Don't write off Federer just yet

Many believe Federer's days of winning Grand Slams are over

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's five set victory over Roger Federer from two sets down has led many to state the Swiss legend is finished and will never win another Grand Slam.

It is true that Federer is not at the standard he was some years ago but some of the obituaries have been written far too early.

He is still putting himself into positions to win major championships and Tsonga won this match through sheer good play rather than a Federer collapse.

This is the first time Federer has lost from two sets up in a Grand Slam and it is true his air of invincibility has gone, with players no longer fearing him after seeing him go 18 months without a major.

But he remains a great player and perhaps the best tennis player of all-time, while it would not be a surprise to see him add to his 16 major titles.

Federer will turn 30 this summer and his best days are behind him, but he is still a fine player and the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic know they have not seen off his challenge once and for all just yet.

The Swiss was playing so well in the lead-up to this year's Wimbledon that he was installed as the favourite for the title, and most of his performances at SW19 this fortnight lived up to that.

Even in his defeat to Tsonga, he didn't do a whole lot wrong so while Federer will be extremely disappointed to miss out on the chance of a seventh Wimbledon title, he can still feel confident that the seventh title may await him in the future.

He looked imperious this tournament until the third set against Tsonga, so it is somewhat unbelievable he lost the match.

The Frenchman should be given all the credit for that though as he barely gave Federer a chance on his serve and got the breaks he needed.

Tsonga has become a real favourite among fans thanks to his flamboyance

Tsonga dictated the play after losing the second set tie-break with big serves and crashing forehands, while he broke Federer's serve early in each of the three sets he won to put the pressure firmly on the Swiss.

He never looked like breaking down on his own serve and showed the kind of nervelessness it takes to beat a legend like Federer, comfortably reeling off the service games in each set to secure his stunning fightback.

In years gone by, players wouldn't have had the belief to come from two sets down against Federer so Tsonga showed great strength of character to continue believing in himself even when faced with an impossible-looking task.

He is an infectious character and it is easy to see why crowds take to him so easily, as he shows his emotions and plays with a smile on his face.

His flamboyance is matched by a great talent and he now has a good chance of reaching his first Wimbledon final.

He faces Novak Djokovic in the semi-final tomorrow - with the Serbian showing signs of frailties in recent matches - and if the Frenchman can play near the standard he reached against Federer, it would be hard to bet against him reaching the final.

Even in the two sets he lost, Tsonga was still playing well and you always got the sense he was in the match even at two sets down, so a performance like that will fill him with the belief that he can beat anyone.

Should Tsonga beat Djokovic, it sets up the possibility of a repeat of his Queen's final against Andy Murray in the SW19 final.

Of course, Murray will have to play the match of his life to beat Rafael Nadal in their semi-final but he has beaten the Spaniard before and Nadal may still be struggling with his foot injury.

Nadal beat Murray in straight sets in last year's Wimbledon semi-final

Murray is in top form at the moment and has swept aside both Richard Gasquet and Feliciano Lopez in the last two rounds, but beating Nadal will be a different beast altogether.

Murray will need a very high first serve percentage and his returning game will have to be as good as it has ever been, but he has beaten Nadal in big matches before and must believe he can do so again.

Nadal has not lost at Wimbledon since 2007 - he withdrew from the 2009 tournament with injury - but he is beatable and Murray is one of the few players who can beat him.

It would still be a major shock if he could beat the Spaniard but Murray will never get a better chance to beat Nadal.

It would certainly be no surprise to see Murray win a set or two, but the smart money is on Nadal to prevail in four or five sets, injury or no injury.

The big talking point at Wimbledon at the moment though remains Federer's departure.

He will be back, no question about it, but the biggest surprise was how he let the match against Tsonga slip from his grasp.

Federer was the favourite for the title after reaching the French Open final

Federer seemed unprepared for a Tsonga comeback and seemed surprised when he did so, with no Plan B in place to deal with the Frenchman's power.

He had no break points in the last four sets and that is extremely unusual and was due to a mixture of Tsonga's brilliance and Federer's slight dip in form. A slight dip is all it takes for a match to slip away but once Tsonga got back into it, Federer never looked likely to win the match.

It was an epic match that will be talked about for years to come but Federer's time in a Grand Slam will come again.

He is the greatest player who has ever lived - although Nadal has designs on taking that crown himself in the coming years - but his career is not over yet.

If anyone can win a Grand Slam in their thirties, it is Federer. It would take a fool to write him off at this stage.

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Maria Sharapova is in the Wimbledon final despite shoulder surgery in 2008

Maria Sharapova will face Petra Kvitova in the women's final after both came through tough-looking semi-finals.

Sharapova will be in her first Wimbledon final since winning as a 17-year-old in 2004 and she beat Sabine Lisicki in straight sets to make it there.

The Russian had severe troubles on her serve - she double-faulted 13 times - but Lisicki never got her powerful game flowing and will feel disappointed by her performance.

Sharapova is the overwhelming favourite for the title but she will not be able to get away with serving like that in the final.

Kvitova has looked impressive all tournament and the Czech left-hander overcame a second set wobble to defeat Victoria Azarenka in three sets and seal her place in the final.

Kvitova is the first left-handed woman in a Wimbledon final since compatriot Martina Navratilova in 1994

Her game appears ideally suited to the grass courts of Wimbledon and she has been tipped as a dark horse for the title all tournament, so it would be no surprise to see her defeat Sharapova on Saturday.

Sharapova's experience may be the defining factor in the final but she will not be taking Kvitova lightly as she has now proved herself as a quality performer, following up her semi-final appearance at Wimbledon last year.

Sharapova should take the crown but expect Kvitova to push her all the way and force a deciding set.

End-of-season reports: Part four

Tottenham.

Premier League: 5th. Champions League: Quarter-Final. FA Cup: 4th round. Carling Cup: 3rd round.

Lowdown: This season will be mostly remembered by Tottenham fans for how their team stood toe-to-toe with Europe's finest and were not disgraced in the Champions League. Their league form was more disappointing, as they failed to qualify for next season's Champions League, but overall Spurs can be very proud of their campaign as they have come such a long way under Harry Redknapp. Their Champions League adventure was almost over before it had really begun in the play-off round, as they fell 3-0 behind against Young Boys, but they battled their way back to win that tie and set up some glamour nights at White Hart Lane. They thrashed Dutch champions FC Twente 4-1 but their season will mostly be defined by their stunning displays against European champions Inter Milan. They were 4-0 down and down to ten men in the San Siro, but eventually lost the game just 4-3 after a fantastic Gareth Bale hat-trick. They then beat Inter 3-1 at White Hart Lane, with Bale's marauding runs down the left flank terrorising the world's 'best right-back', Maicon. They topped their group and were rewarded with another glamour tie against AC Milan. They won 1-0 in the San Siro after a superb team display before drawing the second leg 0-0 to take their place in the quarter-final. They lost that tie 5-0 to Real Madrid but they can be very proud of how far they went in the competition and the experience will stand them in very good stead should they qualify for the Champions League again in the future.

