Live Wimbledon Blog / Matthew Walton / 28 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Matthew Walton is our man in the hotseat at Wimbledon today. Email him on sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk.

Welcome to Day 6 of Wimbledon.

Some interesting matches in store on both sides of the draw including a number of potentially close matches which should provide some good trading opportunities. More of those anon plus Rafa, Venus, Andy Murray, Jelena Jankovic and everybody's favourite under-achiever, Richard Gasquet. Comments to sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk

19.00 - last update of the day and you can't help feeling these guys will be at it into the wee small hours. Youzhny and Stepanek are one set all 7-5 6-7 so we have two, if not three, more sets to go there on Court 2. Rafa and Kiefer have barely broken sweat on Centre, Kiefer leads 2-1 on serve. Mathieu and Cilic are 5-5 in the first set.

My thanks to those of who who wrote in. Remember to come back on Monday for Day 7 of the championships and I'll be back on Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend.

18.50 - burning the midnight oil, Mathieu and Cilic are 4-4 on Court 11. They've played twice on grass in the last couple of weeks and it's one win apeice. Very tough match to call. Nadal leads Kiefer 2:0 on past meetings, both on hard this year, and he should really get this one done in routine fashion. Stepanek and Youzhny are into a second set tie-break.

18.40 - the day's final two matches are Nadal/Kiefer on Centre and Mathieu/Cilic on Court 11. Even with the good weather they might struggle for time if they go deep into the fourth or even fifth sets. We'll be with you until 7.00pm to see both games get underway. Stepanek ties it up at 4-4 but trails Youzhny by a set to love.

18.30 - Murray wins 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2. A good win but my one comment is that Haas is a bit of a spent force these days. There will be sterner tests to come, such as Gasquet who will be very tempting at a decent odds-against price when they meet in R4. But he won well enough today so let's not rain on his parade.

Youzhny breaks for 4-2 but Stepanek breaks back for 3-4, on serve, in the second set.

18.20 - Peer defeats Safina 8-6 in the third. It has taken over three hours - a marathon for a women's match. Murray has finally broken in the fourth set to lead 3-2 and just needs a few good service games to see off the determined Haas. Youzhny is 7-5 2-1 up on Stepanek and trades at [1.72].

18.10 - Graham asks if Gasquet really is 'all that' after his patchy performance today. I take you point, Graham, but the guy is an excellent shot-maker and a proven grass court winner (twice at Nottingham). Mentally, a total flake, but is Murray proving himself to be a ruthless operator in this match with Haas. It's 1-2 Murray serving in the fourth.

Youzhny has taken the first set 7-5 - did you get the [2.38] about him? Peer and Safina continue on and on and on ... Mathieu and Cilic must be bored senseless.

18.00 - third set to Murray 6-3. Now, if this was Tim Henman he would definitely lose the next set. Let's see what our Andy does. Meanwhile, Youzhny saved break points at 4-4 on serve and had set points at 5-4. Missed 'em though. He looks the value in this one at [2.38]. Peer/Safina are 6-6 in the third, that one could go on all night!

17.50 - promises to be a late finish here at SW19 as Nadal and Kiefer plus Mathieu and Cilic are yet to make it out of the Locker Room. Murray leads 5-2 in the third and is threatening to pull away again.

17.40 - Stepanek and Youzhny are all square at 3-3 in the first set, Safina serves for the match at 5-4 and manages to blow it. This is a match she is trying very, very hard to lose! Murray has the break in the third against Haas, he leads 4-1 and trades at [1.25].

17.30 - The euphoria on the first set is fast fading on Centre as Murray is getting into a war with Haas. These late afternoon matches have that feel about them - the crowd are getting a bit hot and bothered, our man's not bombing this guy off the court, the merest whiff of an upset is in the air. So, who laid Haas at [15.00] - feeling confident?

Stepanek and Youzhny start on Court 2. Another match which could be close. Youzhny has been off the pace a bit this year and Stepanek is another who is hard to fathom. Could be another for the long haul. Safina/Peer is the last women's match of the day and Safina - making suitable heavy weather of it - is 5-3 up in the third set.

