ANOTHER SERENA SLAM AND FEDERER RESURGENCE

Wimbledon Excitement: At age 33, Serena Williams is again in possession, for the second time, of all four women's Grand Slam titles at the same time for what is known as the Serena Slam. No woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 has won the calendar year Grand Slam, something Serena can accomplish by winning the U.S. Open in September. A victory in Queens would also tie her with Steffi Graf for a record twenty-two Grand Slam singles titles won entirely in the Open era. Margaret Court owns the all-time mark at twenty-four, but more than half of those were won prior to professionals entering the scene. But back to the present and one incredible athlete. Serena Williams continues to perform and dominate at a very high level, beating younger players with relative ease. Not only is she in the conversation about the greatest female athlete of all time, Serena definitely deserves mention for the most dominant athlete, regardless of gender. It's not just the numbers that put her in that category, but the way she wins. Her serve is unstoppable, her ability to win big points unmatched. She's been in twenty-five Grand Slam finals, coming out victorious in twenty-one of them. That is an incredible record, considering her career was in jeopardy not so long ago. And on top of it all, she seems like a genuinely nice and gracious woman. As for me, I'll be rooting for Serena and for history come September. Meanwhile, another 33 year-old, thought to be over the hill a couple of years ago, will be playing Novak Djokovic in the men's final. Roger Federer, whose seventeenth Grand Slam win came in this tournament in 2012, unexpectedly has a chance to add to his own record-setting career total. Andy Murray was run over by Federer, losing in straight sets in an effort to win a second consecutive Wimbledon crown. But that won't be happening, instead Federer will be taking on the world's number one player in an attempt to notch an eighth win on the fabled grass surface. I would have to make Djokovic a slight favorite, but in nine prior trips to the finals, Federer has only lost twice. This could be an epic match. At least I hope it is.

Don't forget to check out my new book, "Roughing the Passer - A PK Frazier Novel" and my first, "Illegal Procedure - A PK Frazier Novel", available in print and e-formats at Amazon.com, iBooks and Smashwords. The third installment, "Offsetting Penalties" is due out in the fall.