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The Big Names step up at Wimbledon

July 14, 2016

Both Serena Williams and Andy Murray lived up to their own expectations for this tournament. On the men's side, after Novak Djokovic was upset in the third round by American Sam Querrey, Murray was immediately installed as the favorite to win the tournament and he didn't disappoint. He cruised through to the final.

In the final, Murray faced Canadian upstart Milos Raonic. For the last few years, Raonic has been an up and coming player on tour. He finally broke through to a final in a grand slam event. In the semi finals, Milos beat Roger Federer by coming back in five sets, from two sets to one down. Unfortunately for Roger Federer, this might have been his last chance to win a grand slam tournament because he is almost 35 years old. I think it will be harder and harder for him to maintain his high level of tennis and his slip and fall seemed to really affect him, even if he wasn't injured in the fall.

With his second win at the Wimbledon, Murray cements his legacy as an all-time great British tennis player. Next year when he defends his championship, there will be a lot less pressure on him to win but it will still make for good tennis.

Serena Williams won her 22nd major grand slam title matching Steffi Graf's modern record! Unless she decides to retire, she should pass Steffi by the middle of next year. After the second round, Serena flew through the draw until the final against Angelique Kerber. Kerber had beaten Serena in the Australian Open to start the year. She had no chance of that this time.

Portugal beat the host country France, to win their first ever European Championship Football (soccer) Tournament. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo was hurt early in the game and was not able to contribute to the victory. The Portuguese scored in the second overtime session on a wonderful shot by Eder, a substitute player.

I was cheering for France to win the game because of what they had to go through this year as a country in connection with the terrorist attack in November 2015. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of play in the whole European Championship. It just shows again how much the U.S. men have to improve if they want to have a chance to win the World Cup in the next six years.

For those of you who are not aware, for the first time ever, Golf Channel is helping to broadcast a men's golf major championship along with NBC at the British Open this week. Sounds like a win/win with how crazy the British Open's can be. Let's see who survives as the weather changes every few hours at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. They got lucky with the first day and they know it will get interesting!

  • A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.

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