Peter Crouch scored the only goal as Spurs beat Milan 1-0 in the San Siro

The experience they had in the Champions League will make it even more disappointing for them to miss out on a place in next year's competition. It was extremely difficult for them to compete against megabucks Manchester City but they had their chances to finish in the top four and blew them, with their home form where they truly lost it. They drew nine times at White Hart Lane when they needed to make their home a fortress, with the likes of Wigan, West Brom, West Ham and Blackpool all picking up points there. Spurs' best league form came between November and February, winning six times out of eight and losing just one in 15, with the likes of Bale and Rafael van der Vaart crucial. Redknapp felt they were in with a chance of winning the title in January but their form fell away in the second half of the campaign as their European adventure caught up with them and key players like Bale and van der Vaart were sidelined with injuries. They went on a period of one win in ten towards the end of the campaign as their challenge to finish in the top four fell away, and only back-to-back wins in the final two league games secured them a place in next season's Europa League. Spurs' Premier League campaign may have fizzled out towards the end but the season will be mostly remembered for their Champions League performances, which were nothing short of exceptional.

Best player: Luka Modric was overshadowed at times by team-mates Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart but the Croatian is the man who makes Spurs tick and he was consistent throughout the season. He is a magician as he very rarely gives the ball away and he was instrumental in Spurs' impressive run in the Champions League. His excellent form has not gone unnoticed, with Chelsea making bids for him and Manchester United said to be interested, but it is vital Tottenham keep hold of him as he would be impossible to replace. Bale and van der Vaart did have excellent seasons though.

Modric is keen on a move to Chelsea but Spurs look determined to keep their man

Worst player: Jermain Defoe was injured in September while on England duty and when he returned he never hit the heights of the previous season. Defoe is a natural goalscorer who scored a hatful last season but seems to have lost his spark and hopefully he will be reinvigorated in time for the next campaign. He scored just four goals in 22 league appearances and this was surely the worst season of his career. It seems unlikely he will be sold this summer as he deserves another chance and Redknapp still rates him very highly.

Highlight: Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan, Champions League, 2 November 2010. This was the game where the glory nights truly returned to White Hart Lane as Spurs destroyed the European champions. The game will mostly be remembered for Gareth Bale's stupendous display on the left-wing as he embarrassed European defender of the year Maicon and set up two of Tottenham's goals. This result made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice of Spurs and will be the game Bale is defined by for years to come. Their comeback from 2-0 down to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and 1-0 win at the San Siro against AC Milan were also major highlights for Spurs fans.

Gareth Bale produced a spellbinding performance against Inter Milan

Lowlight: Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham, Premier League, 22 February 2011. Spurs were still in with a chance of winning the title going into this game but defeat at Bloomfield Road sparked a run of one league win in ten games to leave them out of the title race and out of the top four. Blackpool's exuberance was too much for Tottenham in the first half as they went in at the break 2-0 up, and despite a Spurs onslaught in the second half the Seasiders still recorded a 3-1 victory. Other disappointing results for Tottenham included their 1-0 home loss to Wigan, 4-2 loss at Bolton, 4-0 loss at Fulham in the FA Cup and 4-0 defeat away at Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Manager: Harry Redknapp has done an unbelievable job at White Hart Lane and the fact some fans were disappointed with finishing fifth shows how far Spurs have come under him. He started the season in typical fashion, pulling off a bargain transfer deadline day signing in Rafael van der Vaart, and his side's performances in the Champions League will have raised his reputation on the continent considerably. Next season may be his last in charge of Tottenham as he is heavily tipped to land the England job after Euro 2012, but he will not be thinking about that yet and will aim to help Spurs qualify for the Champions League again next season as this campaign's experiences will have left him hungry for more.

Harry Redknapp is confident of strengthening his squad this summer

Five games that shaped their season:
Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan, Champions League, 2 November 2010.
Bolton 4-2 Tottenham, Premier League, 6 November 2010.
Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham, Premier League, 20 November 2010.
AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham, Champions League, 15 February 2011.
Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham, Premier League, 22 February 2011.

Transfer activity: Tottenham will need to again strengthen their squad if they are to close the gap between themselves and the top four. Chairman Daniel Levy has always backed manager Harry Redknapp in the transfer market and will need to again if he wants Spurs to move further forward. Spurs had a goalkeeping problem this season, with Heurelho Gomes having an error-strewn campaign, and appear to have already solved this with the free transfer signing of veteran Brad Friedel. They also need a new striker or two - including a proven goalscorer - as well as a right-back, a midfield enforcer and possibly a new central defender. Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Asamoah Gyan and Emmanuel Adebayor have all been strongly linked and if all four were signed, Spurs would be much closer to the top four next season. The return of Kyle Walker from his loan at Aston Villa should solve Tottenham's right-back problems as he has proved himself as a Premier League player at Villa Park and looks perfect for the way Spurs play.

A matter of weeks ago, both Redknapp and Levy said no key players would leave Tottenham this summer and they need to stick to their words as the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric are simply irreplaceable. It would be a major backwards step if Tottenham were to lose either man so they need to fight tooth and nail to keep them. Jonathan Woodgate has been released after an injury-ravaged spell at White Hart Lane while Jamie O'Hara has been sold to Wolves, and several more will follow them through the door as Spurs' squad is too big. Robbie Keane, Alan Hutton, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko, David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar are all quality players who have had success in the Premier League in the past, but all need fresh starts as they will not be regular starters at Tottenham next season.

Aim for next season: With a bit of strengthening to their squad this summer, particularly signing a goalscorer, a top four finish should be a realistic aim for Tottenham next season. It will not be easy, with all the sides above them also bolstering their ranks, but Spurs have to aim high with the quality of players they have. The Europa League will be less important for them and they will probably name a weakened side in that competition, but the FA Cup and Carling Cup present real opportunities for success and Spurs should go all out to win one of those. Their primary target will be qualifying for the Champions League but silverware has eluded Harry Redknapp so far during his reign at White Hart Lane so a trophy would underline his status as a great Tottenham manager.

Season rating out of 10: 8. Their league campaign may have unravelled as the season progressed but this was a great season for Tottenham as they announced their arrival on the European stage. Those Champions League nights at White Hart Lane will never be forgotten so despite some of the negativity in the closing stages of the season, this was still a momentous campaign in the history of Tottenham Hotspur.

West Brom. 

Premier League: 11th. FA Cup: 3rd round. Carling Cup: Quarter-Final.

