Tennis: Federer wows Wimbledon crowd from royal box

LONDON -- Wimbledon paid tribute to Roger Federer on Tuesday as the eight-time champion returned to the scene of his some of his greatest triumphs.

The Centre Court crowd gave the Swiss great a prolonged standing ovation interspersed with cheers as he entered the royal box.

Federer, fresh from appearing on stage with Coldplay in Zurich at the weekend, was visibly moved before taking his seat next to Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

The 41-year-old has mostly stayed away from tennis since bowing out in emotional scenes at the Laver Cup in London in September but was similarly honored at the grass-court event in Halle, Germany, last month.

Federer did return to Wimbledon last year to celebrate Centre Court's centenary.

He found this year's festivities more enjoyable because he is no longer battling with the injuries that finally convinced him to retire.

"It feels OK now. Last year was hard, because I was still trying to play but struggling with my knee so bad," Federer told CNN.

"Last year was the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court. I remember saying on court that I hope to see you next year. I truly meant that.

"Funny enough, I don't miss so much being out on court anymore just because I know the body couldn't do it.

"It's good that I can't (play anymore), which then lets me watch and follow tennis as a total fan."

Asked how he has adapted to life after tennis, Federer, married with four children, added: "I think planning ahead for personal moments with my family and friends, I think that's what I enjoy the most.

"Life's honestly been good. I didn't play so much anymore at the end. So actually I feel like the transition was super smooth."

The Federer celebration under the closed roof of Centre Court threatened to upstage the first match of the championship for Elena Rybakina, the defending women's champion, who started her campaign with a three-set win over Shelby Rogers.

Federer, who ended his career with 20 Grand Slam titles, won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 and a record eighth men's crown in 2017.

He played his final match at the All England club in 2021, losing in the quarter-finals to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Novak Djokovic is the hot favourite to equal Federer's Wimbledon mark this year and secure his 24th Grand Slam title.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Djokovic shines at 'holy grail' Wimbledon as Gauff, Venus crash

LONDON -- Novak Djokovic launched his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title on Monday with a 40th successive win on Centre Court while American stars Coco Gauff and Venus Williams were knocked out.

The 36-year-old Djokovic, who has won the past four titles at the All England Club, defeated 68th-ranked Pedro Cachin of Argentina, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on the tournament's showpiece court, where he has not lost since 2013.

Djokovic even found time to help ground staff dry out the world's most famous lawn after the surface became too slippery following a downpour.

The roof was closed but play did not resume for about 90 minutes, much to the frustration of the fans.

"When I come out, I usually come out with racquets, not towels," said Djokovic, who described the court as "the holy grail, the temple of tennis".

He added: "The conditions were not great under the roof, it was still slippery. I think it was definitely frustrating for the crowd waiting for us."

- Grand Slam -

The Serbian, bidding to match Roger Federer's men's record of eight Wimbledon titles, goes on to face Australia's Jordan Thompson for a place in the third round.

World number two Djokovic has already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open this year.

Winning a men's-record 23rd major in Paris put him just one behind Margaret Court's all-time singles mark of 24.

He is also half way to pulling off the first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.

In the day's biggest shock, seventh-ranked Gauff slumped to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 defeat to fellow American Sofia Kenin, who came through qualifyng.

Kenin, now ranked 128th in the world, was Australian Open champion and French Open runner-up in 2020 before injury and loss of form saw her career slip into a downward spiral.

"This means a lot -- I had to go through qualies (qualification)," she said. "I battled out there. I am super proud of myself.

An emotional Gauff admitted she "had a lot to work on".

There was no fairytale for five-time champion Venus Williams, the 43-year-old American who made her debut at the tournament in 1997.

Williams, playing the singles event for the 24th time, was defeated 6-4, 6-3 by fellow wild card Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a semi-finalist in 2019.

Williams took a nasty tumble early in the first set on Centre Court, hurting her right knee, which was already heavily strapped.