17.20 - Murray drops the second set to Haas 7-6. Are you Henman in disguise comes the cry? On Court 1, Gasquet breaks Simon to lead 5-3 and he serves for the set and the match. Which he duly does. Typically erratic display from my favourite Frenchman. He'll be a big, big danger if Murray disposes of Haas ...

17.10 - Tipsarevic takes it 7-6 7-6 6-3 against Tursunov. Gasquet breaks back to make it 3-3 in the fourth set with Simon. Safina is a break up in the third against Peer -this game really has been a trader's paradise.

Big second set tie-break for Murray and Haas. The German has already been traded at [15.00] -a tad premature, methinks.

17.00 - Paul F. questions my support for Murray. Hey, the guy is good but let's put it in perspective. His two main rivals are Nadal (four time Slam winner) and Djokovic (Slam winner) come on Andy, show us your medals! As per usual, we lose all sense of perspective with our own talent. Let's see him win a Masters Series event before we even begin to, start to, try to think of him as a Slam winner.

Kudryavtseva follows up that Sharapova win to take out Peng in three sets 6-3 1-6 6-4. Safina wins the second set 7-6 to force a third set with Shahar Peer. Simon leads Gasquet [1.33] - tempted? - 3-1 in the fourth.

Murray is broken by Haas to level it at 4-4 in the second set, Centre Court is stunned by the German's impudence.

16.50 - True to form, Gasquet is starting to implode. He drops the third set and loses serve to begin the fourth. It's 6-3 6-3 6-7 0-2 against Simon on Court 1. Oh dear!

Meanwhile, Safina battled back from 1-4 to level it at 4-4, trail 4-5, level at 5-5 and then drop serve again for 5-6 and breaks again for 6-6. She must win the tie-break to force a decider. On Court 18, Clement beats Melzer in four sets, Tipsarevic is 7-6 7-6 4-1 up on Tursunov.

16.40 - Tipsarevic breaks in the third set to lead 3-0, that must be game over given the way this match has gone. Gasquet loses the third set to Simon and drifts to [1.14] but is he in any danger? Well, he shouldn't be. Murray is a set and a break up on Haas and the commentators are besides themselves. Is this the next Tim Henman we're seeing? That is, the next glorious British failure at Wimbledon? Quite possibly.

16.30 - Murray takes the first set 6-4 to rapturous applause. Petrova closes out the win over Azarenka 7-6 7-6 on Court 3. Quietly does it for the No21 seed. Safina gets back to 4-4 only to drop serve to the No.24 seed, Shahar Peer, to trail 4-5 and then breaks back to 5-5!!

16.20 - Clement breaks in the fourth set to lead 3-1, is that it for Melzer who took the first set but has steadily declined ever since. Tipsarevic and Tursunov, guess what? Another tie-break. Which Tipsarevic, again, has won to lead 2-0 in sets. Safina is on the comeback trail, from 1-4 in the second set it's now 4-4. Murray is serving at 5-4 in the first.

16.10 - Murray breaks Haas early and leads 4-2. Hysteria on Centre - if not from Tim Henman in the Commentary Box. Clement takes the third set 6-4 but that match still looks far from over. Melzer might be worth a dart at [4.5]. It's looking near over for Safina though as she trails Peer 7-5 4-1. Peng and Kudryavtseva are one set all on Court 14.

Tipsarevic and Tursunov are still trading serves, it's 5-5 in the second set and Gasquet is 2-3 on serve against Simon but two sets to the good.

16.00 - touched a nerve with you Federer fans (Joe S., Roger T.) I just think he's become refreshingly human this year. Ask yourself this question - has he improved on grass since last year or has Nadal? And given the close nature of last year's final that, to me, suggests that the Spaniard can nail him this year ... should they meet of course!

Gasquet takes the second set 6-3, a scrappy game but he's getting the job done. Peer goes a break up in the second set against Safina, the No.9 seed is in big, big danger. Clement is serving for a 2-1 set lead over Melzer. Meanwhile, on Court 2, can we have a break point, please!

Murray is underway against Haas on Centre ...

