Friday July 3rd 11th day,

It was cloudy in the morning but no sign of rain to disturb the Men’s Semi-Finals.The sun actually showed up half way during the Federer-Haas match.

Men’s Semi-Finals

There was no breakpoint for either player in the first set which Roger Federer won in the tie break.Very good aggressive tennis from Tommy Haas who stuck to his strategy of serve and volley which worked very well all along the tournament.He held his service games convincingly until the end of the second set when Federer broke him in the 12th game to take the set 7-5.Another break at 4-3 in the 3rd set gave Roger a 5-3 lead and a chance to serve for the match.He took it,ending the game with a spectacular jumping overhead.

Very good Championships in Wimbledon for 31 years Tommy Haas who could never put any pressure on Federer’s serve. It looks like Roger won easily but he never dominated Haas during the match.However he took advantage of the opportunities he got and was never in any danger on his own serve.So,job done 7-6,7-5,6-3,Federer is in a record 7th consecutive Final at The Championships.Only one match separates him from his 15th Gran Slam Title and from regaining the # 1 spot in the world.

Andy Murray and Andy Roddick then walked on Center Court for the most expected second Semi-Final at The Championships in Wimbledon.

Both players held their serve without a breakpoint until 5-4 for Roddick.Then at 30 all Roddick surprised Murray with a perfect drop shot and took advantage of the only breakpoint of the set to take it 6-4.

Murray came back firing to start the second set and won 4 points in a row on Roddick’s serve to break at love in the first game.He went on to hold his serve, with a little bit of trouble on the 8th game, to level the match one set a piece with the same 6.4.

It looked like the 3rd set would begin the same way as Murray had 3 breakpoints on Roddick’s serve at 0-40.Roddick won 5 points in a row to save the game. In the 4th game Murray save 3 breakpoints but was broken in the next to give a 3-1 lead to Roddick who held at love to validate the break. To the delight of the fans Murray broke back at 5-3 to stay in that 3rd set and held to get even at 5-5.As both players held their next service game the set would be decided in a tie break and a it was agreat one.Murray got a set point on Roddick’s serve and coudn’t convert,then it was Roddick’s turn to get one on Murray’s serve with the same result.It was finally Roddick who won the set on the first opportunity he got on his own serve (9-7 ). Roddick leads 2 sets to 1.

Both men held serve in the 4th set as Murray failed to convert the only chance of break for either one in the 8th game. Roddick won the tie break 7-5 to beat Murray 6-4,4-6,7-6,7-6 and get a spot in the Final of The Championships at Wimbledon against Federer.

A+ to Roddick who crushes the british hopes to see a local player in the Final in a good match between one of the best server ever and the best counter puncher Andy Murray.I think Murray could have been a little more aggressive as he is capable to hit winner from both sides but he mostly kept the ball in play and as I mentionned previously it is not enough against the top players.

If you look at the stats of the match you would think that Murray won as he had more winners,less unforced errors and surprisingly more aces than Roddick but Roddick managed to win the important points and was the best in the two decisive tie breaks.

I hope you backed up the underdog,as I did,at BetPhoenix.com Sportbook.

You now have the opportunity to do it for the Final which will be played on Sunday.

Roger Federer must be(secretly) pleased by this outcome as his record against Roddick is 18-2 while he is 2 and 6 when facing Murray.It also takes the crowd factor out of the equation,which is quite a relief.

Ladies’ Doubles Semi-Finals

A clinic by the Williams sisters who destroyed the # 1 seeded Cara Black-Liezel Huber 6-1,6-2. # 3 Samantha Stosur-Rennae Stubbs took care of the # 2 Medina Garrigues-Ruano Pascual in 3 sets 6-7,6-4,6-2.

Venus and Serena didn’t lose a set on the way to the final,they will be big favorite against the australian pair.

Ladies’Singles Final

A reminder to pick your favorite between the Williams sisters and place a bet at BetPhoenix.com Sportsbook. Venus has the edge but never underestimate Serena’s fighting spirit when it comes down to big occasions like a Gran Slam Final.

They both have a chance to win Singles and Doubles Champioships but only one can achieve that prowess.