In a match delayed by rain, James Blake of the United States eliminated the top seed in the men’s singles tennis competition, Roger Federer of Switzerland in straight sets. The win was surprising since Blake has only beat Federer once in their last eight matches.

Federer is having an off year. He lost to Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the French Open and at Wimbledon. Nadal won his Olympic match today, defeating Austria’s Jurgen Melzer.

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Blake Defeats Federer in Tennis Upset

Kristin Armstrong of the United States won the 14.6-mile cycling time trial event on Wednesday, with a time of 34:51.72. She is just the second American woman to win cycling Gold in Olympic history. Emma Pooley of Great Britain took the Silver Medal and Karin Thurig of Switzerland took the Bronze.

Armstrong, who just just turned 35 on Monday, was the 2006 world champion and the 2007 silver medalist in the world championships. She didn’t compete in the time trial event in Athens.

In the men’s cycling time trial event, two-time world champion, Fabian Cancellera of Switzerland took the Gold Medal, navigating the 47.3km (29.4 mile) course in 1:2:11.43. Gustav Larsson of Sweden earned the Silver Medal and Levi Leipheimer of the United States earned the Bronze.

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Amstrong Wins Women’s Cycling Time Trial

Despite the rain delays on Sunday, the top seeds in the mens and womens Olympic tennis competition managed to get their matches in and advance to the next round on Monday.

Top-seeded mens player, Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated Russia\’s Dmitry Tursunov easily 6-4, 6-2. Number two seed, Spain\’s Rafael Nadal, who defeated Federer at Wimbledon and the French Open this year, had a more difficult time. He prevailed, however, over Italy\’s Potito Starace in three sets: 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

In the women\’s competition, the Williams sisters of the United States both defeated their opponents. Venus, seeded #7, beat Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 6-3, 6-2. Her sister Serena, who is seeded #4, defeated Olga Govortsova of Belraus 6-3, 6-1. The Williams sisters won Gold in Athens playing together in the womens double competition.

Two American men, Robby Ginepri and Sam Querrey, were eliminated, leaving just James Blake to play for the United States in the mens competition.

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Day Three Olympic Tennis Results

It’s a list of the qualified countries divided into groups which will play during the finals group stage that can somehow be translated to a “how-to-get-rid-of-World-Cup-wannabes” process.

There is a mixture of opinions and emotions about the draw. I reckon particularly in Australia since it’s their first time to qualify for the World Cup in years only to get Brazil in the draw or England who got Sweden, a team they haven’t beaten in 37 years. But you’ll never know. I do believe that anything can happen.

Anyway, I’ve listed the Draw results so you can go see for yourself.

GROUP A

Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

GROUP B

England
Paraguay
Trinidad & Tobago
Sweden

GROUP C

Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Holland

GROUP D

Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

GROUP E

Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

GROUP F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

GROUP G

France
Switzerland
South Korea
Togo

GROUP H

Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Image: BBC

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The Draw