Big names move to the background at Wimbledon

Three of the top-five men’s players took the court at Wimbledon on Day 3, but almost no one noticed.  Roger Federer (1), Novak Djokovic (3) and Andy Roddick (5), all advanced quietly to the 3rd Round.  Even today’s upset of No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko by unseeded Daniel Brands went unnoticed by the tennis world.

The top-story of today, and maybe of the tournament, or even the year, is a story that isn’t even finished.  American John Isner (23), set out to finish a match that was postponed yesterday due to darkness.  Isner was tied at 2 sets each with Nicolas Mahut when the day began.  When the day was again ended due to darkness, Isner and Mahut are still tied at 2 sets each.  The final set is tied at 59 games each, more than twice the previous record for the most games played at a Grand Slam.  The 5th set alone has lasted longer than any complete tennis match in history and it is still not over.  The match has lasted 10 hours so far, and counting.  It will be continued for a 3rd day, without a weather delay.  Records have fallen in nearly every statistical category. 

Three of the top-ten  women also took the courts today, including Venus Williams (2), Jelena Jankovic (4), and Kim Clijsters (8), each advancing to the 3rd Round.  American Melanie Oudin fell to Jarmila Groth in straight sets.