Sunday, July 1, 2012

Capitals' Querrey falls in Wimbledon marathon

   A towering American man and a European battled each other in an early-round marathon on an outside court at Wimbledon.
   In a match reminiscent of John Isner's epic victory over Nicolas Mahut two years ago, Sam Querrey of Las Vegas fell to 16th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (3), 17-15 in five hours, 31 minutes Saturday in the second round. Both players are 6-foot-6.
   It was the second-longest match by time in Wimbledon history, almost exactly half as long as the 6-foot-10 Isner's 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 triumph over Mahut that lasted 11 hours, five minutes.
   "I feel good,” Querrey, a 24-year-old San Francisco native who will play five matches for the Sacramento Capitals next month in World TeamTennis, told reporters. “I could have won that first set. It slipped away. Even though I lost, I feel like I played well. I'm looking forward to the summer. I feel like I'm playing at a top level.”
   No longer can Querrey's heart be questioned. The difference in the match, according to ESPN analyst Chris Evert, was fitness.
   "Cilic is coached by Bob Brett," the three-time Wimbledon singles champion told viewers afterward. "I worked with him for a couple of years, and he stresses fitness. At the end, I thought Cilic had a little more spring in his step."
   Cilic, 23, improved to 3-0 against Querrey.
   "It was complete drama, especially the fifth set,” Cilic said in a television interview. “It was not easy. It was very windy, and that made it more difficult. Sam was serving well, and I was having trouble with the return of serve.
   "You’re always thinking you are close, but the game kept coming. You need to be focused not to miss any balls, and it was a real mental battle.”
   Meanwhile, 10th-seeded Mardy Fish reached the fourth round in his first tournament since undergoing a procedure for heart palpitations on May 23.
   Fish, who's set to play home matches for the Capitals on July 12 and 13, beat wild card David Goffin of Belgium 6-3, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6). Goffin reached the fourth round of the recent French Open before losing to Roger Federer.
   At No. 70, Goffin is the highest-ranked player Fish has played in the tournament. On Monday, however, Fish is scheduled to play fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Tsonga, ranked sixth, leads the head-to-head series 2-0.
   Tsonga ousted Federer, a six-time Wimbledon singles champion, in the quarterfinals of last year's tournament before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
OTHER WIMBLEDON RESULTS
(Players with Northern California connections only)
Second-round mixed doubles
   Mike Bryan (former Stanford All-American), Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Lisa Raymond (2), Wayne, Pa., def. Mark Knowles (Capitals), Bahamas, and Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Boys first-round singles
   Pietro Licciardi, Italy, def. MacKenzie McDonald (15), Piedmont, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
   Mateo Nicolas Martinez (10), Argentina, def. Connor Farren, Hillsborough, 6-2, 6-2.
WIMBLEDON TV SCHEDULE
(All times PDT)
   Today -- No matches scheduled. Wimbledon Primetime (first-week highlights), Tennis Channel, 4-8 p.m. (premiere), 8 p.m.-midnight (repeat). 
   Monday -- Fourth round, Courts 1 & 2 and outer courts, ESPN2, 4 a.m.-2 p.m. (live), Centre Court, ESPN, 5 a.m.-noon (live). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 2-6 p.m. (premiere), 6-10 p.m. (repeat), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (repeat).
   Tuesday -- Women's quarterfinals, Courts 1 & 2, ESPN2, 4 a.m.-1 p.m. (live), Centre Court, ESPN, 5-10 a.m. (live). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 2-6 p.m. (premiere), 6-10 p.m. (repeat), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (repeat).
   Wednesday -- Men's quarterfinals, Courts 1 & 2, ESPN2, 4 a.m.-1 p.m. (live), Center Court, ESPN, 5 a.m.-noon (live). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 2-6 p.m. (premiere), 6-10 p.m. (repeat), 10 p.m.-2 p.m. (repeat).
   Thursday -- Women's semifinals, ESPN, 5-10 a.m. (live). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 2-6 p.m. (premiere), 6-10 p.m. (repeat), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (repeat).
   Friday -- Men's semifinals, ESPN, 5-11 a.m. (live). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 2-6 p.m. (premiere), 6-10 p.m. (repeat), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (repeat).
   Saturday -- Women's final, ESPN, 6-11 a.m. (live), ABC, noon-3 p.m. (repeat), Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 4-8 p.m. (premiere), 8 p.m.-midnight (repeat), midnight-4 a.m. (repeat).
   Sunday, July 8 -- Men's final, ESPN, 6 a.m.-noon (live), ABC, noon-3 p.m. (repeat). Wimbledon Primetime, Tennis Channel, 4-8 p.m. (premiere), 8 p.m.-midnight (repeat), midnight-4 a.m. (repeat).
CALENDAR  
   THROUGH-JULY 8 -- WIMBLEDON, www.wimbledon.com.
   Saturday- July 10 -- West Coast Junior Championships, Rio Del Oro Racquet Club, 119 Scripps Dr., Sacramento, www.norcal.usta.com.
   Saturday-July 15 -- WTA, Bank of the West Classic, Stanford University. Qualifying on Saturday and July 8. Main draw July 9-15. www.bankofthewestclassic.com.
   July 9 -- World TeamTennis, Sacramento Capitals' season opener at Boston, 4 p.m., www.saccaps.com.
   July 12 -- World TeamTennis, Capitals' home opener (with Mardy Fish) vs. Kansas City, Sunrise Marketplace Stadium, Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, 7:35 p.m., www.saccaps.com.
   July 12 -- 2012 Northern California Tennis Hall of Fame Brunch and Induction Ceremony (Nick Saviano, Andrea Norman, Steve Cornell and Martha Downing), Stanford University, Pac 12 Plaza/Cardinal Plaza, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., tickets $75 each at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=230538.
   July 28-Aug. 5 -- OLYMPIC TENNIS TOURNAMENT, Wimbledon, www.london2012.com.

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