She required two visits by the trainer before her challenge fizzled out under the weight of 33 unforced errors.

- 'Killed by the grass' -

"I was literally killing it, then I got killed by the grass," said Williams.

Seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia was the first men's winner of the day, beating Australia's Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Twelve months ago, all Russian and Belarusian players were banned by Wimbledon in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

"I think obviously there were better options -- not just to ban," said Rublev, who next faces compatriot Aslan Karatsev.

"Because in the end, there was no difference. They did only worse to themselves."

Fellow Russians Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova, as well as two-time major winner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, were also first day winners.

World number one Iga Swiatek racked up the first five games on her way to sweeping past China's Zhu Lin.

Reigning US Open and French Open champion Swiatek came through 6-1, 6-3 against her 34th-ranked opponent.

"I feel confident and did a good job of adjusting to grass," said the 22-year-old Pole, who has yet to get past the last 16 at Wimbledon.

- Security tight -

Also making the next round were men's fourth seed Casper Ruud and eighth-seeded Jannik Sinner.

This year's tournament is being played under tightened security over fears that climate activists could disrupt matches following high-profile protests at other sporting events.

Three protesters from Just Stop Oil ran onto the ground during the second Ashes Test at Lord's last week, sprinkling the group's trademark orange powder.

"Of course we've taken account of what we've seen elsewhere so security has been uplifted in various places around the grounds," said All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton.

The extra security measures dampened the spirits of cold and wet fans lining up in Wimbledon's famous queue.

One fan tweeted he had been waiting for five hours, blasting the delay as "shambolic".

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: 'Awakened' Djokovic eyes eighth Wimbledon title and 24th Slam crown

LONDON -- Novak Djokovic has Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles as well as a 24th major in his sights as he closes in on a first calendar Grand Slam in 54 years.

Fresh from breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal for 23 Slams at the French Open, the 36-year-old Djokovic will comfortably be the overwhelming favourite at the All England Club when he starts his title defence on Monday.

With a 10th Australian Open and third Roland Garros already wrapped up this season, an eighth Wimbledon triumph would leave Djokovic needing just the US Open in September to emulate Rod Laver's sweep of all four majors in 1969.

"He takes your legs, then he takes your soul, then he digs your grave and you have a funeral and you're dead. Bye-bye. Thank you for coming," said coach Goran Ivanisevic when asked to caption the Serb's Grand Slam mindset.

Djokovic has won the title on his last four visits to Wimbledon and has not lost on Centre Court since the 2013 final.

"When I enter Centre Court, it just awakens something in me and I'm able to perform at a very high level," said Djokovic who opens his campaign on Monday against 67th-ranked clay-court lover Pedro Cachin.

"Grass courts are the rarest surface we have in the sport, which is contrary to what you had maybe 40, 50, 60 years ago where you played three out of four slams were played on grass.

"It does take time - more than any other surface - to really get used to it. But I think in the past 10 years of my career, I've adapted very quickly. I think the results here are a testament to that."

Djokovic's 86 match wins at Wimbledon are only bettered by the now retired Federer and are more than the rest of the current top 20 put together.

Of those players, only two -- Cameron Norrie and Hubert Hurkacz -- have made the semi-finals of Wimbledon.

Among his top five rivals, not one has got beyond the last 16. Two-time champion Nadal is sitting out the rest of the year through injury.

A 24th major for Djokovic would take him level with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam titles won by one player.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will be Djokovic's biggest threat, especially as the young Spaniard now has a maiden grass-court title in his collection after his win at Queen's last weekend.

However, Alcaraz conceded key ground by admitting that the stress and tension of facing Djokovic in the semi-final at the French Open caused cramping that sparked his defeat.

- 'Like a Ninja' -

Ivanisevic described Djokovic as "unbelievable".

"He's still moving like a cat on the court. He's there. Like a Ninja, he's everywhere. He's going to find some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25, who knows where is the end."

Not surprisingly, Alcaraz has attempted to shift all the focus onto Djokovic.

