By James Borg · June 26, 2009 · 1:46 PM

LONDON -- The fifth day of the Championships here and we're down to the last 32. But there was a strange feeling here at the grounds today before matches started, as all the talk this morning was connected with the sad news about Michael Jackson.

Normally a buzz surrounds the conversations relating to the matches, but it was different buzz today from the public, the press, the players, commentators off-air, security staff, and officials. Whatever one's feelings, the impact of this superstar on popular culture over the decades was huge.

Getting tickets for Wimbledon has always been a challenge. They would sell out in minutes if it were not for the fact that they are obtained through the laborious yearly public ballot. Few entertainers could match the sell-out of a concert "Wimbledon" style - but that's exactly what Michael Jackson did for his comeback concerts that were due to take place here at London's 02 Arena next month. All 50 of them sold out in minutes. Sadly, it's not to be. His family and friends said today that he died from a massive heart attack caused by the pressure to perform in London. They said that he was pushed too hard physically in preparation for the comeback concerts.

Turning back to tennis after this terrible turn of events. Serena Williams, who had conceded a mere nine games in two rounds, was in confident mood. It's been six years since she took the last title here, but she has been saying all week that this will be her year. Today was her 200th career Grand Slam match. She was up against little known Roberta Vinci, an Italian ranked No. 53. Well, she was mostly in control of affairs from the start as her opponent lost her serve twice in a row in the opening of the set. It enabled Williams to take it 6-3 in just 29 minutes. The second set saw the Italian girl lose her serve to love at the beginning of the set. A loss of serve by Williams in the sixth game after double faulting twice did not cause too many problems for her as she took the match after winning the second set 6-4.

Serena had to dash after the match to get ready for a doubles with sister Venus with not much time to answer questions about her performance but very quickly relayed her sad thoughts relating to Michael Jackson whom she knew very well:

"He was a great person. Really very nice. It's a sad loss for the world - not just in music, but in general. He was a really big tennis fan; he followed everyone and everything.... It's so surreal to be talking about him in the past tense. I loved his music. I even followed the Jackson Five. Like I said, it's so surreal. It's really sad. I was in awe of him."

With genuine humility, she declined to answer a question inviting any comparison between her and her sister's iconic status in the world of tennis and that of Michael Jackson. "I wouldn't even mention my name and his in the same sentence at all." She continued: "I think any celebrity who met him was completely in awe. So for me he was the celebrity of all celebrities. He did things that no one else did. Words can't express my shock and horror."

Her favorite Michael Jackson song? His 1987 duet with Sieda Garrett, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

Ivo Karlovic - the tallest man ever on the tour at 6 foot 10 - was up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Any match with Karlovic involves aces and tiebreaks. Today's was no different as he squeezed through the match 7-6 6-7 7-5 7-6 and finished off with an ace. The giant Croat sent down a total of 46 aces as the ninth seed found himself totally outgunned. Asked afterward if he could ever improve on that number of aces in another match? "Of course." He next faces seventh seed Fernando Verdasco in the last 16 after the Spaniard beat compatriot Albert Montanes.

Robin Soderling, who lost to Roger Federer in the French Open final after putting a halt to Rafael Nadal Œs four-year run of success there as champion, was playing the Spanish clay court specialist Nicolas Almagro. The Swede, Soderling got through after winning a tight first set which went to a tie-break (9-7) and then edged past with the other two sets at 6-4 6-4.

Roger Federer marches through to the next round (where he plays Soderling) after his win against the German player Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-1. "I thought it was my best match of the tournament so far. We played a lot of tough points. Thought I didn't panic."

His thoughts on Michael Jackson? "Sure, a very sad moment I think, in the music world. You know, he touched many people. Same for me . . . I remember in '88 or '89 he came to Basel. I was outside of the stadium. I was still very young. We just listened from the outside. Yeah, always listened to his music. And yeah, it's sad. You know, it really is."

As I left the grounds this evening I saw the front page headline of our London newspaper, the London Evening Standard, which proclaimed: JACKSON FAMILY BLAMES LONDON.

James Borg, a freelance journalist and award-winning author, has covered the All-England Lawn Tennis Championships for three decades. He lived briefly in Las Vegas and worked at Caesars Palace. He lives in London.