LONDON (Reuters) – Favorite Maria Sharapova served 13 double faults in just 87 minutes yet still set up a Wimbledon final against Petra Kvitova after beating Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-3 in an error-strewn semi-final on Thursday.

The Russian fifth seed, who won the grasscourt grand slam in 2004, slipped 3-0 down to the German wildcard in the first set but found her groove as her opponent battled with nerves.

“She played really well and I did quite the opposite,” the Russian said in a televised interview.

In truth neither player ever really got going, a combined count of 32 unforced errors telling the tale of a match that barely captivated a far from full Center Court as mobile phones went off toward the end.

Sharapova will not care given she had not reached the final since her 2004 triumph.

“To be in the final again is a great achievement for me. I haven’t got past the fourth round in quite a few years,” she said.

Several spots of rain fell in the second set, Lisicki pausing briefly to enquire whether it was safe to continue, but the showers stayed away and play continued.

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) – Favourite Maria Sharapova served 13 double faults in just 87 minutes yet still set up a Wimbledon final against Petra Kvitova after beating Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-3 in an error-strewn semi-final on Thursday.

The Russian fifth seed, who won the grasscourt grand slam in 2004, slipped 3-0 down to the German wildcard in the first set but found her groove as her opponent battled with nerves.

“She played really well and I did quite the opposite,” the Russian said in a televised interview.

In truth neither player ever really got going, a combined count of 32 unforced errors telling the tale of a match that barely captivated a far from full Centre Court as mobile phones went off towards the end.

Sharapova will not care given she had not reached the final since her 2004 triumph.

“To be in the final again is a great achievement for me. I haven’t got past the fourth round in quite a few years,” she said.

Several spots of rain fell in the second set, Lisicki pausing briefly to enquire whether it was safe to continue, but the showers stayed away and play continued.

LONDON (Reuters) – John Tomic’s passion for tennis and his family knows no bounds, occasionally landing him in hot water, but his methods have produced arguably the game’s next big thing and he says there is more to come.

His 18-year-old son Bernard made a big splash at a rainy Wimbledon by reaching the quarter-finals but the coach and father reckons his daughter Sara could “dominate” tennis even more.

“His sister is 13 and she will be better than him. She’s a better talent,” the burly Croatian, who moved his family to Australia from Germany in the 1990s, told Reuters.

“She’s number one in Australia for her age. She’s in the under-14 squad. I have people working with her and she’s in very good hands.”

Sara must be good if she rivals Bernard, who became the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Boris Becker in 1986 and gave world number two Novak Djokovic a tough test before succumbing in four sets.

“In the next one and a half to two years when Bernard is more physically complete, I think he will dominate. There will be more variety of shots which will be very hard for his opponents to read,” his dad said.

Tennis players’ parents have long caused controversy.

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) – John Tomic’s passion for tennis and his family knows no bounds, occasionally landing him in hot water, but his methods have produced arguably the game’s next big thing and he says there is more to come.

His 18-year-old son Bernard made a big splash at a rainy Wimbledon by reaching the quarter-finals but the coach and father reckons his daughter Sara could “dominate” tennis even more.

“His sister is 13 and she will be better than him. She’s a better talent,” the burly Croatian, who moved his family to Australia from Germany in the 1990s, told Reuters.

“She’s number one in Australia for her age. She’s in the under-14 squad. I have people working with her and she’s in very good hands.”

Sara must be good if she rivals Bernard, who became the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Boris Becker in 1986 and gave world number two Novak Djokovic a tough test before succumbing in four sets.

“In the next one and a half to two years when Bernard is more physically complete, I think he will dominate. There will be more variety of shots which will be very hard for his opponents to read,” his dad said.

Tennis players’ parents have long caused controversy.

LONDON (Reuters) – Mardy Fish bowed out to world number one Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday to end American interest in the Wimbledon singles but in the shape of Ryan Harrison the U.S. has hope for the future.

The 19-year-old is poised to move up by around 20 places from his latest ranking of 122nd and after a five-set tussle with seventh seed David Ferrer in the second round he is brimming with confidence.

“I can play with anyone if I’m playing well,” he told Reuters.

“I feel like my game has the firepower to play with anyone. I’ve had a couple of matches, against Roger (Federer) at Indian Wells I had some chances in the tiebreak,” he said of his 7-6 6-3 loss to the 16-times grand slam champion in March.

“Then against (Robin) Soderling at the French Open I had some chances in the fourth set to push a fifth set, so I’ve had some good matches against guys in the top 10.”

Compatriots above Harrison in the rankings include American number one and ninth-ranked Fish and 2003 U.S. Open champion and his mentor Andy Roddick.

While fully aware Harrison has a long way to go, Roddick said the youngster has what it takes to revitalise the game in the U.S.

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) – Mardy Fish bowed out to world number one Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday to end American interest in the Wimbledon singles but in the shape of Ryan Harrison the U.S. has hope for the future.