"I saw that Djokovic has never lost a match on Centre Court since 2013 when he lost against Andy Murray -- so it's 10 years. It's crazy," said Alcaraz who made the last 16 in 2022.

"But I hope to have the crowd behind me to change that stat."

Moscow-born Elena Rybakina was the shock women's champion in 2022.

Her decision to switch allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 proved to be a wise move when all Russian players were banned last year.

Her chances of successfully defending her title have suffered a setback with her failure to shake off a virus which forced an early withdrawal from the French Open.

World number one and four-time major winner Iga Swiatek, who is looking for a maiden Wimbledon title to add to her US and French Open crowns, has yet to progress beyond the last 16.

The 22-year-old Pole made the semi-finals of a grass-court tournament for the first time this week at Bad Homburg in Germany before suspected food poisoning forced her to withdraw.

- 'I cried' -

"Your brain has to kind of feel the ball is bouncing lower," said Swiatek when asked to summarize the challenges of playing on grass.

"You can't think about things like that during the match. So I think this year, it's going to be a bit easier for me to use my intuition more."

World number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, banned last year because of her country's support for Russia in the war in Ukraine, made the semi-finals in 2021.

"I didn't watch Wimbledon a lot last year," said the Australian Open champion.

"I felt so bad and I just couldn't watch it. Every time if Wimbledon would be on TV, I would cry."

Sentimental votes for a potential women's champion will be cast for 43-year-old five-time winner Venus Williams as well as 2011 and 2014 champion Petra Kvitova, the only player in the top 10 over 30.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Rybakina overpowers Jabeur to win Wimbledon title

LONDON -- Russian-born Elena Rybakina powered back from a set down against Ons Jabeur to win the Wimbledon title on Saturday, denying the Tunisian world number two the chance to make African tennis history.

Jabeur raced out of the blocks but the 17th seed regrouped and dropped just four more games after the first set on the way to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Russian and Belarusian players were banned from Wimbledon this year following the invasion of Ukraine but Moscow-born Rybakina was able to play as she had switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018.

The 23-year-old, who had never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, said she had been "super nervous" before and during the match on a sun-baked Centre Court.

"I did not expect to be in the second week of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon," she said. "To be a winner is just amazing. I don't have the words to say how happy I am."

Jabeur, 27, started the match in style, using dropshots and passing shots to great effect as Rybakina's power game failed to fire.

The Tunisian broke in the third game of the match when the Kazakh went long with a backhand.

- Unforced errors -

Rybakina held twice more despite pressure from Jabeur but then produced an error-strewn service game to gift the set to her opponent.

As the Tunisian celebrated with a fist-pump, Rybakina returned to her chair contemplating a costly 17 unforced errors.

But momentum shifted immediately at the start of the second set as Rybakina broke Jabeur before holding for a 2-0 lead.

She had now found her rhythm and Jabeur had to battle hard to stay in touch as the Kazakh repeatedly chased down dropshots and found the touch she needed to hit finely angled winners.

Rybakina, who stands six feet (1.84 meters) tall, then fended off three break points before breaking again to take a 4-1 lead when Jabeur went long with a forehand.

She levelled the match with an ace as Jabeur reflected on four missed break-point opportunities in the set.

- 'Stole my title!' -

The 23rd-ranked Kazakh was first to strike in the decider, breaking straight away to heap the pressure on Jabeur, who failed to rediscover her sharpness from earlier in the match.

The Tunisian squandered three break points in the sixth game as her frustration mounted and that proved to be her last chance.

Rybakina showed a few nerves in serving out for the match but won with her first championship point when Jabeur went long with a backhand.

She ended the day with four aces, taking her total at this year's Wimbledon to a tournament-leading 53, and 29 winners to 33 unforced errors.

Rybakina was asked at her post-match press conference if the Russian government would be tempted to politicize her triumph.

"I'm playing for Kazakhstan very, very long time," she said. "I represent them on the biggest tournaments, Olympics, which was dream come true. 

