Wimbledon day 4

The most dramatic day of the Championships as far as drama was going on in all different courts and shocks and battles were taking place throughout.

Mens: The match of the day was an stunning comeback by the 5th seed Soderling from sets down against the former champion Hewitt in an 4 hour match. The first set was an tight affair as both men were trying to get an feel for the conditions playing first time under roof at Centre Court and both serving well. Soderling was getting into the Hewitt serve but they both held on to an tie break. In an tight tie break and full of errors nothing could separate these 2 until an piece of magic from Hewitt won a tight tie break 7-5. Hewitt taking inspiration from the first set then upped his game and looked the Hewitt of old and really took control of the second set. He ground strokes looked good and had great touch when needed and got an decisive break in the 2nd to take it 6-3. The third set was an another tight affair which no one could take advantage of. Mistakes and chances both men had but no-one took it until 12th game of the set where Hewitt was serving to stay in the set had an epic 7 minute game which Soderling came out on top on and stole the third set 7-5.

The 4th just went like the third. The early stages was close as no-one took advantage and it was heading for another tie-break but Soderling broke at the score of 5-4 to win it 6-4. Now this game was anyone's for the taking and both men knew it as early in the 5th set they both traded breaks as the pressure grew. Soderling had the advantage of serving first so Hewitt was always serving to catch up and that was an advantage which eventually paid off as the 10th game of the 5th set Hewitt played his worst service hold in the match where he made 4 unforced errors in an row and Soderling took the game and the match to love. It was an disappointing way to finish the match however it was an match of the highest quality. Soderling won but both men got standing ovations from the crowd. For the first time in Hewitt tennis life questions appeared if this will be his last year at the top of the game playing senior but he quickly "I love competing. You're a long time retired and I hear that from a lot of great athletes. As long as my body is close to 100% I want to go out there and compete". He went on to say "I still feel like I can give these top guys as much trouble as anyone out there." brushing off suggestion he might retire just yet. The final score was 6-7(5-7), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4

There were easier victory for Djokovic as he continues this great run of losing only once in calender year. He eased past big South African Anderson. The first set going all Djokovic as he raced into an 5-0 lead in no-time but Anderson did show some fight and was able to break the Serb once to get it back to 5-3 but Djokovic was able to serve it out second time of asking win 6-3. The second set was an much tighter affair as Anderson was serving some big aces and was able to get into the Djokovic serve an little more but Djokovic just went up an gear and showed some great tennis to break the South African to love in the 9th game to go up 5-4 and then served out the set to take it 6-4. The third was much more comfortable apart from one bad game from Djokovic which he still battled out of being 0-40 down to win the game. He broke the South African twice and soon enough was serving for the match which he did easily and won the match 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Federer was last on centre court and had an long wait to get on but he looked like someone who wanted to make up time as he trashed his opponent Mannarino. Federer started in quick mood as he broke the Mannarino serve straight away. This was very easy for Federer as he was holding serve comfortably as Mannarino was struggling to hold onto his and soon enough Mannarino was broken again near the end of the set as Federer took the first set 6-2. The second set was an bit more competitive from Mannarino side. Federer was up an break early in the set but Mannarino fight earned him an chance in the 10th 9th game where he was 0-40 up trying to break back from 5-3 down. But Federer up his game to save the break points and serve it out to win 6-3. Federer wanting the job done quickly raced to an 5-1 lead in the third trying to finish it off with an bang and an another break but Mannarino held onto his serve to make him serve it out which Federer did to love by finishing the match with an super smash with both feet off the ground winning it 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer will face Nalbandian in the next round as he won his match earlier on, while Djokovic will face the player he beat at the Australian Open Final an few years ago Baghdatis and there were also victories for Malisse, Yen-Hsun Lu, Del Potro, Almagro who beat Isner, Beck and Tsonga won an entertaining match on court one against the talented Dimitrov.

Women's- The big story from the women's matches today was the French Open champion Li Na was knocked out by an inspired and emotional Sabine Lisicki. That didnt seem possible during the first set as Lisicki could not handle the power of Li Na in the first set and was dragging her around the whole court and which Li Na eventually won 6-3. The second set was an much closer affair as both women traded breaks early on. It did look as if Li Na would be able to break the resistance of Lisicki but in the 10th game she got the big break through as she broke the Chinese Women to take the set 6-4.

The third set turned out to be an roller-coaster as this match turned dramatically around. It looked as if Li Na was easing to victory being 5-3 up on the Lisicki serve and 15-40 up. However Lisicki hit 4 massive serves to save the match and extend it by at least an game. Li Na then served for the match and Lisicki played her best tennis of her life as she ran down all shots coming at her as she fought gallantly and then she got her chance to break by playing an stunning running winner. The next point Li Na then made an unforced error and the German was back level. The drama didnt stop there as Lisicki gave her game away next game as Li Na was handed the break. All the work of the previous game looked all in vain but she again played the game of her life and really went for her shots and the power was too much for Li Na as she was able to break her again. As there was no tie-break the match had to go on till there was an clear winner by 2 games and Lisicki was determined not to make the same mistake twice and played an amazing love hold game to go up 7-6. Li was feeling the pressure and Lisicki could sense it and really attacked her in the next game and an couple of unforced errors handed Lisicki an match point which she took first time in asking. It was an incredible come back from 2 match points down to win the match 3-6 6-4 8-6.

Serena Williams also had an scare in her match against the teenager Simona Halep. Serena started off an bit slow and Halep really took advantage and was showing why people have been talking about her as an rising star. She got the early break and to her credit Halep held her own. She was getting into the Serena serve and won the set very easily. Serena needed to step up an gear and duly did as she was starting to get her range right and her radar was working. Her slump was over and from then over powered her opponent. Halep did go down an early break did try and stay with her by holding her serve and try and take advantage of any weakness that she might have in her mind but that didnt happen and Serena got the double break and won the set 6-2. She knew she had her opponent down and almost out so she knew an fast start would all but kill the game and she was right as she raced into an double break and the game was over very soon after as she won by break Halep for an third time to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 an good victory for Serena. She was not happy being put onto court two saying "They like to put me and Venus there for some reason I don't know, maybe we'll figure it out." But she will defiantly be an contender for these championships.

There were also victories for Former French open champion and this years finalist Schiavone, Former world number 1 Ivanovic, Kuznetsova, Goerges, Wickmayer and Cibulkova. There were an couple of other shocks in the women's matches Misaki Doi of Japan and qualifier of Wimbledon beat former semi-finalist Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-1. The other shock was Pavlyuchenkova the 14th seed losing out to fellow Russian Petrova winning 6-3, 6-3.