Lowdown: This was by far West Brom's best season in the Premier League and that was largely down to the excellent late-season work of manager Roy Hodgson. Roberto Di Matteo was harshly sacked in February but under Hodgson the Baggies lost just twice in 12 games to truly vindicate the board's decision to let the Italian go. It had all started so well for Di Matteo, too, losing just twice in the first nine games and delivering some cracking away-day results. They included a 3-2 win at Arsenal, 4-1 win at Everton and 2-2 draw at Manchester United, with the Baggies the only Premier League team to pick up any points at Old Trafford this season. A run of 13 defeats in 18 games in all competitions sealed Di Matteo's fate though, with a 3-0 loss at Manchester City proving to be his final game in charge.

Roberto Di Matteo was sacked after an extremely poor run of form

Hodgson took over and led West Brom to 20 points from 12 games as the Baggies comfortably survived. They had some great results under the ex-Liverpool manager, including a 3-1 win at Birmingham, 2-1 win over Liverpool, victory at Sunderland, 2-1 win against rivals Aston Villa and draws with Arsenal and Tottenham, with the defeat at fierce rivals Wolves a minor aberration. They eventually finished in 11th place - by far their best ever placing in the Premier League - and that gives them something to really build on next season. The decision to sack Di Matteo was widely condemned at the time and the Italian undoubtedly played a part in West Brom's survival, but without the appointment of Hodgson the Baggies may have been set for another relegation.

Best player: Peter Odemwingie scored 15 goals in his first season in English football and that was a stunning return from a player signed from the Russian league. The Nigerian signed for a fee reported to be in the region of £1.5million so his signing is surely one of the best pieces of business of the season. He will turn 30 this summer but has been strongly linked with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. However, West Brom will fight hard to keep him as it was his goals which kept them up this season and they will be just as crucial next season if the Baggies are to progress. Youssuf Mulumbu also had a great season in the holding role.

Odemwingie joined from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow

Worst player: Graham Dorrans was expected to take the Premier League by storm after having a fantastic season in the Championship last term, but he struggled with injuries and form throughout the campaign. He also suffered a family bereavement early in the season and struggled to recover from that, so next season may be a truer reflection of Dorrans' ability to perform in the top flight. With a full pre-season behind him and his personal issues sorted, the Scotland international could be like a new player for the Baggies next season as he showed glimpses of his class during the campaign.

Highlight: Arsenal 2-3 West Brom, Premier League, 25 September 2010. The Baggies were excellent at the Emirates Stadium as they outclassed Arsenal and moved into fifth place in the table. They went 3-0 up before the Gunners pulled back two late goals but West Brom fully deserved their win. They went out and attacked Arsenal from the off and enjoyed more possession than the Gunners - something which very rarely happens at the Emirates Stadium. Roberto Di Matteo was doing a fine job at this stage of the season and it is results like this which have maintained his reputation as a supremely talented young manager. Other highlights for Baggies fans were their 4-1 win at Everton, 2-2 draw at Manchester United, 3-1 win at Birmingham, 2-1 win over Liverpool and 2-1 victory against Aston Villa.

West Brom's win at Arsenal was met with disbelief from many onlookers

Lowlight: West Brom 1-3 Blackburn, Premier League, 28 December 2010. This game was in the middle of the Baggies' disastrous run under Di Matteo and was one of the worst performances of that sequence. After this game, West Brom were just three points above the bottom three as thoughts of relegation surfaced for the first time. Some shocking defending was to blame for the defeat and it is those defensive frailties which ultimately cost the Italian his job. Other disappointments were the 6-0 loss at Chelsea, 1-0 defeat at Wigan, 3-0 loss at home to Stoke and 3-1 loss at fierce rivals Wolves.

Manager: It was a tale of two bosses at The Hawthorns this season and both must take credit for West Brom's ultimate survival. Roberto Di Matteo did an excellent job to win promotion and he led the Baggies to an excellent start to the season, only for a disastrous run of form to lead to his sacking. It appeared a very harsh decision to sack Di Matteo as they were on target to stay up and he is a very talented manager but chairman Jeremy Peace must be applauded for making a brave decision which was unpopular at the time but turned out to be successful for the club. Roy Hodgson had had a shocking time at Liverpool but has now rebuilt his reputation with West Brom and it was a great coup from Peace to land him. He added organisation and a real tactical nous, and his experience was key to the Baggies' comfortable survival.

Roy Hodgson's appointment as manager now seems a real coup for West Brom

Five games that shaped their season:
Arsenal 2-3 West Brom, Premier League, 25 September 2010.
West Brom 0-3 Stoke, Premier League, 20 November 2010.
Everton 1-4 West Brom, Premier League, 27 November 2010.
West Brom 1-3 Blackburn, Premier League, 28 December 2010.
Birmingham 1-3 West Brom, Premier League, 5 March 2011.

Transfer activity: West Brom will need to add a bit more depth to their squad but no major overhaul is needed. A new goalkeeper will be required if Scott Carson completes his move to Bursaspor, while a new winger and a striker will also be priorities. Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones have already been captured on free transfers, while Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan has also been strongly linked with a free transfer. Tomasz Kuszczak, Robert Snodgrass and Andy Johnson would all be good additions.

The Baggies have released several players, with Giles Barnes, Dean Kiely, Abdoulaye Meite and Gianni Zuiverloon all let go. Scott Carson is expected to complete a move to Bursaspor while the likes of Roman Bednar, Pablo Ibanez and Joe Mattock could also be on the way out. Carlos Vela has returned to his parent club Arsenal after his loan spell ended. If the Baggies are to progress, though, the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Chris Brunt and Youssuf Mulumbu will need to be retained as they are key players who were integral to West Brom this season.

Aim for next season: A repeat of this year's final position would be a great achievement for Roy Hodgson's Baggies. A top ten finish is probably what Hodgson will be aiming for but West Brom have never done that in the Premier League and it will be difficult to achieve it in the next campaign. The primary aim will be to avoid 'second-season syndrome' and comfortably survive again, as West Brom have a long way to go before shaking off their 'yo-yo' tag.

Season rating out of 10: 8. This was by far West Brom's best-ever season in the Premier League as they were nowhere near relegation by the end. Their 11th-place finish gives them something to really build on now and Baggies fans will be delighted with how their campaign panned out.

West Ham.

Premier League: 20th. FA Cup: Quarter-Final. Carling Cup: Semi-Final.

Lowdown: This campaign was a disaster from start to finish for West Ham as Avram Grant and his bungling squad were comfortably relegated. They lost their first four league games and that was a sign of things to come. They won just once in their first 14 league games and just seven times throughout the whole season, while a number of off-the-pitch incidents combined to make the Hammers a laughing stock. Their best moments came in the cup competitions - they reached the semi-final of the Carling Cup and quarter-final of the FA Cup - but even the cup runs ended in extreme disappointment.