15.50 - Tipsarevic and Tursunov are having a serve-fest on Court 2, a match with little in it although Tipsarevic trades at [1.46] - interesting. Gasquet breaks again to lead 5-3 in the second, his matches are hardly dull affairs - remember the Roddick match last year? Safina drops the first set against Peer 7-5, she was traded at [1.10], time to take the [1.95] like in the Jankovic match?

15.40 - Gasquet breaks back to 2-2 and then loses serve to trail 2-3 and then breaks for 3-3!! This guy, I feel, is the most talented player outside of the big three. He's won titles on every surface but mentally he just lets himself down so many times.

Jankovic wins on Centre and heads for the treatment table, a good trade when she drifted out to [2.04] after that awful first set. Petrova takes the first set tie-break 13-11 against Azarenka, Safina and Peer are 5-5 first set and on Court 14 Kudryavtseva takes the first set against Peng of China 6-3.

15.30 - Clement [1.80] is favourite to beat Melzer but it's a dangerous call after two evenly contested sets. Safina and Peer are on serve on Court 11 in the first set. Jankovic is holding on against Wozniacki on Centre, now 5-2 in the third. And Simon breaks at the start of the second set against Gasquet - oh, the wonderfully unreliable Gasquet strikes again!

Sean J. writes to ask if Federer is now a shoo-in for the title after Djokovic's demise. I'd still be circumspect of the No.1 seed, should Nadal make the final that's a real 50/50 call. The Spaniard had his chances in last year's final and his run at Queen's was impressive, especially in beating Karlovic and Djokovic. We'll see how he fares later against Kiefer - which should be a good test of his credentials.

15.20 - Jankovic is still struggling with a leg injury but still holds sway in the third, 3-1. She may well limp over the line! Clement has levelled at one set all with Melzer. Gasquet takes the first set 6-3, Tipsarevic takes the tie-break on Court 2 to land the first set.

15.10 - Simon looks like a rabbit in the headlights as Gasquet storms into a good early 5-2 lead. Jankovic gets the break at the start of the third set to lead 1-0, we highlighted her at [2.04] now she's around [1.30]. Tipsarevic and Tursunov look tie-break bound in their first set on Court 2.

15.00 - Gasquet gets the early break to lead 3-1 and trades at around [1.09], Jankovic levels the match at one set all. Clement loses the first set 4-6 but races back to lead the second 4-1. The No.9 women's seed, Dinara Safina, begins on Court 11 and on Court 3 it's early days for Azarenka and Petrova.

14.50 - Tipsarevic starts out against Tursunov. Many will expect him to fank the form of the Roddick match. Melzer serves for the first set on Court 18 against Clement - and takes it 6-4. Jankovic still leads in the second set, with a break, 5-3.

14.40 - next up on Court 1 it's Gasquet/Simon. Arguably the biggest under-achaiver on the tour, Gasquet should put this guy to the sword. As I said to Martin R. if he and Murray both win, the Frenchman could be a decent bet in R4. Tansugarn battles back to beat Erakovic 4-6 6-4 6-4, we did say that match might have some life in it after the first set. Clement levels with Melzer at 4-4 in the first ...

14.30 - Dementieva falls over the line 7-6 7-5 against Dulko, a supremely unspectacular victory by the No.5 seed. Tansugarn and Erakovic are 4-4 in the third on Court 11. Venus takes out Martinez Sanchez 6-1 7-5. Melzer gets the first break of the match against Clement on Court 18 to lead 3-2 - tough match to call that one, could go the distance. Jankovic leads 3-1 in the second set against Wozniacki and still looks the call at [1.55].

14.20 - Martin R. writes to ask my views on Murray/Haas. I hope the Scot wins, I really do - and he should do. Only because I also hope Gasquet beats Simon to set up a potentially tasty bet on the Frenchman in the next round.

Jankovic breaks at the start of the second set to lead 2-0, the comeback is on! Schuettler takes out Garcia-Lopez 62 6-3 6-4. Dementieva breaks to lead 6-5 and serves for the match.

14.10 - Wozniacki takes the first set 6-2, time to take the [2.04] about Jankovic? Meanwhile, Martinez Sanchez breaks back to make it 4-4 in the second set against Venus.