"I don't know what's going to happen. I mean, it's always some news, but I cannot do anything about this."

Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev, however, hailed Rybakina's victory as a triumph for Russia, describing the player as "our product".

"It's very nice! Well done Rybakina! We win the Wimbledon tournament," Tarpischev was quoted as saying by Russian news agency, Ria Novosti.

Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, was attempting to become the first African woman to win a major.

The player, labelled by Tunisians as the "Minister of Happiness", said she had given everything during her run at the All England Club.

"Of course, I will leave happy, with a smile, big smile always," she said. "Tennis is just a sport for me. The most important thing is that I feel good about myself."

On Sunday, Novak Djokovic goes for a seventh Wimbledon men's title when he faces unpredictable Nick Kyrgios of Australia in the final.

A win would put him level with Pete Sampras and just one behind Roger Federer's men's record of eight.

In the men's doubles final on Saturday, Australian pair Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, the 14th seeds, beat Croatian defending champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/2).

Ebden and Purcell had saved a total of eight match points in previous rounds to make the final.

Pavic, meanwhile, played despite breaking his right wrist in the semi-finals.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: 'I didn't know how I'd come back,' says Serena

LONDON -- Serena Williams admits that she didn't know how or when she would return to tennis but insisted retirement had not been on her agenda during her year-long absence.

"I didn't retire. I just needed to heal physically, mentally. I had no plans. I just didn't know when I would come back. I didn't know how I would come back," said the 40-year-old on Saturday.

The American star will return to singles action at Wimbledon next week for the first time since her tearful exit from the All England Club in the first round in 2021.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion is chasing a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title.

However, her lengthy absence from the sport has seen her world ranking plummet to 1,204th.

She needed a wildcard to play Wimbledon this year as she seeks a first major since capturing the Australian Open while pregnant in 2017.

Her last appearance at the All England Club ended after just six games when she was forced to quit her Centre Court opener against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Having made her debut in 1998, Williams said that she didn't want that heartbreaking exit to be her last memory of Wimbledon.

"It was a lot of motivation, to be honest. It was always something since the match ended that was always on my mind.

"Wimbledon was tough last year. I felt like I was injured for most of the year. Then I ripped my hamstring.

- 'Who knows where I'll pop up' -

"I still tried to make New York. I gave everything I could, just every day getting ready or trying to make it. But then it's just like, I'm not going to make it. Hung up my racquets for a little bit until I could just heal."

In a change to tradition, and with a nod to the gravity of Williams's injury last year which was caused by her slipping and falling, organizers have allowed practice sessions on Centre Court.

The aim is to bed in the grass so that players can enjoy immediate grip on the world's most famous patch of grass.

"On the one hand it's amazing, but on the other hand it's like, we have to preserve Centre Court," said Williams.

"Obviously I was super happy to be out there and have that opportunity, and it was also good for me to get that out of my system because the last moment I had on Centre Court was probably not my best moment."

Williams said she decided before the French Open to make her comeback at Wimbledon and to warm up for the big occasion, she played two matches in doubles with Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in Eastbourne.

"Probably could have played singles there. I felt more prepared than I thought I would have a month or two months or three months ago," she added.

Her rivals at Wimbledon, which gets underway on Monday, are delighted to see the American back on court.

"I saw her yesterday, I was pretty overwhelmed," said world number one and recently-crowned French Open champion Iga Swiatek.

Coco Gauff described Williams as "always a contender to win, even if she hadn't played for a year".

"I remember watching that match a year ago where she had to finish short. I thought maybe that would have been the last time we saw her play at Wimbledon," said the 18-year-old.

Williams, meanwhile, was not in the mood to discuss her long-term future in the sport and whether or not this is her last Wimbledon.

"I can only tell you that I'm here. Who knows where I'll pop up next," said the American who turns 41 in September.

