The youngsters are shining at this years Wimbledon. Britain's last hope Andy Murray played some cintilating tennis to reach the next round while Richard Gasquet showed us that the French still have style.
Marin Cilic fought hard in a gruelling five set battle with Finnish hopeful Jarkko Nieminen, and came through with flying colours. Our other young picks, Chris Eaton and Jesse Levine, were unfortunate to not make it through.
All the eyes were on Alla Kudryavtseva yesterday when the Russian knocked out hot favourite Maria Sharapova. It almost seemed too easy. Sharapova was not in the game at all and it showed as she went down in straight sets.
While the crowds were watching Sharapova having a hard time on centre court, a little bit of history was being repeated on court 2. In 1997 a pretty, 16-year-old Russian caused a tabloid frenzy by reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Her name was Anna Kournikova and she went on to become a global name. Now, 11 years on, history looks set to be repeating itself with another blonde Russian sensation who goes by the name of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
This 2006 junior world champion, who was handed a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw last year but failed to progress past the first round, is back. But this time she is one year older, another year wiser and, at 16, is the youngest player to qualify for the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
Now Pavlyuchenkova faces number 14 seed Agnieszka Radwanska who is the younger sister of Ursula Radwanska.
Pavlyuchenkova, began the season ranked around the 300 mark but her goal this year is to finish in the top 100. At this rate she is very likely to succeed.
Marin Cilic fought hard in a gruelling five set battle with Finnish hopeful Jarkko Nieminen, and came through with flying colours. Our other young picks, Chris Eaton and Jesse Levine, were unfortunate to not make it through.
All the eyes were on Alla Kudryavtseva yesterday when the Russian knocked out hot favourite Maria Sharapova. It almost seemed too easy. Sharapova was not in the game at all and it showed as she went down in straight sets.
While the crowds were watching Sharapova having a hard time on centre court, a little bit of history was being repeated on court 2. In 1997 a pretty, 16-year-old Russian caused a tabloid frenzy by reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Her name was Anna Kournikova and she went on to become a global name. Now, 11 years on, history looks set to be repeating itself with another blonde Russian sensation who goes by the name of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
This 2006 junior world champion, who was handed a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw last year but failed to progress past the first round, is back. But this time she is one year older, another year wiser and, at 16, is the youngest player to qualify for the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
Now Pavlyuchenkova faces number 14 seed Agnieszka Radwanska who is the younger sister of Ursula Radwanska.
Pavlyuchenkova, began the season ranked around the 300 mark but her goal this year is to finish in the top 100. At this rate she is very likely to succeed.
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