Friday, July 6, 2012

Wimbledon Finals Set

The 2012 Wimbledon Finals are set. Let's take a closer look at each of the matchups:

WOMEN'S
Photo Credits: thenational.ae / bleacherreport.com
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska will take on Serena Williams in the women's final. Radwanska, 23, has never before played in a Grand Slam Final, having reached the QUARTERfinals only 5 times in her professional career prior to this year's Wimbledon. One of those quarterfinal losses actually came against Serena Williams at Wimbledon back in 2008 so she'll have her work cut out for her tomorrow. As if the challenge of winning a slam wasn't big enough already, she'll have to do it at less than 100% as she's been suffering from a respiratory illness that forced her to withdraw from the doubles side of the tournament. Meanwhile on the other end of the spectrum Serena, now 30, is looking to win her 5th Wimbledon and her 14th Grand Slam singles title. Following a first round exit at the French Open, Williams has been on her game this tournament dropping just 2 sets and beating the #2 and #4 seeds in straight sets on her way to the Final. Oh yeah, she'll be playing in the doubles finals with her sister as well. Here's a look at each of their paths to the 2012 Wimbledon Final:

Radwanska (#3)

W vs Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 6-3, 6-3
W vs Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-2, 6-1
W vs Heather Watson (Great Britain) 6-0, 6-2
W vs Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-2, 6-3
W vs #17 Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
W vs #8 Angelique Kerber (Germany) 6-3, 6-4

Williams (#6)

W vs Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (Czech Republic) 6-2, 6-4
W vs Melinda Czink (Hungary) 6-1, 6-4
W vs #25 Jie Zheng (China) 6-7, 6-2, 9-7
W vs Yaroslava Shvedova (Russia) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
W vs #4 Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-3, 7-5
W vs #2 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 6-3, 7-6


MEN'S
Photo Credit: sportschatplace.com / globalistan.com
For the first time since 1938 Great Britain will have one of their own in the Men's Wimbledon Final. Andy Murray's defeat of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga today sends him through to just his fourth Grand Slam Final and his first in London. He's still looking to win his first set in a Grand Slam final having lost the 2008 U.S. Open, the 2010 Australian Open and the 2011 Australian Open Finals in straight sets. He'll be facing an all too familiar foe on Sunday when he squares up against Roger Federer who needs just one more Wimbledon title to tie Pete Sampras' record of 7. Federer has already won a record 16 Grand Slams in his storied career. Among those 16 wins are the 2008 U.S. Open and 2010 Australian Open that he defeated Murray on his way to winning. Despite that, Murray actually has the edge in head-to-head matches taking 8 of their 15 meetings. This will however be the first time the two have ever met on grass.  Here's a look at each of their paths to the 2012 Wimbledon Final:

Federer (#3)

W vs Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-1, 6-1, 6-1
W vs Fabio Fognino (Italy) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2
W vs #29 Julien Benneteau (France) 4-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-1
W vs Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 7-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
W vs #26 Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
W vs #1 Novak Djokovic (Serbia & Montenegro) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

Murray (#4)

W vs Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 6-1, 6-1, 6-4
W vs Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6
W vs Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
W vs #16 Marin Cilic (Croatia) 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
W vs #7 David Ferrer (Spain) 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6
W vs #5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

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