WIMBLEDON ROUNDUP News & notes

Top-seeded Bryans lose: Bob and Mike Bryan never lost serve once during the Wimbledon doubles tournament, and yet they won’t win the title. The top-ranked twins from the United States lost 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9) in the semifinals Thursday to Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe. The Bryans were trying to reach a fourth consecutive men’s doubles final at the All England Club. They won the title in 2006. “Just not losing serve the whole week is a good effort,” Bob said. “To leave here with a semifinal loss is disappointing, because I thought we had some momentum into that match.” Bob was astonished by the energy of Bjorkman, who won doubles titles with Todd Woodbridge from 2002-04 but is retiring later this year. Wimbledon is not over for the Bryans — they could meet in Sunday’s mixed doubles final. Bob teamed with Samantha Stosur to beat Andy Ram and Nathalie Dechy 6-4, 6-2 in that event’s quarterfinals Thursday, while Mike paired with Katarina Srebotnik to defeat Ullyett and Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Zheng’s showing: Zheng Jie went from looking overmatched to looking right at home on Centre Court against Serena Williams. Zheng, the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, struggled early but picked up her game Thursday after the first of two rain delays. Still, she lost to the eight-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 7-6 (5). “I’m quite satisfied with the performance I had today,” Zheng said through a translator. “But her serve was too big for me, especially on the grass court. On other courts, probably I would have had a better chance. Even in the second set I might have the chance to win it.” Zheng, who also became the first female wild-card entrant to reach the semifinals at the All England Club and the second at any Grand Slam, was trailing 5-2 in the first set when the rain started. When they resumed, Williams held serve at love to take the first set. But the second set was a different story, and the 133rd-ranked Zheng even had a set point on Williams’ serve after another, longer rain delay. Zheng failed to convert, however. “Probably I was thinking too much about it, then I didn’t get the chance,” said Zheng, who in only her third Wimbledon appearance upset top-seeded Ana Ivanovic and three other seeded players to reach the semifinals. “Her serve was simply too big.”

Associated Press