Weekend Tennis Roundup

It's been a topsy-turvy first week at The Championships -- and I suspect things will only get wackier in the week ahead. See my full report featuring lots of men in mandatory white shorts BELOW.

First up, how wonderful was the ceremony celebrating 100 years of Centre Court’s current location at Wimbledon? For longtime fans of tennis, there's nothing more heartwarming than seeing your favorite players from different eras together. Can't post all the photos, but here are three good ones:

Bjorn Borg and Venus Williams, who lost a heartbreaker with Jamie Murray after failing to convert five match points in a marathon third-set tiebreaker against the British duo of Jonny O'Mara and Alicia Barnett, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (16)

Chris Evert, Billie Jean King and Novak Djokovic

Stefan Edberg, Rafael Nadal, Petra Kvitova and Andy Murray / Lots more HERE.

And this week we learned that Thanasi Kokkinakis is a little bit kinky 

Especially for Serbians 

And we learned that Novak has a Mini Me waiting in the tram lines 

Matteo Berrettini seemed to rebound from his heartbreak of having to withdraw because of Covid

Cristian Garin muscled his way into the round of 16 and will take on Alex de Minaur tomorrow

All eyes are on Team Nakashima. Brandon reached his first major fourth round and now the young American is being asked (by me) to do God's work by defeating Nick Kyrgios, who once again has created that awful situation of attracting the wrong kind of attention to the sport, aka "fans" who don't care about tennis. Let's go, Brandon! (Oh, wait.) 

Speaking of Team Nakashima: I believe he and Garin share some physical attention, namely Cristian Madariaga Luchsinger ...

who's also got some sort of scam going where he gets to "nurse" fellow hot Chileans back to health

Karolina Pliskova disappointed us once again. But her hubby sure didn't. Ons Jabeur and Paula Badosa are the only Top 10 seeds left in the draw. I'm still praying to Allah that the Tunisian holds her nerve and wins it all.

Carlos Alcaraz is still learning how to play on the grass 

But we now know that he likes FOREPLAY

Akimbo-himbo Matt Ebden

I'd like Daniel Masur for breakfast

Neal Skupski fell in men's doubles but remains alive in mixed with American Desirae Krawczyk

Liam Broady had a surprise run to the third round, upsetting Diego Schwartzman along the way

Tracy Austin Lloyd has a ring to it, no? 

Jan-Michael Gambill isn't going to let a major stand in the way of his body

Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliövaara reached the third round before coming up short versus Mektic/Pavic

Sex bomb Marton Fucsovics looks back at his junior glory

Nothing "junior" about his friend now, though 

Rafael Nadal was a leading candidate for the Nick Kyrgios Self-Awareness Award of the week. The Spaniard, who takes so much time between points, first/second serves and let serves that the sport had to introduce a SHOT CLOCK because of him, and carries on after winning routine points -- lectured Lorenzo Sonego on the court about some imaginary infraction. The Italian handled it like a pro, suggesting Rafa take it up with the umpire, only to have Nadal start up again after the match was over. (Sorry. Not all of us are as charmed by his pathological faux-lowering of expectations -- he’s won “22” majors yet somehow was never once the favorite! -- butt-picking and ugly strokes as so many others are.)

So nice to see Andreas Mies join in on Pride events

Now if he and fellow supporter Liam Broady would just release a sex tape, I'd really believe in their commitment to the cause 

At least Wimbledon showed its Pride! 

Holger Rune was no match for Marcos Giron's cuolo, so decided to focus on another racket sport

The UCLA standout then lost to Alex Molcan, but not before Damian got a slew of screenshots for an upcoming Tennis Tuesday extravaganza. (The gif at the top of this post is just the tip of the iceberg!) 

Hot couple alert: Jürgen Melzer knows how to pick 'em up 

Adam Jones is at it again, this time getting a pic-with John Isner 

Nole 

and Stan

Follow Jonesy's pretty mug HERE

Fun to see 2013 champion Marion Bartoli on the court again 

Tommy Paul and Cam Norrie had a friendly moment in the days before the Brit took out the American in the round of 16

No sooner did Christian Harrison qualify and win his first round at Wimbledon did he have to retire injured in his second-round match 

At least he made a friend in the U.K. 

More HERE.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina upset seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz only to let his temper get the better of him in the next round, receiving a point penalty -- on match point -- in an incredibly close match tiebreak against Jiri Vesely

And speaking of Jiris: Here's Jiří Lehečka with Novak

Taylor Fritz is riding high on his Eastbourne victory, and will play Aussie Jason Kubler in the round of 16 tomorrow 

Oscar Otte and Woody Harrelson (!)

Nick McCarvel got to  be this close to Kyle Edmund, who returned to competition in the mixed doubles and says he will ease his way back into singles next 

Emma Radacanu was a loser on the court and a big winner off

Jack Draper won a round 

... and just may need to put modeling on the back burner for a bit

The mystery of Borna Coric continues 

Juan Betancourt will be on hand tomorrow when his girlfriend takes on former champ Simona Halep

Someone needs to straighten Reilly Opelka out 

Robert Farah continues to tease us 

And tease up some more 

Brits gone wild! 

Zlatan Dzumhur ...

strikes another pose 

Back home Ryan Harrison continues to rehab

Cesar Ramirez is starting to scare me 

Sam Groth can't stop filling out his suit 

Two Lorenzis are better than one

De Minaur and Karie Boulter flaunt their unnatural lifestyle 

Marko Andrejic is at it again 

Will Grant knows where the boys are 

Two men and a baby

Andy Seppi lost in the Wimbledon qualies but still knows how to put on a show

Franco Agamenone flaunted his alternative lifestyle in Dusseldorf

Hubba hubba: Patricio Nieto and Daniel Altmaier 

I don't know who Katrina Safavinia Scott is, but I approve of her support system! 

Facundo Mena took home his third #ATPChallenger singles title on clay -- as well as the world's ugliest trophy -- defeating  Miljan Zekic 6-2, 7-6(3) in Cali, Colombia

And in his second attempt, 20-year-old Juan Bautista Torres claimed his first maiden #ATPChallenger singles title. The Argentinian defeated Benjamin Hassan 7-6(2), 6-2.

And last but not least: J.J. Wolf and his mustache are back for another episode of "My Tennis Life" HERE.