Lawn Tennis
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, London, England, Jun. 23-July 6, Grand Slam The Championsips, Wimbledon 2008
June 23-July 6
London, England
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, London, England, Jun. 23-July 6, Grand Slam
Grasscourt Season Approaches Wimbledon Climax
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 12:29pm CST USA
Rafael Nadal, Lawn Tennis Magazine, Wimbledon 2008
Photo by Clemens Bilan/AFP
LONDON, England (lawntennismag.com)—Tennis' greatest and most historic tournament, Wimbledon begins Monday in London, England.

But before those two weeks of Wimbledon are contested, this week tennis players are making their final preparations as the grasscourt season approaches a Wimbledon climax.

French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain has won his last 15 matches.

At the Odina Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, this year's French Open finalist Dinara Safina of Russia is seeded 3rd this week while at the International Women's Open at Eastbourne, England, 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France is the second seed.

1999 Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport of the USA withdrew from Eastbourne Tuesday with a knee injury but expects to compete at Wimbledon.

At The Nottingham Open at Nottingham, England, 2008 French Open semifinalist Gael Monfils of France has been seeded 8th.

Already at Wimbledon this week, the ladies' and gentlemen's qualifying tournaments are well under way. WTA Tour former teen queens Alexandra Stevenson of the USA and Sesil Karantacheva of Bulgaria both lost today in straight sets after winning in the prior round Tuesday.

A great majority of top tennis players choose to practice this week rather than compete and risk injury however; including defending Wimbledon champions Venus Williams of the USA and Roger Federer of Switzerland, as well as French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain who has won his last 15 matches.

Meanwhile British number one and best hope Andy Murray has confirmed he is free of injury and will be fit to play at Wimbledon next week.

Copyright Lawn Tennis 1997-2008 | Home