(WHAAAAAAAAT????)
After Rafa lost in Round 1 on Monday, I jokingly posted on Facebook that Wimbledon had been canceled. Apparently, several of the top players believed me and decided to leave town and hit the beach earlier to work on their summer tans. In what has to be one of the most bizarre days in the tournament's history. No fewer than 7 players retired from their matches or withdrew from the tournament due to injury. And several other former champions lost to much lower-ranked opponents as well. All of this left me thinking, will someone PLEASE check Andy Murray's racket bag for voodoo dolls??
Seriously though. You may recall my earlier post about the messed up draw that came out before this crazy tournament began. At that point, Murray had on of the hardest routes to the finals. He likely had to face Tsonga, Nadal or Federer and then Djokovic to claim the title. Well Rafa lost first round to Steve Darcis in a big shocker. Then in the second round, Tsonga retired with an injury! Two obstacles down for Murray. Then Darcis, who bead Rafa, ALSO withdrew with injury! As did Cilic and Stepanek, both of whom were in the bottom half! Then Isner retired with injury as well! 5 injured players in what had been an a bottom half crowded with talent. Then even more unthinkable - Federer, Murray's last main threat to the semis, and the reigning Wimbledon champ, LOST his second round match to 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky from Ukraine. It broke Federer's streak of 36 straight appearances at grand slam quarterfinals, which started way back in Wimbledon 2004. It makes Rafa's loss on Monday seem like a distant memory. Guys, this is nuts. Black magic must be the cause!
The women's side also saw it's one array of injuries and losses. Victoria Azarenka and Yaroslava Svedova both withdrew after injury. And upset losers included Caroline Wozniaki, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and most shockingly Maria Sharapova. Is there anyone in the draw left to threaten Serena Williams? I feel like given the craziness in the air (and maybe on the grass) both she and Novak better take care that they aren't handed early exits as well!
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