CBS Sportsline: 'I tried everything' -- but Federer falls to Nadal in all-timer

WIMBLEDON, England -- It was match that was virtually matchless, a sporting competition that squeezed every bit of emotion and excellence from two men who battled each other and the elements to a point of no returns and many backhand winners.

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Contra Costa Times: Venus Williams serves notice: She's still a champion

WIMBLEDON, England -- She's still here. The others have faded away, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Martina Hingis. Venus Williams still is here.

And once again grasping a trophy.

The critics snipe and complain. The critics wonder why Venus, and younger sister Serena don't play that frequently, wonder why they get hurt now and then.

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CBS Sports: Wimbledon's woman of the decade takes five ... titles, that is

WIMBLEDON, England -- Every Williams for herself. Venus told us that. There would be no restrictions, no holding back. Even against Serena, her younger sister.

Venus would play tennis as well and with as much intensity as she could. And so she did. And so it is that Venus Williams is a champion once more.

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Oakland Tribune: Federer vs. Nadal in final? Can't wait to see what happens

WIMBLEDON, England -- Now let's see what happens. Roger Federer said exactly what the rest us are thinking.Now that the two best men's tennis players in the world have done what was expected, done what was predicted, have come to the ultimate match of the ultimate tournament, let's see what happens.

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CBS Sports: Federer vs. Nadal: Evidently, you can always get what you want

WIMBLEDON, England -- And so we get what we wanted, get what sports deserve. The best against the best, Celtics against Lakers, Tiger against Phil, Red Sox against Yankees.

Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal.

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CBS Sports: The outsiders: All-Williams final doesn't thrill everyone

WIMBLEDON, England -- The inevitable became the actual. The match that seemed destined is the match that will be played. Venus Williams against sister Serena in the Wimbledon final. They're elated.

But you sense not all of tennis is.

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Contra Costa Times: British Empire's great hope, Murray, raked by Rafa

WIMBLEDON, England -- The poets and poseurs tried to make it more than it was. It's always that way when an English athlete does somewhat well, always that way in a land where sporting success disappeared with the Empire.

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CBS Sports: Sadly for excited England, a day to eat, drink and beat Murray

WIMBLEDON, England -- It was too much for this little nation, the place Shakespeare called this sceptered isle, this happy breed of men. It was yet another sporting disappointment, a creation of dreams superseding reality.

Of course Rafael Nadal defeated Andy Murray in their Wimbledon men's quarterfinal Wednesday. One miracle was enough.

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San Mateo County Times: You want real controversy in sports? Come to England

WIMBLEDON, England - Trouble is local. We've been suffering with Barry Zito and Joe Blanton. Here in England, it's Christino Ronaldo. Along with the weather.But the weather is always trouble. As the great Jim Murray wrote more than once, the sun never rises on the British Empire.



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London Daily Telegraph: Ryder Cup: Tiger Woods' injury may be a blessing in disguise for the US team

He won't be there. The No 1 player in the world, the No 1 player on the United States points list, will not be at this September's Ryder Cup. Nor, as we learned, at the Open or the PGA Championship.

It is impossible to read the mind of Tiger Woods, but it is a decent guess that while the US team will miss Tiger, he won't miss the Cup competition that much.

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San Mateo County Times: Pain from Tiger's knee injury will be felt by many

This is always the fear, the worry. This is always the sword hanging by a thread.Any athlete, any sport, is beholden to his body. Talent and courage are no match for a torn ligament or a broken bone. Injuries happen to the best.

Now an injury has happened to Tiger Woods, the very best.

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San Mateo County Times: Tiger unquestionably one of a kind

THIS WAS a Sunday at Anaheim Stadium before a Monday night game between the Rams, the Los Angeles Rams, and the 49ers. That the dialogue occurred some time ago doesn't alter the intent. The chase for success is timeless.John Robinson was the Rams coach, and anticipating the unenviable task ahead, asked a journalist, "What does Joe Montana see the rest of us don't?''

That could be asked of any great athlete, any winner, any champion.

At this moment, that could be asked of Tiger Woods.

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London Daily Telegraph: US Open: Lee Westwood rues missed play-off

A beautiful morning for golf yesterday, cool breeze, some sunshine, good crowd. Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate took full advantage. Lee Westwood, unfortunately, could not.

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London Daily Telegraph: Justin Hicks' lead true to US Open tradition

Of course it was Justin Hicks. There's always a Justin Hicks in the US Open, although the name may be different. There's always the unsuspected golfer who takes the first-day lead while everyone is asking what happened to Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson.

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Oakland Tribune: Tiger, Phil star in Greatest Round Never Played

SAN DIEGO - A lot of hoopla. That's what one of the hoopla-ees, Adam Scott said. Not a lot of great golf, however. But we're so demanding. That was only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson out there with Scott. Like they're anybody special?

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Alameda Times-Star: The unknown awaits competitors at U.S. Open

SAN DIEGO - What's out there? Besides the unknown? Besides the unpredictable? The Roger Federer embarrassment in the French Open, the Big Brown collapse in the Belmont, the Lakers' two bad games in Boston against the Celtics?

A lot of weird things, unforeseen things, things that make you wonder what could happen in the U.S. Open, which begins today.

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Tri-Valley Herald: Spander: Top 10 predicted finishers in U.S. Open

1. Phil Mickelson - If Lefty can't win at home, he never will.

2. Tiger Woods - The knee's still sore; the player's still great.

3. Geoff Ogilvy - 2006 champion is 4th on current money list.

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London Daily Telegraph: US Open: Tiger Woods knee still in doubt

Tiger Woods, who had knee surgery on April 15, set alarm bells ringing yesterday when he said he had not walked 18 holes since he played in his last round of the Masters on April 13. Asked if he was fully recovered, he answered: "Probably not."

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Tri-Valley Herald: Golfing worlds collide for Tiger, Phil

SAN DIEGO - Tiger Woods' comments perhaps offered more than he intended. "Once you tee off,'' he said, "you're in your own little world.'' A world he doesn't intend to share. Even before he tees off.

Especially before he tees off.

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Contra Costa Times: Who will break through June Gloom to win U.S. Open?

SAN DIEGO - June Gloom. That's what they call it down here. Summer on the California coast, gray and mysterious. Fog on the bluffs above the Pacific where the Tiger stalks and hang gliders soar while down below surfers seek the magic wave.

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