Murray mania mounts, Djokovic flies under the radar and more mail

Scottish hope Andy Murray survived a five-set challenge to reach the Wimbledon quarters. Simon Bruty/SI 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

WIMBLEDON, England -- While marveling at Venus Williams's play on grass....

Any chance an Andy Murray-Roger Federer final could outdo last year's final in terms of being the greatest match of all time in a historical sense? I would think a Brit going for the title for the first time in years up against Federer's history is miles ahead of hype for last year.
-- Russell P., Norwalk, Iowa

My kneejerk answer is no. Part of what made the 2008 final so special was the astronomically high level of play. But it was also the context. Here were two players, at the peak of their powers, playing the Wimbledon final for the third straight time. Four weeks earlier they had played in Paris. A win by Nadal would mean toppling the king and, almost assuredly becoming No. 1. A win by Federer would have meant a sixth straight title. Regardless of what would happen with Federer and Murray the final -- hypothetical at this point -- couldn't reproduce this texture.

And yet ... you can hardly exaggerate the hype for Murray. Covers of the newspapers. Lead stories on television. Letters from the queen. How's this for a bail-out answer. Globally, it's still Federer-Nadal. But in the UK (and in Centre Court) Murray playing The Mighty Federer would be big in a Beatles-at-JFK kind of way.

With all the attention paid to Federer, Murray, Ivo Karlovic and his many aces, and of course the absence of Nadal, seems like Novak Djokovic is flying under the radar. I have heard very little mention of him, but he is running through his matches, losing only a set thus far. Why not Novak this year?
-- Jeff, Frisco, Texas

Djokovic, Djokovic, Djokovic. Why's that name familiar. Feel like I know him but can't place the face. What summer camp did he go to? After an up and down year (really 18 months) Djokovic has been lights out here. No struggles whatsoever, no drama. Just clean, efficient tennis. Granted, you can't ask for a better week two opponent than Dudi Sela, but Djokovic has really impressed. You still have to consider Federer the favorite -- five titles and all. But Djokovic, who gets a Halle rematch with Tommy Haas tomorrow, is right there with Murray and Andy Roddick on that next plane.

WTA Outrage? Are you kidding? Have you been to the WTA Web site lately? They're the ones hawking all the come hither, sex kitten photos. It's surprising they don't encourage time outs to have make-up artists come on court for touch-ups. Whatever.
-- Helen, Seattle

Hmm. Funny, an esteemed former Wimbledon women's singles champion --not usually recognized for reactionary views -- made the identical point to me yesterday. Yes, you give up some ground on this issue when you sex up your players. (Even the daily programs here contain an ad for the WTA sponsor Whirlpool featuring a half dozen players wearing only towels with come-hither looks.) We've often complained that in recent years, the WTA has been long on cash and short on soul. Here's another example.

But think of this from the perspective of the players considered "less attractive." Despite your ranking or seeding, you're banished to lesser courts because you happen not to look like Gisela Dulko? Apart from insult, you could even argue you're being put at a competitive disadvantage. Unless the troll-like men --you know, like Fernando Verdasco or Tommy Haas or Marat Safin, yeesh looks like someone hit those guys in a face with a bag of nickels -- get demoted, this "policy" stinks.

Wimbledon Podcast: Quarters Jon Wertheim and Richard Deitsch talk Wimbledon. Right click here to download

Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Haas? What year is it again? 2002?
-- Yves, Montreal

Imagine if Venus and Serena Williams were still around and winning. Then it would really feel like turn-back-the-clock week.

If all of the WTA players were to enter an arm-wrestling tournament, who would win? I am thinking Serena, Safina, and Samantha Stosur would have to be the favorites. My money is on Safina.
-- Larry Rollins, East Setauket, N.Y.

Michelle Obama.

Dinara Safina so far has defied all predictions of a post-French meltdown. I like the way she put out a resurgent Amelie Mauresmo who was playing some pretty snappy tennis. OK, she'll likely play Venus ... blow out or interesting match?
-- Jennifer J Christoffersen, Marietta, Ga.

Amen. I can't see Safina beating Venus. But nice recovery after her Paris meltdown. Since becoming No. 1, she reached the final of one Major and the semis (at least) one other.

Last Wimbledon for both Safin and Fabrice Santoro. What is the likelihood of one or both of them getting into the Tennis Hall of Fame?
-- Rajesh Sonak, Sterling, Va.

Santoro should get his own wing as far as we're concerned. Seriously, couldn't they make some kind of honorary wing for the good people who contribute to the sport in ways other than big titles?

It's been a while since you've fielded a hall of fame inquiry. Seeing that Ai Sugiyama had glided into the third round out on Court 18, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad that there likely is no place for a player like her under the current hall regime. A slew of doubles titles, including several grand slams, longevity (17 years and counting, 61 grand slam main draws and counting), time inside the top 10 in singles -- still, don't you think her chances of enshrinement are slim at best under the current regime? It really is too bad there isn't a "doubles wing" for fine contributors to the sport like Ai.
-- Shaun R., Boston

Under the current format, even with the one-slam-and-you're-almost-in criteria, Sugiyama falls short. But maybe we find room for her in the "Santoro Wing." Can't Eli Broad or Ron Burkle or the Prtizkers pony up the cash?

Shots, miscellany

• Christina Davis of Boston: If Murray wins his next two matches and plays Federer in the final, he will have faced three consecutive former No. 1s in a row!

• Not be outdone, Blake Redabaugh of Denver: With Ferrero, Hewitt, Roddick, Djokovic and Federer making the quarters it marks the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that five-former major champions reached the final eight of a major.

• Pam Kultgen Overland Park, Kans. will be here all week: With all the mono going around both the men's and women's locker rooms, is it time for Purel to become a major sponsor of the ATP and WTA?

• An essay from FOM, Zach Kleiman.

• The USTA announced the launch of OlympusUSOpenSeries.com, which will feature enhanced content and increased integration with social media Web sites. The Web site will be the primary information hub for the US Open Series.

• Tennis Channel will be honored for its ongoing contribution to tennis with the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, at the 29th annual "Legends Ball" on Friday, September 11, 2009 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

• Anthony of Ridgefield: First Martina Navratilova, now Chris Evert. Perception is indeed reality.

• Ivan H. of New York, N.Y. with today's Long Lost Siblings:

Two fierce, hungry individuals: Andy Murray and Jaws.

To order a copy of Jon Wertheim's new book, Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played, click here.