New Wimbledon Pics and Best Video Clips

Many readers of The Way Things Turn have at least a passing interest in professional tennis, and a few of you are as obsessed as I am with all things related to the sport. That's my basic rationale for focusing several recent blog entries on tennis, and for those who couldn't care less about the sport, that's my apology for this post. But come on people, it's Wimbledon!

Two weeks ago we featured some unusually casual pre-Wimbledon photos of favorites like Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal, including this picture of the Spaniard, which is actually a wax statue from Madame Tussaud's.

Then, we moved on to some interesting video clips from the Wimbledon fortnight.

Did you see the wicked 118-mph Mardy Fish serve that hit a line judge in the face, or the playful antics of Viktor Troicki, who took a fan's mid-match advice on how to win a point off Djokovic?

And don't forget - with Federer still on track to win his seventh Wimbledon title, a dead man may win $150K for charity with a nearly decade-old wager.

With finals weekend fast approaching, I couldn't resist the urge to share a few more incredible pictures. Some of the most compelling photos from the last week at Wimbledon are below. You can see 60 additional pics here.

The biggest shocker of the week - Rafael Nadal, a finalist from last year, was knocked out in the second round by 100th ranked Czech Lukas Rosol.

Photo: Reuters / Toby Melville

Andy Murray slips on the court during a winning effort. The Scot advances to the semi-finals on Friday and hopes to be the first Brit to win Wimbledon since 1936.

Photo: Reuters / Dylan Martinez

Even with a helping hand from a friendly ball boy, American Mardy Fish could not overcome the power of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Photo: Reuters / Dylan Martinez

After his defeat of Fish in the fourth round, a triumphant Tsonga took a flying leap ahead to the quarterfinals.

Photo: Reuters / Suzanne Plunkett

Last year's Ladies' Champion Petra Kvitova failed to defend her title, falling in the quarterfinals to a resurgent Serena Williams.

Photo: Reuters / Toby Melville

 With a win on Thursday over Vika Azarenka, Serena advances to the finals on Saturday where she faces first-time Grand Slam finalist Agnieszka Radwanska.

Photo: Reuters / Stefan Wermuth

Big News and Fun Photos From French Open

Photo: Reuters / Gonzalo Fuentes

We're almost through the first week of the 2012 French Open, and the big news coming out of the tennis world has been the shocking first-round elimination of Serena Williams, the top-ranked American player in the women's game.

Previously, Williams sported a record of 46-0 in the opening round of the four major tournaments in tennis. 

Not to be outdone by William's quick exit, American men have been cast out of the French Open faster than day old baguettes. 

Isner (l) and Mathieu (r)
Photo: AP /Michel Eueler

America's second-highest ranked player, John Isner, was defeated today by France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in an epic match that lasted a near-record 5 hours and 41 minutes. 

With Isner's departure, no American men are left in the draw to compete in the second week of the tournament.

Oh well, we've still got some great tennis ahead next week, and we'll always have this collection of 40 fun photos from week one of this year's French Open.