Agence France-Presse

Wimbledon champ Halep up to No. 4 WTA rankings, Serena No. 9

WIMBLEDON, England — Simona Halep’s Wimbledon championship lifted her from No. 7 to No. 4 in the WTA rankings on Monday, while runner-up Serena Williams moved up one spot to No. 9, her best placing since returning to the tour last season after having a baby.

Halep beat Williams in Saturday’s final with surprising ease, 6-2, 6-2.

Coco Gauff’s magical run from a wild-card entry in qualifying all the way to the fourth round at the All England Club allowed her to move into the WTA’s top 150 for the first time.

The 15-year-old American rose 172 places to No. 141 from No. 313 before the tournament. Gauff was the youngest player to ever qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon, then beat five-time champion Venus Williams on the way to reaching the fourth round. That is when Gauff lost to eventual champion Halep.

Two other big jumps came from Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic and Lauren Davis of the U.S.

The 33-year-old Strycova became the oldest first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in the professional era before losing to Williams, allowing her to move up 22 places to No. 32. Strycova also took over at No. 1 in the doubles rankings on Monday by winning that title at Wimbledon.


After losing in qualifying, Davis made it into the main draw when someone else withdrew. She then eliminated Angelique Kerber in the second round to become the first “lucky loser” to beat a defending champion at a major in the professional era and went up 13 spots to 75th.

Kerber dropped from No. 5 to 13th.

French Open champion Ash Barty remains at No. 1 in singles, followed by two-time major champion Naomi Osaka and Karolina Pliskova.

Wimbledon men’s champ Novak Djokovic stayed atop the ATP rankings after his 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3) victory over Roger Federer on Sunday in the longest final in tournament history. Rafael Nadal is No. 2 and Federer is No. 3.

Roberto Bautista Agut, who lost to Djokovic in the semifinals, went from No. 22 to No. 13, equaling his career high.

Daniil Medvedev’s third-round showing let him crack the top 10 for the first time at No. 10; he was ranked 13th before Wimbledon. Sam Querrey, beaten by Nadal in the quarterfinals, lifted his ranking by 26 spots to No. 39.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Djokovic edges Federer in 5 sets for 5th Wimbledon trophy

WIMBLEDON, England  — Novak Djokovic became the first man in 71 years to win Wimbledon after facing match points in the final, coming back to beat Roger Federer in an unprecedented fifth-set tiebreaker Sunday.

By barely emerging to win 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3) after nearly five tight, tense and terrific hours, Djokovic claimed his fifth championship at the All England Club and second in a row.

“Unfortunately in these kinds of matches,” Djokovic said, “one of the players has to lose.”

This triumph also earned Djokovic his 16th Grand Slam trophy, moving him closer to the only men ahead of him in tennis history: Federer with 20, and Rafael Nadal with 18.

Federer has ruled grass courts since the early 2000s; he has won Wimbledon eight times dating to 2003, and this was his record 12th appearance in the title match. But Djokovic is now 3-0 against Federer in finals at the place and 4-0 against him in five-setters.

This one was unlike any other, though.


That’s because, while it was reminiscent of Federer’s 16-14 fifth-set victory over Andy Roddick in the 2009 Wimbledon final, that score is no longer possible: The All England Club altered its rule this year to do away with never-ending matches and institute a tiebreaker at 12-all in a deciding set.

At one point during the final set Sunday, Djokovic asked chair umpire Damian Steiner whether the change called for the tiebreaker at 10-10. Later, when Djokovic held for an 11-10 lead, it was Steiner who got confused, beginning to call out the score as 11-9, before catching himself.

Federer and Djokovic pushed each other to the limit in what became as much a test of focus and stamina as it was about skill. It is destined to be discussed for years.

“I’ll try to forget,” joked Federer, who is less than a month shy of his 38th birthday and would have been the oldest man to win a Grand Slam title in the professional era.

First, it was Federer who kept falling behind, then coming back. He twice trailed by a set. He was down a break early in the crucible of the fifth. And, then, after seemingly gaining the upper hand, standing a single point from winning while serving for the victory at 8-7, 40-15, he faltered.

