Wimbledon- Hypes and performances
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Entering the Wimbledon draw itself, for a player, is crossing the frontiers into Tennis stardom. Entering the quarterfinals (QF) in the second week of the event confirms the players’ iconic ‘survivor’ instincts and abilities. This certainly does not happen because of a lucky draw or, for that matter, by chance. A player will have to walk through barriers as challenging as the Himalayan heights, to be there. Whoever lurks on the way to the QF, however unknown, don’t care for name and fame. They can finish the best of exponents, if they even slack just a wee bit. For recognition, semifinals (SF) berth is a must.
Ladies survivors
On Monday of Week 2, the list of ultimate survivours appeared. All of them were seasoned campaigners. Simona Halep, Garbine Mugurusa, Stevlana Kusnetzova and Venus Williams were joined by new challengers in Women’s Tennis in, Jelena Ostapenko, Magdalena Rybarikova, Coco Vandeweghe and Johanna Konta. It electrified the Wimbledon arena.
Venus forever?
Then, on Tuesday of Week 2, the Women’s QF took Tennis to the heights that is expected of Wimbledon. Venus Williams defied her age of 37 and appearing for the 20th time, taught the French-Open winner Ostapenko how to play on grass. The inexperience of Ostapenko showed from the start. She won the toss and let Venus serve. Who allows Venus to serve first? Big mistake. Before long, the 1st Set was over in Venus’s favour, and the 2nd was a little longer. Venus is the 1st woman of her age, in over two decades, to reach the SF.
The player who has been a sensation from Round 1 of Wimbledon this year is Magdalena Rybarikova ranked 87 among Women. Many would recall this name. She returns to the circuit after being injured for a year. Rybarikova made sure the world knows she is back. She beat 2nd Seeded Karolina Pliskova in Round 2, and Vandeweghe in the QF to reach the SF. No one can discount her from winning the crown.
The match between Halep and Konta produced the best Tennis of the QF. The Tennis was at its best. Eventually, Australian-born Brit Konta, in front of her home crowds, made history, to be the first Brit since 1978, to reach the SF. Though she had 36 unforced errors against Halep’s mere 9, Konta had 48 winners against 26 of Halep, which made the difference to win. Halep was exhausted and tired in the 3rd Set.
Mugurusa wakes up
Mugurusa Seeded 14, beat No.1 Seed Angelique Kerber in 3 Sets. The match swung both ways and in the final stages Mugurusa wrapped it up neatly. The Spanish spirit of Mugurusa is an attraction in the Women’s circuit. When she is in, she is unstoppable but, she can be out for a good while. At present, she is ranked as low as 14, and she has former Spanish No.1 Conchita Martinez as her coach. This could make a difference. The SF would be hard fought and history will be written. Konta will play Venus and Mugurusa will play 28-year-old Rybarikova. The 1st 4 Wimbledon Seeds are not in the last 4 this year.
Men’s QF without Nadal
Among Men, the world is thrilled at the exhibition of the game by Roger Federer. He moves like a butterfly and stings like a bee [remember Muhammad Ali]. By far he is the fastest mover on grass now and can hit winners with every shot in the book of Tennis. Good performance could be achieved by many, but consistently for this length of time, only by a genius. Regardless of what happens in the future to Federer, now at 35, he will have to be named as another Genius in Tennis that ever walked.
Into the QF survivours’ list, Roger Federer is joined by Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic, Sam Querrey and the unknown Luxemberger, 6 foot 4 inches tall Gilles Muller who took none other than powerhouse of Tennis Rafael Nadal out of the draw, in a 5-Set epic. The final Set of their match played without tie-break, had 28 games, going to 15/13. The match lasted 4 hours and 47 minutes. To beat Nadal in his current form, it cannot be done in any other way.
Sam Querrey’s Wimbledon
Heads rolled in one afternoon. Federer was the only survivor from the 1st 6 Seeds and beat Canadian power play expert Raonic to reach the SF. Djokovic’c well kept secret of his arm injury for over 18 months is public now. He gave up against Tomas Berdych, who has been a regular into the SF this year. Then Marin Cilic had to fight to the end, to beat giantkiller Muller to reach the SF.
The man who will be remembered from this Wimbledon, especially by the Brits, is USA’s Sam Querrey. Andy Murray who was a doubtful starter for this Wimbledon, managed to come into the QF and looked all set to reach the SF after 2 Sets. Then, Sam Querrey entered his comfort zone on grass. Without doubt, the tall American is the next most comfortable player on grass this year, after Federer.
Wimbledon is the 3rd Grand Slam of the year. The professional circuit will go to the Hard court from here, and into the last Grand Slam of the year, the US-Open in New York.
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of Germany; National, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– geodano2015@gmail.com -