By Chris Oddo

So much to talk about, so little time, as another gorgeous day for tennis at the Games of the 30th Olympiad has come and gone.

Here are 10 quick thoughts on day 5's action:

1. Where Isner Goes, Freakishness Prevails

John Isner’s flair for the dramatic was on full display today yet again on Wednesday, as he found himself in a topsy-turvy second-set tiebreaker with eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic (Isner won the tiebreaker 16-14). I think there’s a reason for all this drama: While Isner is one of the clutchest servers to ever play the game – one needs only to rewatch footage of this tiebreaker to understand that – he’s also a little nervy when it comes to the return. Isner was his own best friend while serving today, and his own worst enemy while returning.

In any case, Isner got the job done in the end with some beastly serving (and a little help from Tipsarevic, who netted an easy forehand on his first set point of many) and will advance to play Roger Federer in the quarters. In a best-of-three format you have to think that he has a shot to knock off Roger Federer.

What was really strange about this match was the end. Tipsarevic double faulted on Isner's sixth match point, but the call was made by an overrule instead of the linesman. Tipsarevic wanted to know what the heck had happened, and so did viewers, but Bravo couldn't come up with a replay. In the end Tipsarevic--and viewers--had to take the word of the umpire. The serve looked out, but I guess we'll never really know...

2. Crazy Crowds

The Olympics are turning out to be this really cool combination of Davis Cup crazy and Wimbledon classy. I think it’s an awesome combination. It’s wild and crazy (and LOUD) everywhere you look, the players like it, the fans like it, and if you asked her, I bet even the Queen likes it. A classic example: Marcos Baghdatis with a big smile on his face as he waited for a Mexican Wave to finish before he served against Andy Murray. Another example: The back-and-forth chanting and noise-making between points during the doubles match between French and Indian teams at the end of the day at Court 18. It was just plain nutty, and a pleasant surprise.

3. Maria Sharapova Continues Her 3rd-Set Wizardry

It's official: Sharapova is the new queen of clutch. She won her 10th straight third set today against Sabine Lisicki, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, making it 22 out of 23 three-set victories since the beginning of 2011. She also hit a left-handed volley to win a point against Lisicki. “What was that?” she said afterwards. “I have no idea. That was my reaction. If I have a choice left or right I go lefty.”

4. Fed is out of the Doubles

After a self-described “shocking” first set (by the Israeli team -- it was bad), the Israeli tandem of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram rallied to end Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka’s hopes of repeating as Olympic Doubles champions. “We didn’t put more than two balls in the court [in the first set] but we stayed with a lot of confidence,” said Erlich.

Ram and Erlich will face the Bryan Brothers in the quarterfinal round tomorrow. Fed, meanwhile, will put his energy into chasing singles gold. Maybe it's all for the better?

5. Llodra Does His Best Jo-Willy Imitation

Well, it might not have been his "best," but it was a crowd pleaser anyway. After Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra finished off Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan in their second-round doubles match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, Llodra giddily mocked Tsonga’s customary emphatic victory gesture, while Tsonga, no doubt worn out from playing two matches just a day after playing the longest set in Olympic tennis history, just looked on and smiled.

The second-seeded French duo advances to face Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares of Brazil in the quarterfinals.

6. Speaking of Melo and Soares…

In part deux of their doubles marathon, Melo and Soares came all the way back to defeat Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek 1-6, 6-4, 24-22, and broke two Olympic records in the process. The 63-game match becomes the longest men’s doubles match in Olympic history, and the 46-game third set becomes the longest men’s doubles decider in Olympic history. Not bad for two days work.

7. Kimpossible

Another reason to be thankful for Olympic tennis this year: Kim Clijsters is making her last trip to the hallowed grounds of the All England Club count. Clijsters put the wallop to Ana Ivanovic today, knocking back both break points she faced in the 6-3, 6-4 triumph. Next up? Maria Sharapova for some popcorn action in the quarters.

8. Djokovic Makes Statement against Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt was playing perfect tennis today, and looking every bit the candidate for what would have been a shocking victory over World No. 2 Novak Djokovic. But Djokovic dug deep, playing some of his finest grass-court tennis to keep the feisty Aussie at bay, and finally crushing him in a one-sided third set. Djokovic has had a few rough clashes this week, going three sets with Fabio Fognini and now the battle with Hewitt, but if that which does not kill Djokovic ends up making him stronger, a gold medal could be in the offing for the Serb.

First, he’ll have to get past the flying Frenchman a.k.a Jo-Willy Tsonga in the quarterfinals tomorrow.

9. Mixed Dubs in the House

It was nice to see Sam Stosur, who took a heartbreaking loss to Carla Suarez Navarro in the first round, and Gisela Dulko, who paired up with Paola Suarez at the beginning of this year for the sole purpose of making an Olympic run but ended up losing in the first round, each get mixed doubles wins today. Crowds were relatively small and play was on the outer courts, so allow me to cast my vote for putting a marquis mixed match-up on Centre Court in one of the next few days. It can’t hurt, right?

10. Serena and Roger Maintain Quest for Singles Gold

This could very well end up being the story that defines this Olympic year in tennis (and perhaps defines the year?). Roger Federer and Serena Williams, both gunning to become the first player in tennis history to hold all four Grand Slams and gold medals in Olympic singles and doubles, each won their singles matches today.

Federer put the hurt on Denis Istomin in straight sets, while Serena absolutely annihilated former Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva. Up next for each? Federer will get the serving machine known as John Isner, while Serena will face the golden retriever known as Caroline Wozniacki.

See you tomorrow!

(Photo Credit: Getty)