West Ham's 5-0 loss at Newcastle appeared to spell the end for Avram Grant

The Hammers picked up eight points from a possible 12 around Christmas time but that was ruined by their 5-0 loss at Newcastle. That led to a very public pursuit by the club's owners to appoint Martin O'Neill as manager but when O'Neill turned them down, the club were left in turmoil with the unwanted Grant allowed to continue as boss. Things momentarily improved, with one loss in seven and victories over Blackpool, Liverpool and Stoke, but they ended the season with a run of two points from nine games and seven points adrift of safety. With the squad Grant had at his disposal, West Ham should have been nowhere near the relegation zone so Grant, the board and the players should all take the blame for the catastrophic season. The owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, should take most of the blame as they undermined Grant and his squad throughout the season with idiotic public ramblings and concentrated most of their efforts on securing a future in the Olympic Stadium rather than a future in the Premier League.

Best player: Scott Parker won the Football Writers' Player of the Year award despite West Ham's relegation and that tells you all you need to know about what a good season he had. Parker can take no blame for the Hammers' drop as he was an inspiration throughout and without him, West Ham would have struggled to reach double figures in terms of points. It seems a farce that he was not the captain and Matthew Upson was. Parker deserved so much better for his excellent campaign as he was one of the few players to show any passion. He is sure to leave in the summer as he looks set to secure a place in England's midfield and will only cement that by being a Premier League player. Other bright sparks in a dismal campaign were Mark Noble, who should be excellent in the Championship next season, and Demba Ba, who scored seven goals in 12 games after joining in January.

Parker did not deserve to be involved in a relegation team

Worst player: Carlton Cole finished as West Ham's top scorer this season with 11 goals but only five of them were in the league and his performances were extremely poor. His laid-back style gave him a reputation of being lazy among West Ham fans and those fans have never warmed to him. He is not and will never be a regular goalscorer but he didn't appear to put in enough effort and was one of a number of players who fall into that category. Captain Matthew Upson was extremely disappointing while loan signings Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge and Tal Ben Haim looked off the pace and summer signing Pablo Barrera never adapted to the Premier League.

Highlight: West Ham 4-0 Manchester United, Carling Cup Quarter-Final, 30 November 2010. This was a night when relegation worries could be put to one side and be replaced by unbridled joy. The Hammers were excellent from start to finish against the Red Devils and thoroughly deserved the victory, one of the few highlights of their season. A Boxing Day win at Fulham and home victory over Liverpool also showed how good West Ham could be, but those moments were few and far between and that is why they were relegated.

Lowlight: Wigan 3-2 West Ham, Premier League, 15 May 2011. West Ham went into this game knowing they needed a win to stand any chance of staying up and they were well on course for that after racing into a 2-0 half-time lead. However, they fell apart in the second half and lost the game 3-2 to seal their fate, with the second half abject performance summing up their campaign. There were many other disappointments during the season, with the most prominent being the 5-0 loss at Newcastle, 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, 3-0 loss at Bolton and 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Stoke.

Goalkeeper Robert Green's late error sealed West Ham's relegation

Manager: Avram Grant always seemed like a strange choice by Sullivan and Gold and the Israeli never looked like providing the inspiration needed to keep West Ham up. He was clearly not the right man for the job but he should be praised for the way he kept his dignity throughout the season when his board were publicly undermining him. The relegation is as much their fault as it is his as he knew he was a dead man walking after the January public pursuit of Martin O'Neill and must have found it hard to do his job from then on. Grant was sacked immediately after the relegation and has been replaced by Sam Allardyce, who seems the ideal man to lead the Hammers back up providing the owners do not undermine him in public.

Avram Grant failed to inspire his West Ham players

Five games that shaped their season:
West Ham 4-0 Manchester United, Carling Cup, 30 November 2010.
Newcastle 5-0 West Ham, Premier League, 5 January 2011.
Stoke 2-1 West Ham, FA Cup, 13 March 2011.
Bolton 3-0 West Ham, Premier League, 9 April 2011.
Wigan 3-2 West Ham, Premier League, 15 May 2011.

Transfer activity: There will be much movement at Upton Park this summer as the more expensive earners will be let go and replaced by a mixture of youth and experience. Pretty much every position will need strengthening and Sam Allardyce has a major job to do. He has already pulled off a real coup by signing Kevin Nolan and instating him as captain, while his capture of Abdoulaye Faye will provide much-needed leadership from the back. Other signings this summer could include Joe Lewis, Jlloyd Samuel, Anthony Gardner, Michael Brown, Peter Whittingham, Craig Mackail-Smith and Nicky Maynard.

Kevin Nolan will lead West Ham's assault on the Championship next season

Many players will be leaving Upton Park, with the likes of Matthew Upson, Danny Gabbidon, Lars Jacobsen and Jonathan Spector already being released. Gabbidon and Spector have been offered new contracts and may yet stay, but Manuel da Costa has also been sold. Demba Ba has also left to join Newcastle on a free transfer while Thomas Hitzlsperger is also free to talk to other clubs. The club will reluctantly let Scott Parker go as it is unrealistic to keep him, while the likes of Robert Green, Carlton Cole and Herita Ilunga could also be set for moves away. The Hammers will need to keep some of their youngsters though, such as Jack Collison and James Tomkins, as they will be crucial if they are to bounce back next season.

Aim for next season: Following relegation, every club's aim is to bounce back at the first time of asking and West Ham are no different. Sam Allardyce seems the ideal man to lead them straight back into the big time and he knows he will need a mixture of youth and experience to achieve that. The signings of Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye give the Hammers a real chance of immediate promotion and if they are complimented by the likes of Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Zavon Hines, Freddie Sears, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Jordan Spence promotion should be within their grasp.

Season rating out of 10: 1. The season was woeful from start to finish for West Ham as they found themselves in a position they should have been nowhere near. The only reason they managed to get one point here was because of their good cup runs and the excellent form of Scott Parker.

Wigan.

Premier League: 16th. FA Cup: 4th round. Carling Cup: Quarter-Final.

Lowdown: This season looked set to be an extremely disappointing one for Wigan but the Latics were saved by some excellent results in the closing weeks. They were nothing if not inconsistent as they couldn't string two wins together all season - until the last two vital games which saw them stay up. Their Jekyll and Hyde nature was emphasised in the opening weeks of the season, with 4-0 and 6-0 home losses to newly-promoted Blackpool and champions Chelsea respectively sending alarm bells ringing, only for the Latics to then go to Tottenham and pull off a 1-0 victory. Their major problem wasn't losing games - they lost the same amount as sixth-placed Liverpool - but it was drawing them, with Wigan tying 15 games.