The 19-year-old is poised to move up by around 20 places from his latest ranking of 122nd and after a five-set tussle with seventh seed David Ferrer in the second round he is brimming with confidence.

“I can play with anyone if I’m playing well,” he told Reuters.

“I feel like my game has the firepower to play with anyone. I’ve had a couple of matches, against Roger (Federer) at Indian Wells I had some chances in the tiebreak,” he said of his 7-6 6-3 loss to the 16-times grand slam champion in March.

“Then against (Robin) Soderling at the French Open I had some chances in the fourth set to push a fifth set, so I’ve had some good matches against guys in the top 10.”

Compatriots above Harrison in the rankings include American number one and ninth-ranked Fish and 2003 U.S. Open champion and his mentor Andy Roddick.

While fully aware Harrison has a long way to go, Roddick said the youngster has what it takes to revitalise the game in the U.S.

LONDON (Reuters) – Bernard Tomic has displayed so much confidence in his dream run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals that it was no surprise by his bullish assessment of his career prospects following the qualifier’s four-set defeat by Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.

“I definitely think I have the game, and if I get the mental state, to win a major in the next hopefully two years,” the 18-year-old told reporters after his 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5 loss.

Father and coach John agreed but said it was only the beginning for his young charge.

“It’s a very great tournament for Bernard. Eleven years of hard work are paying off now and he’s showing the world he can be a really top player,” he told Reuters.

“We will not relax. We will continue to work hard.”

Australia’s Tomic, the world number 158 when the tournament started, is set to rise into the 70s next week and could have rocketed even further up the rankings had illness not led to a shaky start against the Serbian.

“I had a bit of a congestion last night and I didn’t sleep as good,” Tomic said.

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) – Bernard Tomic has displayed so much confidence in his dream run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals that it was no surprise by his bullish assessment of his career prospects following the qualifier’s four-set defeat by Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.

“I definitely think I have the game, and if I get the mental state, to win a major in the next hopefully two years,” the 18-year-old told reporters after his 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5 loss.

Father and coach John agreed but said it was only the beginning for his young charge.

“It’s a very great tournament for Bernard. Eleven years of hard work are paying off now and he’s showing the world he can be a really top player,” he told Reuters.

“We will not relax. We will continue to work hard.”

Australia’s Tomic, the world number 158 when the tournament started, is set to rise into the 70s next week and could have rocketed even further up the rankings had illness not led to a shaky start against the Serbian.

“I had a bit of a congestion last night and I didn’t sleep as good,” Tomic said.

LONDON (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal’s coach’s mood changed when he found out the world number one was scheduled to play on uncovered Court One for his quarter-final against Mardy Fish on Wednesday.

“Court One? That’s the worst thing possible for us. If I could choose it would be more logical to play on Center,” Toni Nadal told reporters after his nephew came through a hitting session following a scan on his foot injury.

That the defending champion can play at all is a relief to tennis fans after the images of a distressed Nadal during his fourth-round duel with Juan Martin Del Potro and the Spaniard will have to be on peak form against the sharp-serving Fish.

Opening up on Center Court will be six-times winner Roger Federer against the dangerous Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France before home hope Andy Murray takes on serve-volleyer Feliciano Lopez, the Spaniard with the Hollywood looks.

First up on Court One are hitting partners Novak Djokovic and Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic, the youngest men’s quarter-finalist since 1986 who has captured the world’s attention with his broad repertoire of shots.

Tomic has won the opening sets in his last two matches in 17 and 21 minutes and Djokovic will have to start well if he wants to end the world number 158′s dream run.

“When you’re in the quarter-finals and the pressure’s on you, strange things happen,” 1987 champion Pat Cash told Reuters.

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal’s coach’s mood changed when he found out the world number one was scheduled to play on uncovered Court One for his quarter-final against Mardy Fish on Wednesday.

“Court One? That’s the worst thing possible for us. If I could choose it would be more logical to play on Centre,” Toni Nadal told reporters after his nephew came through a hitting session following a scan on his foot injury.

That the defending champion can play at all is a relief to tennis fans after the images of a distressed Nadal during his fourth-round duel with Juan Martin Del Potro and the Spaniard will have to be on peak form against the sharp-serving Fish.

Opening up on Centre Court will be six-times winner Roger Federer against the dangerous Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France before home hope Andy Murray takes on serve-volleyer Feliciano Lopez, the Spaniard with the Hollywood looks.

First up on Court One are hitting partners Novak Djokovic and Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic, the youngest men’s quarter-finalist since 1986 who has captured the world’s attention with his broad repertoire of shots.

Tomic has won the opening sets in his last two matches in 17 and 21 minutes and Djokovic will have to start well if he wants to end the world number 158′s dream run.

“When you’re in the quarter-finals and the pressure’s on you, strange things happen,” 1987 champion Pat Cash told Reuters.