…American male left in the singles draw at Wimbledon.  Thanks to Blake and Roddick both bombing out yesterday, American fans have just Bobby Reynolds to cheer for at the All England Club.  Luckily, both Williams sisters remain in the Women’s singles and doubles, the Bryan brothers are currently decimating a couple of Russians, and Jamie Cerretani (paired with Victor Hanescu) is in the second round of doubles as well in his first Grand Slam appearance.  Who is Jamie Cerretani?  Besides playing college tennis at Brown University, he also has the distinction of winning his first ever doubles title against your truly in a grinder of a match at the 1992 New England Open.

Obviously, losing in the second round is a huge disappointment for Roddick.  However, it should be known his opponent, Janko Tipsaravic is an extremely talented player who did play one of the better matches I’ve ever seen him play yesterday (for those unfamiliar with Tipsaravic, he is perhaps best known for almost beating Federer at this year’s Australian Open).  Blake, on the other hand, has less of an excuse.  Less than a month ago Blake dismantled Scheuttler at the French Open, on Blake’s worst surface, in straight sets.  Then yesterday he completely lost his nerve, and lost yet another five set match at Wimbledon.

Speaking of losing nerve, the most shocking upset yesterday occurred when Maria Sharapova (champion in 2004, and two time semifinalist) lost badly to 154th ranked Alla Kudryavsteva 6-2, 6-4.  Sharapova looked downright terrible most of the match, double faulting 8 times (in 9 service games) and making 22 unforced errors.  Somewhere at the All England Club, Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams (the two other best contenders on Sharapova’s side of the draw) are smiling.

Finally, Roger Federer cruised into the round of 16 today with yet another straight set victory.  Before people starting claiming the end of Federer’s reign, perhaps they should have stepped back, realized he still made the finals of the French Open, and watched the best player ever most likely win a 6th straight Wimbledon title.

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