Wimbledon takeaways at the midway point

LONDON — As tradition holds, Wimbledon goes dark on Middle Sunday, a day of rest for the tournament's lush courts. It's a chance to look back at the week that was and the week still to come, with all 16 men's and women's fourth-round matches set for Manic Monday and the start of week two.

Adios, Rafa

For the fourth consecutive year Rafael Nadal wasn't able to sink his teeth deep into the grounds of the All England Club, the Spaniard victim this time to a 102nd-ranked qualifier named Dustin Brown. Brown used a hit-and-charge strategy against Nadal, producing a long highlight reel of acrobatic shots on his way to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Serena survives

Serena Williams was provided a similar scare the day after Nadal, but the American came through in her contest with British No. 1 Heather Watson, a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 winner, having been two points from defeat. The win sets up the most anticipated match of the tournament: Serena vs. Venus in the fourth round, their first meeting at Wimbledon since 2009 and 26th career clash overall.

Bottoming out

Defending champion Petra Kvitova joined Nadal in the shock column, bowing out in the third round to former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, the No. 28 seed, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. The bottom half of the women's draw lost plenty of star power in the first six days, including No. 3 seed Simona Halep and 2014 finalist Genie Bouchard, both first-round losers.

Kyrgios and controversy

Another year, another run from youngster Nick Kyrgios. The Australian who stunned Nadal here last year has continued his climb up the tennis ladder, this time registering an impressive four-set victory over No. 7 seed Milos Raonic to reach round four. But the kid isn't without his controversy: Microphones caught him berating a chair umpire during his second-round match, and his abrasive (charismatic?) style has set the tennis world afire with discussion of "super brat" or "magnetic personality." What's your call?

Red, white and grass lovers

CoCo Vandeweghe used her big serve to fuel her to a first-ever Grand Slam fourth round, the American (and niece of former NBA player KikiVandeweghe) beating No. 11 seed Karolina Pliskova and 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur along the way. She and Denis Kudla, ranked No. 105 in the world, join Madison Keys and the Williams sisters as the only Americans to make week two. Kudla, who played a series of Challenger events in Asia on hard courts in May, is 12-1 on grass this year and faces U.S. Open champ Marin Cilic next.

Heat wave, London style

Temperatures soared well above average on Tuesday and Wednesday, topping out at 94 degrees as the whole of Britain seemed to melt under the sun. But the players saw the hot conditions as perfect on the court, few of them complaining as a nation rushed to its hats and sunscreen. "It's difficult to think about a better day to play tennis here in Wimbledon," Nadal said on Tuesday after his first-round win. Week two forecasts are comfortable: the 70s and 80s, with little chance for rain.

Venus vs. Serena, part XXVI

It's the earliest Williams sisters meeting at a major since 2005, when Venus beat Serena in the fourth round at the U.S. Open. Serena is still in contention for the calendar Grand Slam, the 33-year-old having won titles at the Australian and French Opens already this season. Venus, on the other hand, is looking for a first major title since 2008, when she last won here. "No matter how Serena's playing, she knows how to win," Venus said. "I think I'm playing very well. ... I just have to keep that up."

Andy, Roger, Novak, Stan stay on course

Nadal may be out, but the top four seeds aren't, including world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, seven-time champion Roger Federer, British hope and 2013 champion Andy Murray and surprise French Open winner Stan Wawrinka. Murray and Djokovic were tipped as favorites coming in, but no one man's form has set him apart from the field, Murray the lone among the four to drop a set over their first three matches. Djokovic and Wawrinka are two wins from a semifinal battle; Federer and Murray are due to meet in the final four.

Follow Nick McCarvel on Twitter @NickMcCarvel.

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