HEAD Pros Have Solid Success at Wimbledon

07/08/08 - Austria - Kennelbach - HEAD players battled tough competition to reach the semifinal and final rounds of Wimbledon last weekend.

Former World No. 1 and HEAD player Marat Safin reached the semifinal round where he faced five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who later lost to eventual Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal.

"It's my first semi-final, so levels are a little bit different," said Safin. "To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place."

On his way to the semifinal round, Safin defeated World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in 3 straight sets with his MicroGel Prestige Mid,6-4, 7-6, 6-2. Safin could improve his ranking South African Airways ATP ranking from 75 to 40 due to his success at Wimbledon.

Fellow HEAD player Rainer Schuettler of Germany also reached the semifinals, where he lost against eventual winner Rafael Nadal. In the quarterfinals, Schuettler defeated HEAD player Arnaud Clement in five sets after a grueling 5 hour long match, with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 8-6 win. Schuettler, who climbed 55 ranks to position 39 in singles, plays with the HEAD MicroGel Prestige Mid.

"It could have gone either way. I don't know how but I won it," said Schuettler. "Tennis is brutal like that. I can't remember ever playing for five hours, missing so many chances or taking so many chances. And if I'd have lost, I'd have said to Arnaud 'Well played, good luck'. And that's exactly what he said to me."

Additionally, eight out of 16 HEAD pros reached the fourth round of Wimbledon and four out of eight HEAD pros reached the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, HEAD player Nenad Zimonjic and partner Daniel Nestor claimed the men's doubles championship, despite Zimonjic's broken wrist bone. Zimonjic, who plays with the HEAD MicroGel Radical MP, and Nestor defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett 7-6(12), 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 to earn the doubles title.

"This is my first Grand Slam title and it's special that it's Wimbledon as well," said Zimonjic. "It is my 21st title and the biggest one for sure."

This is the first Wimbledon title for Zimonjic and Nestor. The win tops off an impressive year, with the pair winning 21 out of 23 matches thus far.

from Tenniswire

Wilson [K] Factor Dominates Wimbledon

Venus Williams wins 7th Grand Slam with the [K] Blade Team

Roger Federer has thrilling five-set final with his [K] Six.One Tour

07/07/08 - Chicago--Wilson and their [K] Factor technology made its presence known in nearly every Wimbledon Championship match for another year. Wilson players dominated Wimbledon, had 11 players in the finals and capturing 6 out of 9 titles: Men's Doubles, Women's Singles, Women's Doubles, Junior Girls' Singles, Junior Girls' Doubles, and Junior Boys' Doubles. They all featured [K] Factor rackets in the hands of Wilson's top players.

Continue reading: "Wilson [K] Factor Dominates Wimbledon"

Best Wimbledon Men's Final Ever

Congratulations to Rafael Nadal for his first Wimbledon title.

And congratulations to Roger Federer for showing why he's likely the best player of all time.

Without question a magical match, the best Wimbledon final I've ever seen.

And of course, congratulations to Nike, Babolat and Wilson...but especially Nike because they had both players covered.

Get Nadal stuff here.

Get Federer stuff here.

Photo via Wimbledon.org

Wimbledon Ad Uses Grass As Its Medium

The ad for HSBC (below) is on the grounds at Wimbledon, and it uses images that were grown in grass. The process works like photographic paper, because of the properties of the grass itself. There are images of players and umpires.

From CR Blog via NOTCOT

Federer & Serena Push Fashion Boundaries at Wimbledon

If you have read this blog for any period of time, you know I appreciate the classic looks in tennis. I'm not a fan of the sleeveless shirts or the graphics that are better suited on a low-rider than a tennis shirt. And that's not to say I don't like fashion forward tennis apparel either.

But we need to talk about the outfits Roger Federer and Serena Williams wore today to kick off Wimbledon. Let's start with Federer.

He's the #1 player in the world, probably the best of all time. I appreciate he respects the tradition of Wimbledon. But does that mean he needs to look like Bill Tilden and Mr. Rogers' love child? The sweater makes him look like a prep schooler, not to mention its silly looking with the modern look of his regular apparel and headband.

His bag? Besides looking like a women's bag, its great...

On to Serena...

I like the look. And I like the coat. And I like both on her. But I just don't like the street clothes look on the tennis court. I didn't like her dominatrix boots, denim skirt and leather top a few years ago at the US Open. The same way I didn't like it when Agassi wore Levi's as warm up pants and denim shorts. I think where the line is for me is that you can be fashion forward all you want, but ultimately it needs to be within the tennis apparel family somehow.

My $.02

Photo via Daily Racquet

Free Passes for Online Wimbledon Coverage

TechCrunch has alerted us to an offer that we hope is still available. This year's Wimbledon coverage will be streamed online by MediaZone at Wimbledon LIVE beginning June 23rd.

The "all-access pass" costs $25, but TechCrunch is offering 50 free passes by sending an email here.

Ana Ivanovic's Wimbledon Dress

Here's a first look at the adidas Edge Spring/Summer 2008 in white/mauve tint - the dress French Open champ Ivanovic will wear at Wimbledon. It is set to be available for sale this month at a retail price of $65.

Images courtesy of adidas; Heads up from Tennis Served Fresh