He sent a forehand wide on the first championship point, and Djokovic produced a cross-court forehand winner on the next. Soon enough, the 32-year-old Djokovic had broken back and on they would play.

Djokovic has done this to Federer before. In the semifinals of the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Opens, Djokovic erased two match points before coming back to win each time.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal brace for Wimbledon epic

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battle for a place in the Wimbledon final on Friday, 11 years after they mesmerized Centre Court in a Grand Slam championship match widely regarded as the greatest ever played.

Nadal emerged triumphant that day, winning in five sets in a four-hour 48-minute epic of fluctuating fortunes that stretched out over seven hours because of constant, momentum-shifting rain interruptions.

The Spaniard won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 as the clock ticked past 9pm and with the famous stadium in near-darkness.

Over a decade later, the sport’s two most successful players now have 38 Grand Slam titles between them and more than $100 million in prize money each.

Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion at Wimbledon, has the edge overall, leading his great rival and friend 24-15 and 10-3 at the Slams.

However, it is eight-time champion Federer who just edges their Wimbledon head-to-head 2-1 after winning the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal famously broke the spell in 2008.


Nadal, who demolished Federer in straight sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last month on his way to a 12th title in Paris, admits his game has developed since 2008.

Mostly, that’s due to his age as well as the desperate need to protect his creaking knees which so often conspired against him on the low-bouncing lawns of the All England Club.

“I am running less so I need to serve better. I probably cannot play 20 weeks a year anymore,’ said 33-year-old Nadal.

“I am serving better. I am hitting the backhand better. Maybe volleying better, slicing better.”

In terms of the bare statistics, there is little to choose between them.

Nadal has served up 47 aces so far and been broken just four times; Federer has 42 aces, dropping serve on only three occasions.

The Spanish third seed has yet to face a seeded player and has only been truly tested once, in his four-set second round victory over Nick Kyrgios in what was comfortably the tournament’s most bad-tempered match.

Federer, 37, is the oldest man in the semi-finals of a Slam since 39-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.

He is in his 13th semi-final at the tournament and 45th at the majors.

In a career illuminated by landmarks, he became the first man to register 100 match wins at a single Slam when he came back from a set down to beat Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.

‘Rafa can hurt you’

Federer is wary of the dangers presented by Nadal.

His loss in Paris, which took place in what he described as “insane” windy conditions, was his heaviest at the Slams in 11 years.

“Rafa really can hurt anybody on any surface,” said Federer.

“He’s serving way different. I remember back in the day how he used to serve, and now how much bigger he’s serving, how much faster he finishes points.”

The eager anticipation of their 40th clash has relegated defending champion Novak Djokovic’s push for a fifth title to second billing.

The top seed and world number one reached the semi-finals for the ninth time, racking up his 70th career win at the All England Club by sweeping past David Goffin in straight sets, reeling off 15 of the last 17 games.

In his 36th Grand Slam semi-final, the 15-time major winner faces Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut who is in his maiden last-four at the majors at the 27th attempt.

Djokovic leads the 31-year-old 7-3 in career meetings, including 3-0 at the majors.

However, the unheralded Spaniard, who had to cancel plans for his stag party in Ibiza as a consequence of his run to the semi-finals, has defeated Djokovic twice in 2019, in Doha and Miami.

“He’s got amazing consistency,” said Djokovic.

“Very flat from both forehand and backhand. He has improved his backhand. I think he’s got more depth on his backhand.

“The ball bounces lower on the grass, which is I think more suitable to his style of game.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

‘Serena I know was back’: Williams gets to 22 at Wimbledon

LONDON, England—To hear Serena Williams and her coach tell it, the process of getting her ready to win Wimbledon for a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title began with a series of chats over the phone not long after her loss in the French Open final.

