m very confident.
11:21 @SI_BTBaseline Love That!
11:22 RT @Mashable Alec Baldwin Leaves Twitter With Final Tweet: ‘It’s Been Fun http://on.mash.to/OWu5fO
11:31 am RT @ANGELICATOBAR “@ATPWorldTour: #Federer records 850th win with 76(1) 61 46 63 victory over #Malisse to reach @Wimbledon QFs. #atp #tennis”@ESPN_tenis
11:35 am Youzhny through to quarterfinals. “Sgt. Schultz is in the house,” says Brad Gilbert as he does his four-corner salute #Wimbledon
11:36 am Fish wins first set from Tsonga. Tom Rinaldi reports on ESPN that Fish was first player to break Tsonga’s serve so far this tournament
11:38 am “This is the most relaxed we have seen him the entire tournament,” says Brad Gilbert of Mardy Fish #Wimbledon
11:42 am “Tsonga does seem to have that big passion and life at the moment,” says Brad Gilbert on ESPN2, playing Fish
11:46 am “Wimbledon seems to be cousins with The Masters…steeped in tradition but modern,” Brad Gilbert on ESPN2….Very true!
11:46 am RT @TennisReporters Kirilenko gets thru in 3 over Peng & Ovechkin smiles a wide toothless grin on the sidelines.
11:46 am RT @Wimbledon Roger Federer has a QF opponent – Mikhail Youzhny through in 5 sets against Denis Istomin #ManicMonday
11:52 am Play suspended for Fish-Tsonga. “Looks like they are pulling the covers on all courts,” says Brad Gilbert on ESPN2
11:56 am RT @4AllSurfaces RT @alex_willis: The button-pusher has finally had his moment of glory. Roof closing on Centre. #Wimbledon
12:02 pm “This is over 8 years and counting. This is like a .600 hitter (in baseball)” John McEnroe on ESPN2 on Federer’s streak of reaching major QF
12:24 pm Vika Azarenka in hoodie, wearing earphones, walks on Centre Court with roof closed with Ana Ivanovic to resume their fourth round match
12:26 pm ESPN showing tape of Vika Azarenka doing a boogie with hoodie up and earphones on, waiting for roof to close on Centre Court
12:27 pm Victoria Azarenka return of serve ranked No. 4 all time in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” by Steve Flink
12:31 pm Delay in Azarenka-Ivanovic was for 39 minutes, according to ESPN. Azarenka hits service winner, holds for 5-1 vs. Ivanovic
12:36 pm Centre Court under roof sounds like an indoor pool area with echoes. Could it help Ivanovic, who grew up playing tennis in waterless pool?
12:54 pm RT @LinzSports My book is at Wilmbledon!! RT @rfsatar: @linzsports my mum just pulled your book out of her bag to read while we’re waiting on court 1!!!!
12:57 pm “This court, for me, was so intimidating,” says Mary Joe Fernandez on ESPN of Centre Court’s aura. It is all that you expected and more.”
12:58 pm A “Titanic: The Tennis Story” book sighting on Court 1 at #Wimbledon, a tweeter just tweeted to @LinzSports. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937559041?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=1937559041&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=Titanic%20The%20Tennis%20Story&qid=1341248114&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
1:04 pm RT @Sharapovanovic The last two women to defeat Sharapova in the fourth round of Wimbledon went on to win the title.
1:07 pm I think No. 2 seed Vika Azarenka just declared herself the favorite to win Wimbledon with decisive 61 60 Centre Court win over Ivanovic
1:08 pm “Best match she’s played in the last six weeks,” says ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez of 62 minute win over Ana Ivanovic #Wimbledon
1:10 pm “I still think Serena Williams is still the player to beat,” says Mary Joe Fernandez on ESPN #Wimbledon
1:12 pm Wimbledon women’s quarterfinals set: Bottom half: Azarenka-Paszek, Serena -Kvitova, Top half: Radwanska-Kirilenko, Lisicki-Kerber
1:17 pm “I didn’t know who I play. Thanks for telling me that.” Azarenka when BBC asked how she felt about playing Paszek in next round at Wimbledon
1:23 What is the WTA No. 1 ranking scenario after Sharapova loss? Whoever goes farther between Radwanska and Azarenka?
1:28 RT @Caropaquin80 @TennisPublisher Azarenka losing means automatically Maria isn’t no 1 anymore. I think from now on it’s whoever goes furthest, as you said.
1:30 pm Novak Djokovic backhand rated No. 4 all time by Steve Flink in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&qid=1339171252&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
131 pm @bgtennisnation The latest from the weatherman looking like there might not be any more play on the outside courts
2:48 pm “If you were playing chess right now you would put the king down and just say ‘That’s enough” ESPN’s John McEnroe on Djokovic vs. Troicki
2:48 pm Read about #Wimbledon history in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257707?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=0942257707&linkCode=shr&tag=newchapre-20&keywords=bud%20collins%20history%20of%20tennis&qid=1341254703&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
2:48 pm 7:48 pm in London, there more hours of tennis could be played under roof. Interesting decision not to play any more matches inside….
2:52 pm RT @JeffSalzenstein Big Time Tennis Footwork For Your One Hand Backhandhttp://bit.ly/Jezf16 #Tennis #Footwork #Backhand
2:55 pm “There is no feeling like this one….standing ovation, defending champion…” McEnroe on Djokovic after straight-set Centre Court win
2:58 pm “We are done for tennis for today,” says ESPN’s Hannah Storm, reporting that show courts will start at noon tomorrow at #Wimbledon
2:59 pm “Do not think that she can’t win this title,” says ESPN’s Pam Shriver of Angelique Kerber at #Wimbledon
3:20 pm “I am quite surprised” said ESPN’s P. McEnroe of decision to not have Gasquet-Mayer finish under roof completing top half 4th rd matches