For a change of pace, tennis will dominate the week’s sports scene with Wimbledon starting to pair down the field in anticipation of the finals on July 5.
Many of the names remaining in the field, tennis fans have grown accustomed to seeing in the finals.
On the women’s side, third-seeded Venus Williams is still in the hunt for her third consecutive Wimbledon title, after winning her third-round match Saturday. No. 1 seed Dinari Safina, No. 2 seed Serena Williams and No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva also cruised into the round of 16.
On the men’s side, No. 2 Roger Federer, No. 3 seed Andy Murray, No. 6 seed Andy Roddick and unseeded Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, also advanced.
However, there are some surprises making the round of 16, none bigger than 17-year old Melanie Oudin, from Marietta. She defeated former No. 1-ranked Jelena Jankovic, currently ranked No. 6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2 at Wimbledon last Saturday.
In baseball, the Atlanta Braves open a series against the Philadelphia Phillies at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Turner Field. The Braves play host to the Phillies for three games, before heading on the road to face the Washington Nationals for three games.
On Tuesday, Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.25 ERA) will throw for the Braves against Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.06). In his last outing, Kawakami threw three innings and took a no decision against the New York Yankees. Kawakami’s last decision was a win against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 19. In that win, he threw six innings and allowed only two hits.
On Wednesday, Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.53) will take the mound for the Braves. He lost his last outing against the New York Yankees last Thursday, throwing three innings and allowing 11 hits.
The Gwinnett Braves finish up a three-game set against the Louisville Bats with games today and Tuesday at Gwinnett Stadium. After a day off on Wednesday, the Triple-A G-Braves visit International League Southern division-leading Norfolk Tides for two games, then return home for a three-game series against the Tides.
In local baseball, the Gainesville Travelers play host to the Windward Blue travel team at 7 p.m. Friday at Flowery Branch High. The Gainesville A’s play a pair of home games against Dawsonville, then a home game against Alpharetta this week at Ivey-Watson Field.