That setback in Paris marked the third consecutive major tournament that Williams left without the trophy, which to any other tennis player would not be a big deal but to the 34-year-old American represented a real drought.

So she and Patrick Mouratoglou touched base repeatedly to hash it all out.

“I was just talking through things, and how I was disappointed that I lost the French, and what I needed to do, to do better at Wimbledon. We were strategizing a lot,” Williams told a small group of reporters in her last of many interviews Saturday night, about 7 hours after beating Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 for the championship at the All England Club.

“It wasn’t one conversation,” Williams said. “We talked for at least five — so many times. Almost every day. Just to try to feel what I needed to do and what was going to be done.”

At some point during that period, Williams sent a text message to Mouratoglou that he found full of meaning.

“He said he recognized that I was different and I was back to who I am, usually,” Williams said. “And I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ He just said that he felt I was different when I sent that text. He was very encouraged by it, and we were able to build on it.”

Recalled Mouratoglou on Saturday: “I felt like the Serena I know was back. … Back to thinking the way she thinks.”

That was important, he knew, because it wasn’t as if she had forgotten how to play, of course, or allowed her skills to erode, even if she already was the oldest woman to be ranked No. 1 and the oldest to win a major title.

He realized he hadn’t quite seen the same person ever since Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 ended with a loss to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals, one of the biggest surprises in tennis history.

After that came defeats for Williams in two Grand Slam finals, against Kerber at the Australian Open, then against Garbine Muguruza at Roland Garros.

Thinking back to what happened in New York, Mouratoglou said: “Either she or I— we both—didn’t know she was that hurt. I think it took a lot of time. She was not herself.”

During the past two weeks at Wimbledon, Williams certainly did appear to be back to possessing the confident, all-powerful presence the world is accustomed to seeing and hearing—on and off the court.

“One day, I woke up and I just felt different,” Williams said, referring to those days after the French Open. “I felt like: I can do better. I can do this. Not only can I do this, I’m going to do this, and there’s nothing in this world that’s going to stop me.”

That was evident in her play, to be sure, particularly in that spectacular serve, which produced 13 aces at up to a tournament-leading 124 mph against Kerber.

And it was evident in her words, most succinctly when a reporter asked after the semifinals what Williams makes of it when others refer to her as one of history’s greatest female athletes.

She replied: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest ‘athletes’ of all time.”

Well put.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Federer reaches crossroads at Wimbledon

Fifteen years after famously stunning Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, seven-time champion Roger Federer returns to the All England Club with his career at a crossroads and his confidence at crisis point.

The 34-year-old Swiss, holder of a record 17 Grand Slam titles, is without a major since Wimbledon in 2012 and is enduring arguably the toughest year of his career.

Injury forced him to skip the French Open ending a streak of 65 successive appearances at the Slams stretching back to 1999.

He has failed to add to his 88 titles this year, his longest drought since 2000 and has suffered back-to-back semi-final losses in Stuttgart and Halle, both on grass which has been his preferred surface of domination.

In an indication of changing times, his last-four loss in Stuttgart to Alexander Zverev was his first against a teenager in 10 years.

But the Swiss star is adamant that he can still be a winner even if clinching an eighth crown at Wimbledon would make him the oldest ever champion in south-west London, surpassing Arthur Ashe who was a month shy of his 32nd birthday when he lifted the trophy in 1975.

“I think if my movement gets better and then the baseline game improves a little bit, I’ll be better on the big points, on the return and also in less trouble on my own service games,” said Federer.

“But I’m okay and I’m pleased. I’m feeling now we’ve got enough time before Wimbledon to get ready for that.”

The fact that Federer has reached the last two Wimbledon finals is testament to his capacity to surprise both his supporters and doubters.

The problem, however, is that he lost both those championship matches to Novak Djokovic, the world number one who currently holds all four majors and is halfway to the first calendar Grand Slam since 1969.

Djokovic leads their head-to-head only by 23-22, but has claimed their last four clashes at the majors. Federer hasn’t defeated the Serb at a Slam since the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2012.