Wigan's 4-0 opening day loss to Blackpool set the tone for their season

The Latics didn't win many games but when they did they were crucial. They beat relegation rivals Wolves (twice), Blackburn, Birmingham, Blackpool and West Ham and it was those results which saw them stay up. Despite that, they occupied a place in the relegation zone for the majority of the season and it was only their late form which saw them survive by the skin of their teeth. They would have been relegated had they lost to West Ham in the penultimate game and they were 2-0 down at half-time, only for a miraculous second half comeback to save them, with the Latics winning 3-2. They still needed to get something from Stoke on the final day to pull off their escape though, and did just that with a nerve-wracking 1-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium. The aim for Wigan every year is to stay up so Roberto Martinez's side pulled off another great success. The survival means Wigan will now go into their seventh consecutive season in the top flight and that is a great achievement for a club of Wigan's size, with much of the praise going to owner Dave Whelan.

Best player: Charles N'Zogbia's excellent form throughout the campaign was one of the key factors behind Wigan staying up. He has added a consistent end product to his game and to get nine league goals from the wing was a terrific return in a struggling team. It is clear the Frenchman has now outgrown Wigan and he is almost sure to leave this summer, with Liverpool, Newcastle, Everton, Sunderland and Aston Villa all credited with an interest. Others who had impressive campaigns were James McCarthy, Ali Al Habsi and Hugo Rodallega, while the form of on-loan Tom Cleverley was also a major plus.

N'Zogbia was the catalyst for Wigan's survival

Worst player: Mauro Boselli was signed by Roberto Martinez for a reported £6.5million last summer and has turned out to be a terrible piece of business. He played just eight league games, scoring no goals, before being loaned out in January. The 26-year-old striker's disastrous time at the DW Stadium again highlights the dangers of bringing in untested players from South America as more often than not, they fail. Boselli may well be given another chance next season but if Wigan receive an offer anywhere near what they paid for him, they should take the money and run.

Highlight: Wigan 3-2 West Ham, Premier League, 15 May 2011. At half-time of this relegation six-pointer, Wigan were 2-0 down and heading for the Championship. At full-time, however, they were celebrating a miraculous comeback which provided the momentum to see them stay up. Charles N'Zogbia was particularly influential, scoring twice, and his performance in this game may just have been the difference between Wigan surviving and going down. This was a troubled campaign for the Latics, but they did have other highlights, such as the 1-0 win at Tottenham, 4-3 win over Blackburn, 3-1 win at Blackpool and last-day 1-0 win at Stoke.

Wigan's dramatic comeback win over West Ham gave them the belief they needed to stay up

Lowlight: Wigan 0-4 Blackpool, Premier League, 14 August 2010. Wigan's season couldn't have started in any worse fashion as they were thrashed at home by newly-promoted Blackpool. The Latics appeared unprepared and seemed to think they would win the game easily, but the Tangerines had other ideas and completely dominated the game. This result and performance set the tone for Wigan's season as alarm bells started ringing from day one. Other disappointments included the 6-0 home loss to Chelsea and 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

Manager: Roberto Martinez had difficulties this season but throughout it all he kept his head and his coolness was a key reason for Wigan's survival. He is clearly an immensely talented young manager and has a job at the DW Stadium for as long as he wants it thanks to his great relationship with owner Dave Whelan. He was approached by Aston Villa over their managerial vacancy this summer but turned them down to sign a new contract with Wigan, so clearly the Spaniard has great affection for the club and wants to repay Whelan for the faith he has shown in him. If Martinez stays at Wigan in the long-term, the club will only move forward.

Roberto Martinez and Dave Whelan are now planning an assault on the European places

Five games that shaped their season:
Wigan 0-4 Blackpool, Premier League, 14 August 2010.
West Ham 3-1 Wigan, Premier League, 27 November 2010.
Wigan 4-3 Blackburn, Premier League, 5 February 2011.
Wigan 3-2 West Ham, Premier League, 15 May 2011.
Stoke 0-1 Wigan, Premier League, 22 May 2011.

Transfer activity: Wigan clearly need to add to their squad this summer as they were found wanting at key moments during the campaign. Should Charles N'Zogbia leave as expected, that should provide some funds for Roberto Martinez to strengthen and N'Zogbia's sale may be needed for the club to move forward. They need a central defender, right back, central midfielder and striker at the very least if they are to improve on this season. They also need to sign a goalkeeper after Ali Al Habsi's loan spell ended, but Al Habsi is expected to return on a permanent deal and he will be a key acquisition. Other good signings would include Wes Brown, Habib Beye, Stephen Crainey, Darren Pratley, Julio Arca and DJ Campbell.

Going out, expect Charles N'Zogbia to leave as he seems to be desperate for a move and has plenty of suitors. Wigan are thought to be demanding £10million for the winger but should not sell if that price is not met as the Frenchman is that important to them. The club have released Steven Caldwell, Daniel de Ridder and Jason Koumas, although Caldwell could yet return as he may be offered a new contract. Chris Kirkland, Mauro Boselli and Jordi Gomez all look set for departures as they are not guaranteed places in the team. However, Wigan will be desperate to keep hold of Hugo Rodallega, James McCarthy and Maynor Figueroa as they cannot afford to lose more than one major star. Tom Cleverley's loan spell has ended and he was a key player for the Latics last season, although Wigan are likely to attempt to renew his loan as the summer progresses.

Aim for next season: The aim for Wigan Athletic is always to survive in the Premier League and if they were to do that again next season, their remarkable story would continue. Manager Roberto Martinez says he dreams of leading the Latics into Europe next season and it is good he is showing ambition. However, it is extremely unlikely Wigan will be anywhere near the European places as there are simply too many better teams than them. Staying up would be a terrific achievement in itself and will be the only expectation of owner Dave Whelan.

Season rating out of 10: 7. On the face of it, Wigan had quite a disappointing campaign as they were in the bottom three for the majority of it and were only saved by some late results. However, to survive yet again is a major success for a club of Wigan's size as they continue to pull off miracles year after year despite having a relatively small fanbase.

Wolves.

Premier League: 17th. FA Cup: 4th round. Carling Cup: 4th round.

Lowdown: It was a case of mission accomplished for Wolves in the end but the season did not go as smoothly as they would have liked and they were extremely relieved to survive on the final day. They were in the bottom three for most of the campaign and it was their early-season form which left them with a mountain to climb, with Wolves winning the first game but then winning just once in the next 13. Four wins in seven games around Christmas time got them back within touching distance of safety but it wasn't until very late in the season that they moved out of the bottom three.

Wolves fans were left delighted by their side's survival

Wolves clearly have great quality, as they proved in stunning home wins over Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal as well as an away win at Liverpool, but the frustrating thing for manager Mick McCarthy would have been the losses to the likes of Wigan (twice), Blackpool, Blackburn (twice) and West Ham. Their form in April looked set to relegate them, with heavy losses to Newcastle, Everton and Stoke as well as a home draw with Fulham, but wins over West Brom and Sunderland took them out of the bottom three going into the final day. They played Blackburn in the final game and were 3-0 down, a scoreline which would have seen them relegated on goal difference, but two late goals and a goal for Tottenham against Birmingham were enough to save them and secure Wolves a third successive season in the top flight. They could and perhaps should have survived by more than the one point which saved them, with the fact they only drew seven times in the league a factor behind their struggles. If a few of their defeats had been turned into draws they would have been comfortably in mid-table and that is sure to be something McCarthy looks at next season. He will be satisfied with this campaign as they looked doomed for much of it and he can now continue his attempts to stabilise Wolves as a Premier League club. With ground renovation work also now taking place, Wanderers look ambitious and ready for a long-term future in the top flight.

