Second-seeded Rafael Nadal was masterful against Andy Murray in the quarterfinals. Reuters Jon Wertheim's Mailbag Jon Wertheim will answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag every Wednesday. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jon Wertheim on Twitter

For Wertheim's audio roundup of today's matches, click here or scroll down below.

Would you really consider Rafael Nadal to be the second best grass court player, or are players like Andy Roddick/Mario Ancic (big servers) simply making him look good by playing so poorly? Plus: Is there anyway to get Nadal to stop biting trophies? It looks very contrived.
-- Ray Vinson, Hampton, Va.

I'm watching Nadal make Andy Murray look positively silly and I say unequivocally that he is the second-best grass courter. We knew he competes with almost scary intensity. We knew he defends peerlessly. We knew his lefty sidewinders give everyone trouble. But this year, he's really playing like a modern-day grass courter.

Alright, Jon. I was on board when you first called the Yammerin' Jank on the mat for her seemingly constant drama. Your snide remarks re: her need for a "medic-alert bracelet," however, were uncalled-for, and frankly, a low blow. No one was likely more disappointed by her injuries than Jelena Jankovic herself. In light of her good humor and candor (sorely missing at the top of the game, IMHO), I say give the girl a free pass 'til next time. What do you say?
-- Dustin Chad Alligood, Perry, Ga.

I totally agree that her candor -- and even something as simple as her smiling -- is appreciated. Listen, the medic-alert line wasn't meant to be snide at all. She's an absolute physical wreck -- and she would be the first to confirm this. She's in her mid-20s and has already required enough medical attention to bankrupt an HMO. She's had ankle and shoulder injuries and nasal surgery. In Paris, she needed to fly back to home between matches to receive treatment on a bum elbow. Here, she lost largely on account of a dodgy knee.

My point was this: instead of complaining about something as trivial as court placement, wouldn't she be better served expressing outrage at the causes of her injuries. From where I sit, players are breaking down like old racehorses and no one seems to care. If I were Jankovic, I'd be demanding answers about that, not where my fourth-round match happened to held.

As long as we are talking equal treatment, can we stop the tennis media and commentators from referring to all women players as "girls?" I don't hear anyone calling Federer or Nadal "boys." It's incredibly patronizing to hear people refer to 27-year-old Venus Williams as girl.
-- Dan, Tel-Aviv

Agreed, but I would feel more strongly about this if the players didn't refer to each other that way. This example -- one of many -- is from last week.

Are you annoyed or angry that injury and pain seem to be such a prominent part of the job?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think I just accept it. You know, I gave up trying to fight the fight about having an 11-month or 10-month season a few years ago... For me, I look at it like, Gosh, I played so many years. I'm so lucky that I'm still out there. There's a lot of other girls around my age that haven't been able to retake the court, so I feel like I'm lucky in some regard.

Or this from yesterday:

When you come in here, you're seeded 6 and 7, everybody is talking about other players, the belief that you can win all the time has driven you forward?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, I always believe I can win. When I lose no one is more disappointed than I am. I feel like I've been working really hard lately ... I feel like, you know, I deserve this, because I don't think anyone's been working harder than me, except for maybe Venus. I mean, that girl works even harder than I do

Just to reassure you: Murray flexing his biceps had nothing to do with Nadal. He referred to the results of hard, long fitness-training in recent months. A couple of years ago, he got a lot of criticism for not being fit enough, hence losing long five-setters. It was almost like he acknowledged the critics right then, and was now saying: Hey, look, I did something about it, and it worked. Just thought I'd clear it up before it starts an anti-Murray movement or something...
-- Christian Kunze Zwolle, Netherlands

Right on. He spoke about that in the press conference (as he ate sushi). Deceptively ripped biceps, too, I thought.

Jon, you wrote: "At least it's never been easier to redeem those frequent flier miles ... I'd like a 25,000 mile ticket from Peoria to Yuma in 2011." Could I suggest the 3.10 to Yuma? Maybe not silver service first class, but certainly 4-star business class!
-- Simon Angilley Devonport, Tas, Australia

Man, that was a good response.

I've read several articles discussing several players' lack of cordiality. I'm sure you've addressed this before in the past, but based on today's players, can you rank the friendliest and those left to be desired?
-- Fred Barron, Foster City, Calif.

Obviously it's subjective. Alla Kudryavtseva's remarks left the distinct impression that Maria Sharapova is not Miss Cordiality among her peers. But from everything I've heard, both locker rooms are a lot friendlier places than they once were. I think a lot of this is top down: when Federer and Nadal are social guys who hang out with others, converse with the doubles players and have no air of social superiority, it trickles down. Also, at least for the men, I think the political morass with the ATP has hardened bonds among players.

My newest "most entertaining player to watch" designation goes to Elena Dementieva. She is like an Indiana Jones cliffhanger. I don't like her chances against either Williams but watching her dominate/implode is great theater.
-- Neil Grammer, Toronto

No argument here. I was watching the match yesterday with Tom Perrotta, who expressed an affinity for flawed players. This is a classic case. Dementieva's serve is, of course, highly fragile. She gets it in, though, and suddenly she looks great, moving to every ball and ripping groundies. Then the match tightens and she loses her head. (Between Dementieva and Roddick, what's up with players admitting to having choked?) Sometimes she recovers, sometimes she doesn't. Either way, you get your money's worth.

How did you do in the TAT suicide pool? Still alive? Inquiring minds want to know.
-- John Gibney, Richmond, Va.

Dead. Honestly, I can't remember who took me out on the women's side. On the men's side, crazy me, I thought Boris Pashanski -- no world-beater, but a reputable pro -- may have been able to get past Chris Eaton, a qualifier with a ranking of 661.

Happy World Sports Journalist Day, Jon. Talking of annoying names, I think "The Open Championship" should be the winners (!).
-- Parixit Gokhale, Mumbai, India

Thanks for remembering. No need to send a gift. My new annoying phrase: "Consolidate the break."

London Calling

Here's my take on Day 10 at Wimbledon.

Shots, miscellany

• Thanks to Adam Ross of Seattle for this primer: "OK, as a high school Chinese teacher and a tennis fan, I have to finally set the record straight... the ways both the chair umpire in the quarterfinal match and you pronounce 'Zheng Jie' in your online report are not correct. I know Chinese sounds are not easy to learn, but if the Chinese continue doing well in tennis, and if the eyes of the world are all going to be on Beijing next month, we're going to have to do a better job of learning to pronounce Chinese names. I mean, heck, if we can learn to pronounce names like Djokovic and Kudryavtseva, we can do the same for the Chinese, right?

Anyway...for 'Zheng' say 'junk' but get rid of the final 'k' so it rhymes with 'young.' For 'Jie,' say 'yeah' and add a 'j' sound to the beginning of the syllable so that you get 'jyeah' and not 'jee.' Got it? Good!"

• Several of you noted Chris Russo and his take on women's tennis.

• The ITF announced today the direct acceptance list for the 2008 Olympic Tennis Event in singles and doubles. For both men and women, this is the strongest field ever to enter the Olympic Tennis Event since tennis returned as a full medal sport in Seoul 1988. Go to ITF site for the full list.

• This reads suspiciously like a plug, but what the heck. Split Infinitive of Hyderabad, India: "The top tennis players' Olympics aspirations in pictures in a new coffee table book released by the ITF. Awesome photos -- Rajah Fed as a fencer, Sharapova as a gymnast, and my fave -- Serena as a figure skater..."

• Gigi of Valdosta, Ga. gives us more long-lost siblings: Julio Iglesias, Jr. and Rafael Nadal.