Applause: To the All England Club, for preserving the integrity of tennis’ most historic event despite countless modern upgrades. Other sporting bodies should take note. I had never been here before, and I love this tournament even more now.
Boris: The BBC does a superb job covering Wimbledon. On top of that, they have Boris Becker in the commentary booth. After Bec Hewitt applauded her husband’s winning rally, Boris chimed in: “The wife is happy—always important.” His partner responded quickly: “Said with feeling, Boris.”
Court 18: I had a wonderful rooftop vantage point of this show court for the first 24 games of John Isner’s 70-68 fifth set and Sam Querrey’s match with Sergiy Stakhovsky. I was impressed with both Isner and Querrey’s movement on the turf, not just his strokes. But I also liked what I saw from Stakhovsky, who’s quietly won three titles in the last three seasons. Between him and Alexander Dolgopolov, a quirky but dangerous player I watched on Court 2, Ukraine is not weak.
Doubles: Since when does a third-round win in dubs merit a press conference in the main interview room? Well, being an all-British at Wimbledon tandem helps. But so does besting two-time defending Wimbledon champions Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic. Chris Eaton and Dominic Inglot did just that Saturday, winning 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 8-6.
Eats: The strawberries and cream are lovely; a fruit soup, if you will. The pizza’s worse than Ellio’s.
France: Les Bleus had a dreadful World Cup but are having a fine Wimbledon. Julien Benneteau, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Paul-Henri Mathieu all reached the final 16, and Marion Bartoli should make the quarterfinals on the women’s side (she faces Tsvetana Pironkova next).
Gangway: The newest Briticism I’ve learned: A gangway is a walkway. There are many underneath Centre Court, just like there are below the stadium court at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. I visit the decaying monument every so often; now I have an idea of what it once was.
Hewitt: The man simply won’t fade away. At 29, he may be as strong as he’s been since his Slam-winning years, even if that style is hard-pressed to bag a major today. Still, no one wants to play him, maybe not even Roger Federer after this year’s Halle final. Hewitt took out Gael Monfils in straight sets Friday, and I’m predicting he’ll eliminate Novak Djokovic come Monday.
Irony: Janko Tipsarevic and Arnaud Clement, two players who wear sunglasses, battled past dusk Monday on Court 16.
Jankovic: Like Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic is playing doubles. And I have no idea why. Sure, she’s breezed through her early-round singles matches, but this is going to catch up with her in week two.
Kanepi: Who’s had the best tournament so far? It might be Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi. The top seed in qualifying, Kanepi earned a main-draw spot with three straight-sets wins, then repeated that feat—which included a 6-4, 6-4 upset of Sam Stosur—in the big show.
Live: Fabio Fognini looked to me like an amateur on television, but you need to see him in person to understand that he has a plan, and it works. The Italian won’t hit with pace for seemingly the entire rally—though he’ll move his opponent all over the court—and then, in an instant, he’ll hit a shot at double the mileage. He’s tennis’ version of a knuckleball pitcher who throws in a random fastball.
Murray: If he’s going to win a major, I think it will come here. The Scot’s short backswing, quick hands and low center of gravity are well-suited for grass, and he’s embracing the challenge of breaking Britain’s hex at the Slams more in recent years.
Noon: Play begins at midday at the All England Club. I prefer it to the 11 A.M. kickoffs of the other majors with one caveat: Centre Court matches should also start at noon. Wimbledon is not a nighttime event, even if illumination is possible.
Ouch: Serena Williams was placed on Court 2 Thursday and promptly beat Anna Chakvetadze 6-0, 6-1. Guess she wanted to get off as quick as possible. On Monday’s Order of Play, Venus Williams plays there against Jarmila Groth. Just saying.
Players: If you’re anywhere near Wimbledon Village during the tournament, you’ll spot a pro or five scarfing down some breakfast or sipping some coffee. Seen in SW19 so far: Michael Llodra, Isner, Querrey (three times), Feliciano Lopez, Francesca Schiavone and Lleyton Hewitt.
Question: How many women’s third-round matches went three sets? Answer: None. There wasn’t even a tiebreaker played during the demolitions.
Rafa: He needed to win two five-setters to make the second week, but it was Nadal’s opponents—not poor form—that pushed those matches the distance. He’s striking the ball with confidence and I’m betting he’ll prevail next Sunday, even if his V-neck shirt is hideous.
Scoreboard: If you ever come to Wimbledon, watch a match on a small side court, where hand-operated scoreboards are still in use. After each point, the two board boys will pull out a steel placard which reads “15,” “30,” “40” or “A.” I expect Hawk-Eye to be in use on these courts in time for the 2083 tournament.
Tiebreaker: If 60-game fifth sets became the norm at Slams, then I could see the argument for requiring a final-set tiebreaker at all the majors. But the 183-game match was the first of its kind. History was made here; let’s celebrate it, not make an example out of it.
Used: Each day at 15:00, a sizable queue forms just outside the press centre. It’s not for a photo op or a contest; it’s to purchase event-used balls—£1 per ball or two cans for £5—with all proceeds going to charity.
Verdant: The grass on Centre Court at the beginning of play Monday was a bright, lush green. Federer and Alejandro Falla looked like they were desecrating a painting in a museum when they walked out to play.
White: Most players look great in white—there’s no better color for tennis shorts—but some look woefully out of place. Tsonga reminded me of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in the final scene of Pulp Fiction.
Xavier: Like a poker player who finishes one spot before the money, Xavier Malisse was the last man eliminated in the opening week. He broke Sam Querrey when the American served for the match at 5-4, but eventually lost 9-7 just after 9 P.M.
Yikes: They sell the Ralph Lauren clothing the umpires wear on court, but just to warn you, start saving now. The jacket is a mortgage payment.
Zilch: No rain through six days. I’m sure it’s being saved for the final weekend of the U.S. Open, third year running.
Ed McGrogan is an assistant editor for TENNIS.com. Follow him on Twitter.