COMEBACK OF THE DAY
Former spent-force Jelena Jankovic, startling herself by dispatching the champion. “I’ve played so poorly the last few years. I’m so excited. I’m overwhelmed.”
LANDMARK MOMENTS
Early on against Andreas Seppi, Andy Murray won his 1,000th Wimbledon game; and Sam Groth nearly topped the all-time fastest serve table – his 147mph kept off the top by Taylor Dent’s 148mph against Novak Djokovic in 2010.
PHENOMENON OF THE DAY
It should be the norm, but Groth’s politeness – saying “thank you” to the ball boys and girls every time they collected his towel, and saying “sorry, mate” to Roger Federer every time he missed a ball toss – earned plenty of approval among SW19’s legion of etiquette fans.
LOST CAUSE OF THE DAY
Viktor Troicki trying to out-cool opponent Dustin Brown with some white-rimmed coloured sports spectacles. It didn’t work.
MOST LEVEL-HEADED
Brown’s post-week analysis. “I can’t just sit back and say: ‘Oh, great. I beat Rafa. Life is great.’ Then two days later, what? When I’m in Jamaica at the end of the year, then I can have a Red Stripe and say: ‘Great. Great year, Dustin. You played great.’ There’s no time for that right now.”
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
At 36 years and 134 days, Ivo Karlovic became the oldest man to reach the last 16 since Niki Pilic in 1976. He did so with 41 no-nonsense aces, setting a tour-level record for hitting more than 40 for a third consecutive match.
MOST GUSHING
Kevin Pietersen, @KP24: “There’s a guy out there called, @rogerfederer & he is a FREAK SHOW! #Wimbledon.”
WARMEST GLOW
For fans of the good old days was provided by the BBC – who screened Wimbledon and Silverstone simultaneously, and had Barry Davies commentating on the former.
OBLIGATORY CELEB WATCH
Just as much a part of the Wimbledon cliche checklist as strawberry prices and interviews with Rufus the hawk: the annual catalogue of celebs to be spotted in the expensive seats. This year’s unique blend so far: Anton Du Beke, Geoffrey Boycott, I’m a Celebrity’s Mel Sykes, Graeme Le Saux, Seal and Nick Clegg.
AND THE BEST SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE
From tweeter Christine H: “@BBCSport why do u expect everyone 2 b interested in Murray. Stop messing BBC 1 up. Won’t b happy if casualty ain’t on bcause of him.”
