WIMBLEDON UPDATE: MARIA SHARAPOVA WON, GRIGOR DIMITROV LOST & SERENA & HEATHER WATSON HAD A BATTLE FOR THE AGES & ISNER / CILIC STOP AT 10-10 TO BE CONTINUED…

Written by: Global Chick on 3rd July 2015

WIMBLEDON UPDATE: MARIA SHARAPOVA WON, GRIGOR DIMITROV LOST & SERENA & HEATHER WATSON HAD A BATTLE FOR THE AGES & ISNER / CILIC STOP AT 10-10 TO BE CONTINUED...

Heather Watson of Britain returns to Serena Williams of USA in their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2015. EPA/SEAN DEMPSEY |

Into the second week, but what a way to go. … By Global Chick

Has it really only been a week? Well with just one more day of the first week left, the first of the second-weekers booked their spots on a fiery Friday.

Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Johanna Konta of Britain in their first round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 29 June 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

Maria Sharapova might have been broken in the first game at the start of the match, but wouldn’t you know it, she just broke straight back. She waited until the last game of the first set to dash Irina-Camelia Begu’s hopes of going toe to toe with her in a competitive first set.

From there Sharapova really found her groove, storming out to an impressive 5-0 lead, before Begu started to fight back winning three games on the trot (although with another hot day, we’d be hard pressed to see who would want to trot anywhere!).

Sure, she got the job done 6-4 6-3, but she might have to have a long hard look at how she relinquished a 5-0 lead.

It had been a really promising start for another one of our ones as Bethanie Mattek Sands roared out of the blocks against Swiss teen Belinda Bencic, who was hampered with a knee injury that required a medical time out. But give it to the Swiss-Miss, she battled right back and in the end edged out the more experienced Mattek Sands 7-5 7-5, but it will remain to be seen how she recovers once things get far harder in the second week.

Sloane Stephens was another strong starter as she whipped the first set off Roland Garros finalist Lucie Safarova. The Czech’s outings on grass had been tough – she lost her Eastbourne opener in a tight match to returning Dominika Cibulkova, and had to come from behind to get past Alison Riske in her first round at SW19. She hit back to level the match before really dominating the final set, as she continues to chase those semi-finals points of last year.

But the thrill of the evening had to be Serena Williams taking on last female Brit standing, Heather Watson. Even if we felt it was a foregone conclusion that Williams would prevail, no-one was quite prepared for the level of fight that Watson ground out. After an early break and another to seal the first set in 25 minutes, Watson refused to be cowed, breaking Williams, and despite surrendering that advantage straight away, she took her chance to take another crack at the World No. 1, before serving out for the second set.

Heather Watson of Britain returns to Serena Williams of USA in their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2015. EPA/SEAN DEMPSEY

We knew we were in for something very special, as far as rollercoaster rides go, when Watson continued her run of games, rounding out six in a row to go 3-0 up in the decider. Then again Williams is not the World No. 1 for nothing. She went on a run after Watson struggled to hold for the double break cushion. She saved five break points but surrendered the sixth, opening the door for Williams to break again to bring things back on serve.

The fight had not gone out of Watson as the pair traded breaks once more before Williams took her third match point to close out a taut 6-2 4-6 7-5 win.

Watson showed impressive resolve – come on face it, many people thought this would be a straight sets romp for Williams, but Watson had another view, especially when somewhat disrespectfully asked if this had been the greatest match of her career.

“I wouldn’t call losing the greatest day of my career. It’s very positive that I put myself in this position. I mean, I could have been out first round in this tournament. I was match points down. I gave myself the opportunity to play against the best player in the world.

“I also gave myself the opportunity to beat her. I didn’t take it this time. But I’m really glad I was in that situation because I can learn from it and do better next time.”

Williams had nothing but praise for Watson straight after the match, admitting that had been one of her toughest matches on Centre Court, and perhaps suggesting that Watson could now set her sights a little higher than the Top 25, as she was certainly more capable than that. And it was great to watch Williams lead the applause as they both left the court together.

Williams now has to put off a quest for dance classes – yes really!

“I honestly didn’t think I, one, was going to win. How I pulled through, I really don’t know. I just was like, listen, if I’m going to go lose, I’m going to lose trying to do the right things, she said.

Serena Williams of the USA in action against Heather Watson of Britain during their third round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

“I was thinking, Well, going to find a dance class, hang around to watch Venus play. That was kind of going through my mind.”

This chick defies anyone to disrespect the women’s game after a battle like that, and if indeed Williams does lift the trophy in a little over a week’s time, she will indeed be a worthy champion, after leaving it all out there on the court today when she was pushed.

Topics: Atp World Tour, global chick, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Heather Watson, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Tennis News, Wimbledon Championships

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

July 3, 2015 at 3:30 pm

#Wimbledon UPDATE: @MariaSharapova WON, @GrigorDimitrov LOST & #SERENA & HEATHER WATSON HAD A BATTLE FOR THE AGES… http://t.co/7Qjsh2zoQh
roadfox7 says:

July 3, 2015 at 9:37 pm

RT @TennisNewsOne: WIMBLEDON UPDATE: MARIA SHARAPOVA WON, GRIGOR DIMITROV LOST & SERENA & HEATHER WATSON HAD A BATTLE FOR… http://t.co/PP…