WIMBLEDON ROUNDUP News and notes

Ivanovic preserves ranking: The wave of upsets means new No. 1 Ana Ivanovic will remain atop the rankings next week. Losses Monday by No. 3-ranked Jelena Jankovic and No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova ensured Ivanovic will retain the top spot, which she claimed for the first time after winning the French Open June 7. Jankovic and Kuznetsova could have overtaken Ivanovic with a good second week at Wimbledon.

Unhappy loser: After losing to Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-2, Jankovic was unhappy with tournament organizers. Having undergone intensive treatment on the left knee she injured Saturday, she wanted a later starting time Monday to get therapy. Instead, she was first up on Court 18. And she disliked the court assignment, which she described as “almost playing in the parking lot.” “I was really not happy with the scheduling,” Jankovic said. “I asked to play a little bit later on in the day, which would give me a few more hours to recover.”

Uncharted territory: Tanasugarn became the first Thai player to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal berth. “Can I say, wow, wow, wow,” said Tanasugarn, the oldest player left in the women’s field at 31.

Champions’ pick: With No. 1-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal on course to meet in the Wimbledon final for the third year in a row, nine out of 15 past champions picked Federer to win a sixth consecutive title. When ATPtennis.com surveyed the former champions, those picking Federer included Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe, Goran Ivanisevic, Michael Stich, Jack Kramer, Jan Kodes and Tony Trabert. Bjorn Borg, John Newcombe, Stan Smith, Richard Krajicek and Pat Cash went for Nadal. And three-time champion Boris Becker? The German is straddling the net. “The better player will win,” he said.

Mario’s dream: Mario Ancic is hoping his berth in the Wimbledon quarterfinals Wednesday against Roger Federer will mean a chance to play on Centre Court. “That is for me like for a footballer to play on Wembley,” said Ancic, who is Croatian. “It’s Yankee Stadium for baseball, Madison Square Garden in basketball, New York Knicks to play there. I mean, it’s almost like a holy place. That was really something what is inspiring me.” Federer hasn’t lost at Wimbledon since Ancic beat him in the first round in 2002. The rematch was sealed Monday when Ancic outlasted Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 13-11 in 3 hours, 49 minutes.

Associated Press