In Show of Strength, U.S. Women Collect Six Wins

Six American women rampaged through the singles draw at Wimbledon on Wednesday, the most who could have won. Perhaps it was because of the hot weather, which resembled a typical summer day in the United States, or maybe it was the beginning of a new wave of success. But the Americans looked right at home on the smooth grass of the All England Club.

The list of winners included Serena Williams and Venus Williams, sisters who inched closer to a fourth-round confrontation; Sloane Stephens; and Madison Keys, who finished off Stefanie Voegele in a match that was suspended on Tuesday because of darkness.(Djokovic, Serena Breeze Through)

But the Americans who scored the biggest upsets - CoCo Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands - are also often the most colorful and outspoken members of the American contingent. They did not disappoint in that regard, either, serving up compelling discourses on the problems facing the New York Knicks, and black wedding dresses.

Vandeweghe is one victory from reaching a personal best at a Grand Slam event after a 7-6 (5), 6-4 second-round victory over 11th-seeded Karolina Pliskova. Afterward, when asked about the Knicks, the team for which two of her relatives played, she eviscerated Carmelo Anthony as thoroughly as she disposed of her Czech opponent on the court.

A few hours later, the 158th-ranked Mattek-Sands, who had to fight her way through qualifying to get into the main draw, upset No. 7 Ana Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-4, and then criticized Wimbledon's all-white clothing policy.

One American woman had to lose on the day because Stephens was playing Lauren Davis, and Stephens won, 6-4, 6-4.

There were 16 American women entered in the singles draw, and seven are still alive, including the favorite, Serena Williams, who beat Timea Babos, 6-4, 6-1.

"A few years ago, I was being asked what happened to U.S.A. tennis, and I said it comes and goes," Mattek-Sands said. "There were a lot of younger players coming up that showed a lot of promise, and sure enough, we have a really strong contingent of American players."

On the men's side, No. 17-seeded John Isner defeated Matthew Ebden, 6-2, 7-6 (8), 6-4, and his fellow American Denis Kudla beat Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4. Kudla, 22, will next play 60th-ranked Santiago Giraldo instead of No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori, who withdrew with a calf injury.

Nishikori, a finalist in the U.S. Open last year, said he expected to be ready for the hardcourt season.

"It's very disappointing, especially since it's a Grand Slam," Nishikori said. "I thought I was playing well on grass. So, very unfortunate to lose this chance."

Otherwise, things went mostly according to expectations, except for the 96-degree temperature and a small fire that broke out in a maintenance room in the Centre Court building complex an hour after the stadium had been cleared of fans.

Earlier in the day, top-seeded Novak Djokovic gained a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jarkko Nieminen, who was playing his final Wimbledon. Then No. 9 Marin Cilic barely avoided disaster by beating 90th-ranked Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-5. On Court 1, No. 4 Stan Wawrinka beat V~CHECK~ctor Estrella Burgos in straight sets, and No. 7 Milos Raonic beat Tommy Haas, 6-0, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4).

They all wore white, of course, as did Mattek-Sands, who playfully criticized Wimbledon's strict clothing policy as boring. That was no surprise coming from a fashion maven who has a taste for neon and wore a black wedding gown.

"It's hard to be creative at Wimbledon," Mattek-Sands said.

But of course she tried. With her mesh tank top, white shorts and signature knee-high socks, she wore a get-up that a 1980s NBA star might have loved. Someone like Kiki Vandeweghe, for instance.

Kiki Vandeweghe is a former Knicks player and uncle of CoCo, who is also the granddaughter of Ernie Vandeweghe, another former Knick. This bloodline led naturally to questions about CoCo's favorite team.

CoCo Vandeweghe, who grew up on Long Island, was 11 years old when her uncle, then the general manager of the Denver Nuggets, drafted Anthony. CoCo said that made her a big fan of the star forward. But when pressed on her feelings about him more recently, she was uncompromising in her analysis.

"I just feel that Carmelo, he is a bit soft," she said. "Now, this is just my own personal opinion. I think he is soft. I don't think he has a killer instinct in his eyes, at least this last year. I believe he does have it, because I've seen it when they've gone to the playoffs."

With her powerful serve and meaty groundstrokes, Vandeweghe, 23, reached the third round of a Grand Slam event for the second time in her career, building on her performance at the Australian Open in January.

After that tournament, she achieved a ranking of 32, the highest of her career. Since then, she has not played as well, and she came into Wimbledon ranked 47th. But after two wins at the Eastbourne tournament last week and two victories here, she could be poised for a breakout.

"I want to be No. 1 in the world," Vandeweghe said. "That's my goal. Why not?"

She is a long way from that, but her ranking is certain to climb. Her next opponent is Samantha Stosur, the No. 22 seed. Vandeweghe beat Stosur the last two times they met, at the Australian Open and in Miami last year. Vandeweghe has already spent more time at Wimbledon than ever before, and an appearance in the fourth round is there for the taking.

During her lengthening stay at Wimbledon, Vandeweghe has moved in with family friends from Long Island who are also big Knicks fans, she said. They have spent time discussing the team's draft pick, Kristaps Porzingis, and while her host family supports the pick, Vandeweghe remains uncertain. She wants to see more.

"I just want a winning season," she said.

She was talking about the Knicks, but it applied to herself, as well.