Best player: Matt Jarvis. Jarvis impressed in his first season in the top flight in 2009/10 but improved dramatically this campaign to push himself into the England reckoning. The winger was a constant thorn in defences' sides and chipped in with some crucial goals, most notably the winner at Villa Park against Aston Villa, and he looks set to be a good Premier League player for years to come. His form did tail off towards the end of the season, and he lost his place in the side for two late-season fixtures, but he had an excellent campaign and has become one of the best wingers in the country. Other players who had impressive campaigns were Kevin Doyle, Steven Fletcher and Wayne Hennessey.

Matt Jarvis has developed into a quality Premier League performer

Worst player: Steven Mouyokolo cost Mick McCarthy around £3million last summer, but he made just four league appearances and has already been loaned out for next season. He struggled with injury problems and when he was fit he was clearly not good enough to get in Wolves' first team so the Frenchman has proved to be a very poor piece of business. Another of McCarthy's signings last summer, Jelle Van Damme, also had a poor time of it and he left in January after reportedly becoming homesick.

Highlight: Wolves 3-1 West Brom, Premier League, 8 May 2011. Wolves had some fantastic results against the big boys of the Premier League this season but their most satisfying win was surely the late-season home victory over fierce rivals West Brom. Wanderers were simply too good for the Baggies and raced into a 3-0 lead, and the result gave them the momentum they needed to eventually stay up. Had they lost this game, they would have been in severe trouble so it was a crucial win which was made all the sweeter for the fact it was against their most bitter of rivals. Other special memories for Wolves fans from this season were the home wins over Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United and the away wins at Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Steven Fletcher scored twice in Wolves' crucial victory over West Brom

Lowlight: Stoke 3-0 Wolves, Premier League, 26 April 2011. This was Wolves' game in hand late in the season and a victory would have seen them move out of the relegation places, but they were completely outplayed and some defensive frailties saw them comprehensively beaten at the Britannia Stadium. They didn't seem to have any fight left in them at this stage and relegation seemed a near-certainty as this performance was certainly not Premier League-standard. Other disappointments were the 2-0 loss at Wigan, 2-1 home defeat to Wigan and the 3-0 home loss to Everton.

Manager: Mick McCarthy had his troubles this season but he has come out of them as a better manager. He has done a very good job at Molineux to get Wolves promoted and keep them in the Premier League for two straight seasons, and he is slowly but surely proving himself as a top flight manager. Chairman Steve Morgan backed McCarthy throughout the season, even in the months Wolves looked doomed to relegation, despite some fans calling for McCarthy's head and he should be given enormous credit for providing the much-needed stability which was eventually one of the keys to Wolves staying up.

Mick McCarthy has been in charge of Wolves since 2006

Five games that shaped their season:
Wolves 1-2 Wigan, Premier League, 26 December 2010.
Liverpool 0-1 Wolves, Premier League, 29 December 2010.
Wolves 2-1 Manchester United, Premier League, 5 February 2011.
Stoke 3-0 Wolves, Premier League, 26 April 2011.
Wolves 3-1 West Brom, Premier League, 8 May 2011.

Transfer activity: Wolves' squad came good when needed this season and has decent depth to it, although it will need to be strengthened this summer. Swansea goalkeeper Dorus de Vries has already joined on a free transfer to provide competition for Wayne Hennessey, while Jamie O'Hara has also signed on a permanent deal after a hugely successful loan spell. McCarthy will also be looking for a left-back, centre-back and a striker. Paul Konchesky, Liam Ridgwell, Roger Johnson and Shane Long have all been linked and all would add real quality to McCarthy's squad.

Marcus Hahnemann and David Jones have left Wolves on free transfers and while they were decent squad members, their departures free up space for McCarthy to improve his squad. Steven Mouyokolo has also left on loan while Michael Mancienne's loan spell has ended, and others may follow them through the door, like Greg Halford and Andy Keogh. Wolves will need to keep hold of their better players if they are to improve on this year's achievements so it is vital they do not sell the likes of Matt Jarvis and Wayne Hennessey, who have both been linked with moves.

Aim for next season: Again, the aim for Wolves will be to survive next season as they continue their quest to establish themselves as a Premier League club. Of course, they will look to steer comfortably clear of relegation and avoid any more late-season worries but it is likely they would settle for a repeat of this season as that would present further progression. Wolves is a club clearly on the up and if they continue to survive for the next few years, they could become a major force in English football.

Season rating out of 10: 7. Survival represents a job well done for Mick McCarthy and his squad who had an up and down year to say the least. They lost some disappointing games and were in the bottom three for much of the campaign but their results against some of the bigger teams will fill them with hope and their ultimate survival is what they went out to achieve at the start of the season.

Nadal wins on one leg while Murray continues to improve

Rafael Nadal fought back the pain to beat Juan Martin Del Potro

In normal circumstances, the only story of the men's singles fourth round at Wimbledon would be Andy Murray's stunning straight sets victory over Richard Gasquet.

But Rafael Nadal's fantastic win against the inspired Juan Martin Del Potro has eclipsed it as the Spaniard was pushed to the brink and still prevailed despite a serious-looking foot injury.

Nadal is the ultimate warrior on the tennis court and in some ways we shouldn't be surprised at the stubbornness he showed to hide the severity of his injury and still win.

Even when half-fit, he is so difficult to break down and never gives his opponent an inch.

Del Potro had injury troubles of his own, breaking down mid-match with a recurrence of his hip injury, but both men played some stunning tennis throughout and it was hard to tell either of them were struggling.

It really was a brutal match and both players should be applauded for the way they handled such a war of attrition.

The standard of tennis never dropped and it could easily have gone to five sets, but Nadal won the most important points to take it in four.

Del Potro's performance confirmed his re-arrival as a major player in men's tennis after a long period out with injuries, and he now seems to have recaptured the form which took him to the US Open title in 2009.

Del Potro has won one major, the US Open in 2009

There has been a lot of talk about the 'big four' in men's tennis but Del Potro's name can again be added to that now with his great power - with his serve and groundstrokes - almost impossible to stop when he is firing.

The Argentinean more than played his part in an excellent match which had the Centre Court crowd transfixed and he looked the better player for long periods, but the class and determination of Nadal shone through when it really needed to.

It is frightening to think these two players were not fully fit as the standard was so high you can only wonder how much better they could have been without their pains.