14.00 - Wozniaki breaks Jankovic to lead 5-2 ... the No.2 seed is in real trouble here. Tansugarn takes the second set against Erakovic and goes to [1.85], she was bigger than [3.00] having dropped the first set. Schuettler leads 4-1 in the third with a double break and Venus is now a set and break up on Martinez Sanchez. Kleybanova has beaten Sugiyama 6-4 6-4.

13.50 - Jankovic is making a slow start to her match. It's 2-2 but neither player has shown much thus far. Is she a realistic title winner? I'm not so sure. Only by default it seems. Garcia-Lopez breaks back to 1-1 in the third only for Schuettler to break again for 2-1. Clearly not the Spaniard's day. Dementieva is struggling to put Dulko away on Court 2. After taking the first set you'd expect her to race to victory ... it's 3-2 Dulko, on serve, in the second. This ain't too impressive by the No.5 seed.

13.40 - Jankovic starts against Wozniacki on Centre. Should be a breeze for the No.2 seed, we shall see. Martinez Sanchez gets one game on the board to trail 1-5 but Venus takes the next game to win the set 6-1. Schuettler breaks in the first game of the third set to lead 6-2 6-3 1-0. Game over. So answer me this, who turned the lights out on his career after the 2003 Australian Open final? Never been the same since.

13.30 - Venus clearly has other things planned for this afternoon as she intends to spend as little time on court as possible. Already 5-0 up on Martinez Sanchez the dreaded [1.01] has already been reached. Tanasugarn breaks to lead 3-1 in the second against Erakovic, as we said, there's still plenty of life left in that match. Schuettler breaks to lead 5-3 in the second as Garcia-Lopez is looking pretty near done for the day.

13.20 - Venus starts out on Court 1. I still have my doubts as to her focus for the game these days. Sure, grass plays to her strengths but there's a lot of bright young talent out there. On Court 2 Dementieva takes the first set 7-6 as Dulko from 4-0 up has blown it.

On the outside courts, Kleybanova has taken the first set gainst Sugiyama 6-4 and Erakovic leads Tansugarn by a set as well (also 6-4). However, both those matches may be far from over. Schuettler leads 4-3 on servce and by a set against Garcia-Lopez.

13.10 - the Dementieva match highlights what we could see a lot of today. Plenty of close matches and we will see guys lead 2-1 and throw it away, maybe 2-0. Same goes for the women. Coming up Melzer/Clement, Tipsarevic/Tursunov, Mathieu/Cilic and Stepanek/Youzhny will all have a few twists and turns. Also Sugiyama/Kleybanova and Tanasugarn/Erakovic look promising. These are the matches to focus on this afternoon.

Dementieva/Dulko goes to a tie-break in the first set. Schuettler gets a break up on Garcia-Lopez in the second only for the Spaniard to break back, it's 2-3 on serve. The German still looks the call at [1.25].

13.00 - Don't forget we have some great action coming up this afternoon. Another yardstick of Rafa's credentials against Nicolas Kiefer and Andy Murray taking on a useful, if injury-prone, Tommy Haas. In the women's draw, Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic look to take advantage of the early exits of Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova.

Dementieva breaks to love to tie it up at 5-5 on Court 2. Dulko led 4-0 early on but that was maybe her chance to get a set on the board and pressure the No.5 seed. Not so as the Russian races back and now trades around [1.32] after being a huge [2.36] at one point.

12.50 - Dementieva has chances to make it 4-4 but Dulko holds to lead 5-3. Schuettler takes the first set 6-2 with a double break. The Spaniard, Garcia-Lopez, has half a chance in this game but the German has made a good start.

12.40 - Dementieva has gone from [1.36] to [2.36] and back to [1.87] as she recovers from 0-4 to now trail 3-4. Still a break down but very much on the comeback. Schuettler breaks Garcia-Lopez to lead 4-2 and is already into [1.42].

12.30 - early matches are underway. Elena Dementieva is already struggling on Court 2 against Gisela Dulko whilst Garcia-Lopez and Schuettler are hard at it on Court 3.

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