Stade de France, Paris (GenevaLunch) - Saturday’s international between France and England was another game where one side tried to play attacking rugby and the other side relied on forward power and kicking penalties. The unusual feature was that it was England that scored the only try of the game, while France scored four penalties to win 12-10. The win secured the Grand Slam for France, who were already assured of the Championship.
Flushing Meadows, New York (GenevaLunch) -The first round of the US Open resulted in a few scares, but no real upsets. Number one seed Roger Federer, in search of his sixth successive title in New York eased past 18 year-old American Devin Britton 6-1 6-3 7-5, dropping serve twice but coming back immediately each time. Andy Roddick, who lost an epic Wimbledon final against Federer this year beat Bjorn Phau 6-1 6-4 6-2.
Federer, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in June and set a career record with his 15th Slam title at Wimbledon, became the first player to earn $50 million in career prize money with the victory.
London, England (GenevaLunch) – In the good old days of Roger Federer’s early tennis career, Swiss media were given first go at him, over breakfast in his garden in London, the day after Wimbledon. But these are the even better new days, with Federer the man who has overtaken them all in tennis, after his record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title won at Wimbledon Sunday 6 July. For Swiss media, it means the end of the cozy, relaxed talk sessions, replaced this week by 15 minutes of questions and answers, but at the front of the long line of journalists.
Here’s what we learn:
Wimbledon, England (GenevaLunch) – Swiss Roger Federer won an epic match against American Andy Roddick that went to 16-14 in the fifth set. Roddick only lost his service in the final game of the match, which lasted four hours and 16 minutes. The victory broke Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam wins. Sampras was in the Royal Box along with other legends Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver, the only male to twice win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year.
Wimbledon, England (GenevaLunch) - The two women’s semi-finals were totally different but ended with the same result: Williams beats Russia. Serena fought back from a set down, and match-point down, to battle past Elena Dementieva 6-7 7-5 8-6 in the best match of the women’s tournament. Dementieva took the first set in the tie-break with precise ground strokes and an improved service. She then lost her first service game but came back to lead the set before Serena came back to take the set. The third set was hard fought with both players rising to the occasion until Serena finally won the longest ever women’s semi, at two hours 49 minutes.
London, England (GenevaLunch) – Wimbledon Champion Rafa Nadal announced that he will not be defending his title because of tendinitis in both knees. The decision was made after he lost two warm-up matches against Leyton Hewitt and Stanislav Wawrinka, and was clearly suffering against both players.
Update 15:30 Sampras calls Federer greatest player ever
Paris, France (GenevaLunch) – Roger Federer won his first French Open to become only the sixth player in history to win all of the Grand Slam tournaments, after Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and André Agassi. It was his 14th Grand Slam win, equaling Pete Sampras’s record. He beat the Swedish sensation of the tournament, Robin Soderling, 6-1 7-6 6-4. Sampras told the Guardian Monday that Federer is the best player in the history of the game. He spoke to CNN, saying “I’m so proud right now you can’t believe it” and noting that he’s far from retirement and hopes to play for many more years.
Paris, France (GenevaLunch) - Russian Dinara Safina beat Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in a scrappy Roland Garros match where the tall and powerful Russian seemed to be struggling mainly with herself. She overpowered her diminutive opponent 6-3 6-3 and is now looking to win the final and end her unusual position as a world number one who has yet to win a Grand Slam.
The other semi was a more entertaining match as Australian Sam Stosur fought back from being down 2-5 in the second set tie break to win the set.
Cardiff, Wales, UK (GenevaLunch) – Ireland won their first Grand Slam since 1948 when they beat Wales 15-17 in a tight match at the Millenium Stadium. The Welsh side led 6-0 at half-time, with two penalties despite Irish domination, but a try by Brian O’Driscoll after Paul O’Connell had won the ball at a line-out put the Irish ahead.
