| Sunday, 6 July 2008 Written by Sally Easton The highlights, heroes and happenings of the 2008 Championships. First week shockers There were more shocks than usual this year, in both the men's and ladies'. Who'd have thought the second round would have seen the demise of the men's No. 3 and No. 6 seeds and the ladies' No. 3 seed? Novak Djokovic lost in straight sets to a resurgent Marat Safin, whose run was only stopped by the Fed Express in the semi-final. While Andy Roddick choked to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic. Maria Sharapova's supernova imploded when she bombed out to Russia's 20-year-old Alla Kudryavtseva. The Russian, at 154, is the lowest-ranked player to beat the world No. 3 in a Tour-level competition. No. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic followed in the third round to China's 24-year-old Zheng Jie. Sun rising in the east As the American men faded, women's tennis experienced a new dawn in the east. India's Sania Mirza, aged 21, has known the weight of expectation of a nation of 1.1 billion for a few years already, and she has the sort of fan base of which Bollywood would be proud.
China's Zheng Jie, ranked 133, raged into the eye of the tennis storm this fortnight with glorious wins over 15th seed Agnes Szavay and No. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic, only to fall to an indomitable Serena Williams in the semi-final. Her top 30 world singles ranking in August 2006 helped earn her a wild-card entry into the tournament, after she had spent most of 2007 rebuilding after an ankle injury. The new people's champion has arrived.
After the number one seed had fallen, so the number two followed in the next round. This time it was Thailand's 31-year-old Tamarine Tanasugarn who ousted Jelena Jankovic to toast a place in the last eight. For a woman who'd considered retiring a few years ago that's not a bad performance. Following in the Thai's footsteps is 17-year-old Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, who, as the No. 3 seed in the girls' singles, fell at the final hurdle to Britain's Laura Robson.
Fashion icons
It's almost a tradition that Roger Federer walks out on Centre Court on the first day of Wimbledon wearing an item of clothing that becomes the talking point of the tournament. Remember the long trousers, harking back to the 1920s? This year it was a gold-trimmed cardie that the Fed Express showed off with remarkable aplomb and not a little skill, somewhat like his tennis.
Then Serena Williams emerged wearing a short, white trench coat, and no one was sure if it was a charm to avert the rain or a prudent piece of functional wear in case of rain. It didn't quite work all the way for her though, as sis' Venus raced away with her fifth Wimbledon singles title.
Maria Sharapova kept the fashionistas' tongues a-wagging briefly with her tuxedo-style top and shorts, and teased them with knowledge that she already knows what outfits she'll be unveiling on the catwalks at the US Open.
Not to mention Britain's Jamie Murray, who went from McEnroe look-a-like in week one, with long locks and red headband, to a spiky clean crew cut in week two.
Rain delayed play
The Championships has been blessed with fair weather, but the men's doubles semi-finals between number one seeds Bob and Mike Bryan and number eight seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett provided a seriously tense rain-delay moment. It was one of those thrilling matches of inspired tie-break tennis with only the skin of hen's teeth between the teams.
When Bjorkman and Ullyett were two-sets-to-one up, and with match point at 8-7 in the fourth set tie-break, down it came and on went the covers. Rain waits for no man.
After the rain break, the number one seeds tensely saved the match point, and another one. But the treble was not to be and Bjorkman and Ullyett booked their place the final.
Best of British
You might think either defending mixed doubles champion Jamie Murray or his younger brother, great British singles hope Andy, would be featured here, but Rafael Nadal gave Andy a masterclass in top tennis, and Jamie, with new partner Liezel Huber, fizzled out in the mixed semis.
No, the new bright British breakthrough came in the form of a left-handed, 14-year-old girl, who won the girl's singles championship in a cracking three-setter.
Unseeded Laura Robson ousted the top seed, third seed and ninth seed on her way to the trophy. And she can't get more local to the Championships, as her family live in Wimbledon, a short walk from the Club. Robson moved to the UK from Australia, where she was born and lived for her first six months. There are rumours that the Australians have been trying to claim her for their own. At senior level she is already ranked 271 by the WTA. History is made – Federer v Nadal The numbers one and two in the world have already enjoyed, if that's the right word, one of the greatest rivalries in modern tennis, with Federer in his 231st week in the number one slot (since February 2004). Nadal has been just behind him since July 2005, and is itching to go one better.
The men's final was one of the greatest in history as Roger Federer fell two sets behind then clawed his way back, only for Nadal to hold his nerve, and his serve, and carve out his own piece of history on the Wimbledon grass in five titanic sets.
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Robson Is Wimbledon Champion
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