As for Nadal, it is very easy to run out of superlatives for him.

Admiration and respect for him is continuing to grow and it is a real relief for the tournament that he was not forced to pull out with the foot injury he sustained against Del Potro.

Nadal looked set to pull out after sustaining a foot injury near the end of the first set

Nadal said afterwards he thought at the time he had broken his foot, but he showed the strength of character to continue regardless and that is what makes him a great champion.

He makes every effort both during and after matches to hide and play down his injuries as a mark of respect to his opponents, but it was clear to see this injury had hurt him.

His bad foot may affect him later in the competition - which would be good news for the likes of Andy Murray - but even if it does, you can be sure that Nadal will give it everything he has got and still produce a stellar performance. To beat Nadal, someone is still going to have to play a fantastic match.

Nadal will probably not face a tougher game than this one in the rest of the tournament yet he managed to get through it and should still be the favourite to retain his title.

He is a true legend of the game whose status is only going to continue growing and picking up a third Wimbledon crown this year is still in his sights.

He is a rock whether fully fit or not so if any player is under any illusions they will be in for an easy match against him, they can think again.

There is no better competitor than him with his grit, determination and ability to hold his nerve still making him the man to beat.

His match against Del Potro was a real baseline war of attrition yet he made it through and still looks every inch the champion.

If his injury is to hamper him in future rounds though, Andy Murray is a real contender to take his title.

Murray produced his best display of the tournament so far to beat Gasquet

His performance against Richard Gasquet was simply sublime and the fact he managed to see out the victory in straight sets and after just two hours was a real bonus as he was able to conserve energy for the even bigger tests that lie ahead.

He took his game onto another level against the Frenchman and after winning the opening set tie-break, there was only going to be one winner.

Murray is continuing to improve round by round and his serve in particular is getting better, although he will need to continue to improve it if he has any designs of winning the title.

One of his greatest strengths are his passing shots and he produced several top drawer ones against Gasquet at crucial times to leave his opponent floored.

Gasquet's sledgehammer backhand was a real factor early on but once Murray got ahead, the Frenchman looked ordinary and it was Murray's backhand which was the more influential.

Gasquet's performance level dipped after losing the first set

Gasquet is a very good player - and should be in the top eight within a year - but he was swept aside by Murray and other players would have struggled to put the Frenchman away as convincingly as this.

He has to be seen as a major contender for the title now and if he can continue this steady improvement each round he will be a tough man to beat.

The likes of Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will all be on the top of their games at the business end of the tournament so Murray will need to be on the top of his to stand a chance, but he should be feeling confident.

He is in his fourth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final and he has reached three Grand Slam finals, so he keeps putting himself in positions to win majors and one day that work will pay off.

His win over Gasquet was watched by Prince William and Kate Middleton and what was noticeable was that Murray seemed calm and didn't get too down on himself when points didn't go his way.

Prince William and Kate seemed to enjoy Murray's performance

Just like when the Queen watched him last year, Murray seems to be on his best behaviour when the Royal Family watch his matches and that helps to produce quality performances and less anger.

Perhaps royalty should attend all of his matches as when Murray's demeanour is positive and calm, he seems to play better.

Murray faces Feliciano Lopez - or 'Deliciano' to Murray's mum Judy - in the quarter-finals and that presents a very real opportunity to reach the semi-finals for a third year in a row.

Lopez will have to be taken very seriously as any player who makes it this far must be top quality but in reality Murray should have too much for him.

He would then be likely to face Nadal in the semis - providing the Spaniard's foot injury subsides - and that would be a daunting match. However difficult the task is though, Murray knows he is capable of beating Nadal in major tournaments (as he did in the US Open of 2008 and Australian Open of 2010).

Nadal is clearly a phenomenon and a much better player than Murray but if Murray can catch Nadal below-par and he can play exceptionally well, then he will have a chance.

Murray played excellently to beat Gasquet but can still improve, which is extremely promising.

To win the title is still a monumental task for him but he is good enough to do it and with a bit of belief, you just never know.

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Serena Williams had won the tournament on the last two occasions

When the Williams sisters fell on Monday, there was a feel of the end of an era at SW19.

The duo have won the ladies' singles Wimbledon championship for nine of the last eleven years so it was seen as something of a shock both of them were knocked out at the last 16 stage.

However, it was a major achievement for them both to reach that stage after battling back from injuries and they should both be happy with their efforts.

Serena hadn't played since this time last year after a foot injury and a blood clot on the lung while Venus had been ruled out since January, so there was an air of inevitability neither would win Wimbledon this year.

Serena, in particular, will be back stronger than ever in future Grand Slams as she showed glimpses of her greatness at SW19, and once she gets some more match fitness under her belt she is sure to win more majors.

She lost to the French woman Marion Bartoli, who played excellently to reach the quarter-finals but was today defeated by Sabine Lisicki.

'Individual' is one way to describe Bartoli's style - she bounces around and practices shots before every point - and you would not find her style in any textbooks, but it has worked for her so fair play.

She looks very eccentric on court and the fact she plays every shot double-handed limits her ability, but she showed great mental strength to beat Serena and should be given credit as Serena is an extremely difficult player to beat, fit or not.

Serena may well win more Grand Slams, but the task appears much harder for sister Venus.

Venus Williams has won Wimbledon five times

Other than Wimbledon, the 31-year-old has not won a major since 2001 and continues to be overshadowed by her sister.

She went out against Svetana Pironkova with a whimper for the second year in a row and she just seems to have a mental block against her.

Venus seemed to miss every shot she went for while Pironkova just played a steady game.

Venus is a player who appears to be on the wane and it will be extremely difficult for her to win another major.

Her sister will stand a better chance as she is still a great warrior and seems to have great motivation to again reach the top of the game. It shouldn't take her long.

Pironkova lost in the quarter-finals to Petra Kvitova and the women's tournament is really wide open now.

Maria Sharapova, Kvitova, Lisicki and Victoria Azarenka are the last four standing and while Sharapova is the favourite, it really could go to anyone.

The correct four players have reached the semi-finals as they have been the best four players throughout the tournament, and it makes for some great games.

Maria Sharapova is being tipped to take her second Wimbledon crown

Sharapova is the only one of the four to have a Grand Slam under her belt and that experience may be crucial.

Sharapova-Azarenka looks the likely final and that would be a great match, although the quality of the tennis would probably be overshadowed by the 'Battle of the grunts'.

If that is the final, there is only one thing for it: ear plugs.

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Novak Djokovic (left) and Bernard Tomic regularly practice together and will face each other in the quarter-final

Bernard Tomic's fairytale story at Wimbledon is to continue after he swept aside experienced performer Xavier Malisse in straight sets.

The 18-year-old Australian is clearly quite a talent and he is the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Boris Becker in 1986.

Becker won the tournament that year and while it is extremely unlikely Tomic will be able to repeat that feat this year, it is a great story nonetheless.

