WIMBLEDON, England — If it’s hard to imagine how this wildest of Wimbledons — does 70-68 ring a bell? — could top itself in Week 2, consider all the characters still strutting on tennis’ biggest stage.
Roger Federer, bidding for a record-tying seventh championship at the All England Club. Rafael Nadal, seeking a second after declining to defend his 2008 title because of injury. Andy Roddick, yearning for one Wimbledon trophy after three runner-up finishes.
Andy Murray, well aware that all of Britain is counting on him to end its 74-year wait for a homegrown men’s champion.
Two sisters named Serena and Venus, aiming for a fifth all-Williams final, and third in a row, at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament; one or the other has won eight of the past 10 women’s championships. Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, back at Wimbledon after years away and hoping to finally win it.
Another former No. 1 and major champion, Maria Sharapova, striving to return to relevance in the latter stages of big events.
Each of those names — indeed, each of the 32 men and women left in the singles draws — is featured on the fourth-round schedule when action resumes today, after Wimbledon’s traditional day of rest on the middle Sunday.
“Well, I’d rather be here doing an interview than being at home on the couch and watching Wimbledon from home, that’s for sure,” said the top-seeded Federer, who plays No. 16 Jurgen Melzer of Austria. “So I feel very lucky, of course. I’m excited I’m still in the tournament. I hope I can go further.”
Nadal’s bothersome right knee held up fine during a 40-minute practice session Sunday.
Walking briskly while toting his racket bag after his light workout, Nadal said his knee felt “good, good; not bad.”
The top four women play today: No. 1 Serena Williams, No. 2 Venus Williams (vs. 92nd-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia), No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki (vs. 62nd-ranked Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic) and No. 4 Jelena Jankovic (vs. No. 21 Vera Zvonareva).
At a glance
A look ahead to today’s fourth-round matches:
MEN: No. 1 Roger Federer vs. No. 16 Jurgen Melzer; No. 2 Rafael Nadal vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu; No. 3 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 15 Lleyton Hewitt; No. 4 Andy Murray vs. No. 18 Sam Querrey; No. 5 Andy Roddick vs. Yen-Hsun Lu; No. 6 Robin Soderling vs. No. 9 David Ferrer; No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. No. 32 Julien Benneteau; No. 12 Tomas Berdych vs. Daniel Brands.
WOMEN: No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 16 Maria Sharapova; No. 2 Venus Williams vs. Jarmila Groth; No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki vs. Petra Kvitova; No. 4 Jelena Jankovic vs. No. 21 Vera Zvonareva; No. 7 Agnieszka Radwanska vs. No. 9 Li Na; No. 8 Kim Clijsters vs. No. 17 Justine Henin; No. 11 Marion Bartoli vs. Tsvetana Pironkova; Klara Zakopalova vs. Kaia Kanepi.
TV: KUSA-9 — 10 a.m.; ESPN2 — 4:30-8 a.m., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5-8 a.m., Tue.
