Roger Federer is back in Grand Slam action – and back to his winning ways. “I’m proud of myself, the way I turned it around”.
Advertisement
Federer was undone by the French Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007 while Nadal’s failure to win the 2010 Australian Open was a blip in a year when he romped to victory in Paris, London and NY. He got sick in Miami, then hurt his back in Madrid in practice.
“This year is quite different from previous years because I’m coming in with a Roland Garros title”, he said. “It’s OK if it messes around with me sometimes”. But Brexit notwithstanding, the world’s most celebrated tennis tournament still figures to deliver the goods. This time, she’ll tie with Steffi Graf on the Open era list and predicted to be en route to overtaking the all-time leader, Margaret Court from Australia. But a year later, while trying to qualify for Wimbledon, Duval was told she had cancer.
“If you do, you have to refocus instantly, and that’s really what he was known for in his career, his single-minded ruthlessness”. “It’s inevitable to face this kind of sensation as a top player, being expected to do well and to go as far as last four at least in the tournament or finals”. Novak and Andy (Murray) are the favorites. “It was what I needed and I am happy to be here”. “It’s really important getting the job done in the first week”.
But Nadal is missing from this year’s Wimbledon, nursing a wrist injury, while seven-time All England Club champion Federer is without a major in four years and a shadow of the player he once was. Federer just so happened to be drawn in Djokovic’s half which sets up a potentially tasty semi-final.
Among the seeded men who advanced: No. 5 Kei Nishikori, No. 6 Milos Raonic, No. 9 Marin Cilic, No. 11 David Goffin, No. 13 David Ferrer, No. 16 Gilles Simon, No. 23 Ivo Karlovic and No. 27 Jack Sock.
“Andy Murray, Roger [Federer] first of all, because of their rankings, their history of playing, playing well, and winning this tournament, especially Roger so many times”. Robson beat Kerber at Wimbledon in the first round in 2011.
“It’s all surreal, a little bit out of hand”, said a shell-shocked Willis.
If it goes to seeding, Murray could face former quarterfinalist Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round. You want to be playing on the big courts against the best players, in front of a big crowd, and there’s no pressure on him, so I’m expecting him to play good tennis. The offer has since been declined.
Garbine Muguruza, the new women’s world No. 2 who is seeded to meet defending champion Serena Williams in a second straight Wimbledon final, was nonchalant about having played only one competitive match on grass since beating Williams in the French Open final.
Williams, aware of the fierce competition to knock her off the top, admits she has tried to analyse those defeats to find reasons why she has lost her way this year.
“I think Jo Konta probably represents our best chance in the women’s draw”.
She felt no extra pressure as a new major champion.
Advertisement
A British qualifier ranked 772nd and playing his first tour-level singles match has provided the feel-good story of the day at Wimbledon.