He will face great friend Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and that will be a very tough match due to the Serbian's excellent run of form and in reality Djokovic should have too much for him.

However, Tomic has upset the odds all the way through the tournament and would love to produce one last shock to take his place in the last four.

The Australian seems to have the game to go to the top of the sport and he is only going to get better.

His experiences at this year's Wimbledon should speed up the process of Tomic becoming a major star as he has now had a taste of what the latter stages of Grand Slams are like and will be hungry for more as soon as possible.

Tomic's progression to the last eight is the story of the tournament this year and with a bit of luck there may be another chapter yet to be written.

Murray momentum builds as Wimbledon reaches second week

Andy Murray thrilled his fans with a four set win over Ivan Ljubicic

Watching British tennis players is never an easy experience.

Like Tim Henman before him, Andy Murray provides plenty of drama in every match he plays, but unlike Henman Murray seems to have the talent to go all the way at Wimbledon.

For some reason, there are some Murray-haters who revel in shouting "Come on, Tim" before Murray serves, but those negative voices are beginning to be drowned out as true tennis fans realise a British win at Wimbledon may not be too far away.

The way Murray beat Ivan Ljubicic in four sets in the third round proved his temperament has improved markedly in recent years.

He lost the second set in disappointing fashion yet re-evaluated and took the third 6-1 in stunning style.

And when he failed to serve out the match when 5-4 up in the fourth, that was another major test for Murray.

However, he bounced back brilliantly to win the tie-break, beating a man playing just about as well as he could have.

Murray showed the character of a champion to overcome those knock-backs and if he continues to show similar character for another week, it may just be him lifting the title next Sunday.

Ljubicic served excellently throughout the match and credit must be given to him for making such a match of it.

Ljubicic rolled back the years with a stunning performance

Enormous praise must be given to the Croatian as the 32-year-old had waited his whole career for a chance to play on Wimbledon's Centre Court and he was not overawed by the occasion.

He just came up against a man who is fast improving and looks set to be a major challenger for the title.

Murray has now lost two sets in the tournament but his standard is improving and he had to play close to his best to defeat Ljubicic.

He never makes things easy for himself and it wouldn't be a Murray match without a bit of tension, but that was largely due to the Croatian's excellence rather than a lack of form on Murray's part.

Murray was a bit slack at the start of the second set but on the whole he played an excellent match. He is coping with the pressure brilliantly.

He is playing very well from the baseline and is still getting plenty of free points on his first serve, although he will need to get more first serves in as the tournament progresses.

He will also need to improve the quality of his second serve as Ljubicic found it quite easy to predict, but overall Murray should be very happy with his week's work and he can now look forward to a fourth round clash with Richard Gasquet.

One of the defining moments of Murray's victory over Ljubicic was his 'hot dog' half-volley shot deep in the fourth set.

Murray's 'hot dog' shot was loved by the crowd

He played the shot in the final at Queen's and has been criticised for playing it by ex-players such as John McEnroe, but the shot is entertainment for the fans rather than disrespectful to his opponent.

The fact he played it shows he is supremely confident at the moment because, as he said, he would have "looked a plonker" had he missed it.

The fans were already on his side before that but after it, they roared him to victory. It was the shot of a showman and the shot of a man trying to reach out to his fans.

He may not smile much on court but his personality shone through in that one shot and that is all that was needed to get everyone on his side.

In the big-pressure moments that followed, the crowd really helped Murray through and the huge roar which greeted the final point said it all. Most sane British tennis fans are truly behind Murray and his 'hot dog' shot is only serving to make him more popular.

If he is to use it in future matches, he will have to pick the right times to do it but he seems to have a good sense of when to use it and is very sensible with it.

On the whole, the crowd were excellent and right behind Murray, with the atmosphere helped by the closure of the roof.

Murray has now played (and won) three times under the Centre Court roof in his career

Centre Court is like a giant greenhouse when the roof is closed but it does help to generate an intimate environment where the fans can truly get involved.

The decision to build the roof has now been fully justified as it has provided some great matches this year and the late-night atmosphere seems to inspire the players.

Murray was certainly inspired and should beat Gasquet in the next round.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet awaits Murray in the next round

The pair had a marathon five-setter at Wimbledon in 2008 - with Murray winning after Gasquet went two sets up - but Murray is a much better player now. He is stronger, better in rallies and better from the baseline and this match should not be as close as three years ago.

Of course, it will probably not turn out that way as Murray's matches always seem to provide drama but it would be a major surprise if he did not take his place in the quarter-finals.

It is an extremely difficult task for him to win the tournament but with belief and a calm head, anything is possible.

He still gets too angry with himself at times during the match, punching his racket and shouting at his support group, and these sorts of instances need to be eradicated if he is to beat the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Murray described his first week's efforts as eight out of ten but he knows that will need to be ten out of ten next week if he is to win Wimbledon.

He is improving round by round but will need to be on the top of his game if he reaches the semi-final and final.

With the support of the nation behind him though, Britain's 75-year wait for a men's singles winner at Wimbledon may be about to come to an end.

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Bernard Tomic will become Australia's number one after the tournament

A new star was born at Wimbledon on Saturday as Bernard Tomic defeated fifth-seed Robin Soderling in straight sets.

Tomic, 18, has been known to keen tennis-watchers for some time and pushed Rafael Nadal hard in the Australian Open earlier this year, but this is his first major breakthrough and he now has a real chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

He faces Xavier Malisse in the fourth round - a 30-year-old now ranked 42 in the world - and the way he performed against Soderling will fill him with belief.

Tomic has a great backhand and should have a great future in the game, but was helped against Soderling as the Swede was clearly struggling with sickness.

He looked jaded between points and claimed he was dizzy and struggling to stand, so it is a real shame for him to exit the competition in this manner.

Nothing should be taken away from Tomic though as the Australian wowed the crowd on Court One and read the game magnificently.

He seemed to know where Soderling was going to serve every single time and that awareness will stand him in good stead for the rest of his career.

This will not be the last time we hear the name Bernard Tomic.

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Novak Djokovic was thrilled after overcoming gutsy Marcos Baghdatis

Saturday also saw one of the best games of the tournament so far with Novak Djokovic overcoming Marcos Baghdatis in four sets.

Baghdatis played brilliantly and by the end had the crowd eating out of his hand. It was almost as though he was a Brit.

The Greek showed great personality throughout the match but Djokovic was just too consistent for him in the end and he will be relieved to have come through a stern test.

It wasn't pretty at times from the Serbian - he got so angry during the second set he repeatedly smashed his racquet - but he is still a major contender for the championship.

The smashing of the racquet may have been an indication he is feeling the pressure of trying to live up to his great form but he is still playing very well and will be difficult to beat.

He will become the new world number one if he reaches the final and if he can keep some of his emotions in check, that is a very real possibility.