Wimbledon at a glance

TODAY’S FEATURED MATCHES

(world rankings in parentheses)

Serena Williams (2) vs. Neuza Silva (155), Portugal

Williams doesn’t play grass-court tuneups; she said she tried once long ago but “It rained like 12 out of the five days I was there.” That might be the best meteorological assessment in Wimbledon history.

Roger Federer (2), Switzerland, vs. Yen-Hsun Lu (64), Chinese Taipei

They’ve never played. Lu is probably glad.

Maria Sharapova (59), Russia, vs. Viktoriya Kutuzova (80), Ukraine

Sharapova had no opinion on 1991 champion Michael Stich’s comment that female players shouldn’t grunt or shriek because it curbs their sex appeal. That’s probably because Sharapova is just so distraught that her grunting and shrieking have prevented her from getting any endorsements.

Andy Roddick (6) vs. Jeremy Chardy (43), France

Roddick tweeted Sunday that his new bride had arrived, so he’d had to listen to Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. Sometimes we can underestimate the degree to which, for these professionals, the court is an escape.

Marat Safin (23), Russia, vs. Jesse Levine (136)

Safin’s retirement tour continues. Those sobbing will include young women and old reporters.

James Blake (17) vs. Andreas Seppi (48), Italy

Under the rules, the post-draw withdrawal of a No. 1 player such as Rafael Nadal means the No. 5-seeded player (Juan Martin Del Potro) slides into the No. 1 player’s slot, while the one seeded 17th (Blake) slides into the No. 5 slot. If you knew this already, there’s a chance you’re a good candidate for some other interests.

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ENGLISH BREAKFAST

So much commotion surrounded Wimbledon resident Laura Robson’s junior girls’ title last year that a really shrewd person might have come to the conclusion that the British might not have won too many of these events too often in recent, oh, decades. So as Robson, age 15 years 5 months, plays No. 33 Daniela Hantuchova and becomes the youngest player in the main draw since Martina Hingis in 1995, the British press has been asking older players to advise Robson. The older players have shown their best sides and inspired us all, counseling Robson to enjoy the experience, when everybody knows the idea, as passed down by caring parents through the years, is to beat the pure living daylights out of the contemptible other player until her brain has turned to yard mulch.

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NEW ROOF UPDATE

The forecast called for sunshine today, potentially causing great disappointment to Centre Court spectators.

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STAT OF THE DAY

41 -- the number of players among the 256 in the men’s and women’s singles draws who hail from former nations of the Soviet Union, including 24 from Russia, five from Ukraine, four from Kazakhstan, three from Belarus, two each from Uzbekistan and Latvia, and one from Estonia.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

The five-time and two-time-defending champion Venus Williams, 58-7 across 12 previous Wimbledons, a sage at 29, on that first match at age 17 in 1997, a promising 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 loss against Poland’s Magdalena Grzybowska: “I remember the first time I played on grass, I think I just wanted to dive. That was the highlight, I guess, trying to dive. I don’t remember if I did or not, but when you’re growing up, you see all the players diving, and you think, I want a part of that. So that’s the first thing you want when you’re little.”

-- Chuck Culpepper