Former Gators in spotlight at Wimbledon

Former Gator tennis standouts Jill Craybas, Jesse Levine and Lisa Raymond are among the main draws at Wimbledon this week at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Raymond, the veteran of the group, is attempting to win her 10th Grand Slam title, including a third Wimbledon title. The 1992 and 1993 NCAA singles champion has won five Ladies' Doubles Grand Slam titles and four Mixed Doubles championships. This year, Raymond pairs with Vera Zvonareva in the Ladies’ draw and Marcin Matkowski in the Mix Doubles event.

The 1996 NCAA Singles Champion, Craybas began her ninth Wimbledon singles appearance with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL), before falling to No. 26-seeded Virginie Razzano (FRA), 6-3, 6-0 in the second round. Craybas also is competing in the Ladies Doubles draw with Carly Gullickson and the Mixed Doubles event with Jeff Coetzee. Craybas’ best Wimbledon singles showing came in 2005, when she marched into the fourth round. She reached the third round of the 2007 doubles draw.

Levine produced the biggest upset in the opening round of the men’s draw with his 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over tennis legend Marat Safin (RUS), who was playing in his final Wimbledon. Levine also reached Wimbledon’s second round last year. He will play Pablo Cuevas (URU) in the next round.