Break Points is a daily roundup of tennis news, videos, links, and tweets. If you have something you think I should include, email me at amy@changeovertennis.com.
Today’s notable results:
- Eastbourne: Bernard Tomic d. Julien Benneteau, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(4)
- Eastbourne: Ivan Dodig d. Milos Raonic, 6-2, 7-6(7)
- Eastbourne: Lucie Safarova d. Sam Stosur, 7-6(5), 6-3
- Eastbourne: Ekaterina Makarova d. Angelique Kerber, 6-3, 6-4
- Eastbourne: Yanina Wickmayer d. Petra Kvitova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
- ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Simona Halep d. Roberta Vinci, 6-0, 6-1
- ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Lesia Tsurenko d. Stefanie Voegele, 6-1, 7-6(4)
- ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Garbine Muguruza d. Lauren Davis, 6-2, 6-0
News and Links:
Serena Williams released a statement on her website about her Steubenville comments:
“What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.
I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields – anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.”
The WTA also weighed in with this statement, according to Joe Fleming of USA Today:
“If she was accurately quoted, then Serena’s comments were both insensitive and wrong. We disagree with the statements and have made that clear to her.”
Melinda Czink apparently had a serious health scare, and needed emergency surgery on a perforated appendix in Birmingham.
Steve Tignor wrote about Milos Raonic’s struggles on grass for Tennis.com:
Raonic, a big man and bigger server who did his best to play like Pete Sampras, seemed like the model of a Wimbledon winner when he arrived on tour. But the missile-throwing model is starting to look pretty creaky. What I noticed most today was how easily Dodig was able to get Raonic out of position and make him look a step slow. The slice serve out wide in the deuce court, the sharp cross-court backhand, the drop volley—Raonic struggled to find answers to all of these. The last Raonic-esque ace machine to win Wimbledon was Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. Since then, there have been four champions, Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—speed merchants all.
Ben Rothenberg was on-site for Wimbledon qualies for the New York Times.
Carl Bialik wrote an excellent piece for The Wall Street Journal about a young chair umpire trying to earn a silver badge so he can officiate higher level matches.
Tennis on Twitter:
Omg Roger took a selfy “@rogerfederer: Are you guys as excited as me for @Wimbledon to start? pic.twitter.com/XztcJI00zo”
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) June 19, 2013
@andreapetkovic Hello Andrea you want to play dobles in Wimbledon ? We have 45 minuts to signing, thanks
— Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) June 19, 2013