“Is Djokovic now the man to beat? Absolutely. Does he deserve to be where he is? 100 per cent. But is he beatable? Yes, of course he is. I beat him three times last year,” Federer told the Guardian this week.

Wimbledon has always been Federer’s home-from-home even if his first two visits as a pony-tailed contender with a short fuse and dream one-handed backhand ended in first round losses.

But his fourth round defeat of seven-time winner Sampras in 2001 marked him out as the American’s natural heir even if 2002 saw a woeful first round exit to Mario Ancic.

That blip was forgotten 12 months later when he won his first Wimbledon, spiking the heavy artillery of Mark Philippoussis in the final.

Since then, he has enjoyed more successes than setbacks.

Federer won the title every year between 2003 and 2007, adding two more in 2009 and 2012.

In between, he lost the 2008 final to Rafael Nadal in what is widely-regarded as the finest men’s championship match in history, a five-set epic which ended in semi-darkness.

However, there was also a shock second round exit to world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in 2013.

Federer was 31 then and the career obituaries were being composed. They have been dusted off a few times since.

“Don’t you understand that playing tennis is great fun? I don’t need to win three slams a year to be content,” he told the Guardian.

“If the body doesn’t want to do it, if the mind doesn’t want to do it, if my wife doesn’t want me to do it, if my kids don’t like it, I’ll stop tomorrow. Zero problem.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Venus Williams out of China Open with viral illness

BEIJING — Venus Williams withdrew from the China Open with a viral illness on Thursday shortly before her third-round match against Petra Kvitova.

The match would have been a reprise of their third-round encounter at Wimbledon, which Kvitova won in three sets after being just two points from defeat in the second set. Kvitova then went on to win her second title at the All England Club.

China Open organizers said Williams was suffering from a viral illness. Venus’ sister, Serena, also withdrew from a tournament last week in the central Chinese city of Wuhan citing a virus.

Defending champion Serena plays Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic for a spot in the China Open quarterfinals later Thursday.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Nadal revisits Rosol nightmare at Wimbledon

LONDON — Rafael Nadal gets the opportunity to avenge one of his career’s most humiliating defeats when he faces Lukas Rosol for a place in the Wimbledon third round Thursday.

Two years after the unheralded Czech sent Nadal crashing to a shock second round loss, the pair meet again at the same stage of the tournament with the two-time champion Spaniard aware that Rosol poses a serious threat to his hopes of progressing towards a 15th major.

“Rosol is a very dangerous player, very strong, very powerful shots from the baseline and I know I have to play very well if I want to have chances to win,” said Nadal, whose second round exit in 2012 was followed by a first round loss in 2013 to Belgian journeyman Steve Darcis.

Rosol was 100 in the world when he stunned the Spaniard two years ago; now he is 52 although since his famous triumph at the All England Club he has managed to win just three more times at the Grand Slams.

“What is past is past. What happened, happened. We don’t want to change that. The only way to try something is try to change what’s happening right now,” added Nadal, whose loss to Rosol sparked a seven-month injury lay-off from the tour.

Rosol he will have nothing to fear from Nadal and was confident of pulling off another upset when they open playon Centre Court.

“It’s Nadal who has to win, I have nothing to lose,” Rosol told Czech media at Wimbledon.

Although Nadal gained a small degree of revenge at Doha this year with a comfortable straight sets win, Rosol believes his rival is at his most vulnerable in the early rounds.

“Nadal is the king of clay,” he said in deference to the Spaniard’s nine French Open titles.

“But he is more vulnerable on other surfaces, especially grass. If you want to beat one of the big stars at a Grand Slam, the early rounds are the best.”

Veteran US coach Nick Bollettieri, the man who guided the careers of the likes of Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova, believes Nadal will win but that the Spaniard’s “wham-bam Superman style” won’t last forever.

“I think he is capable of winning the title again but will his legs hold up? Will his lower back cope with the stresses and strains of playing on grass?” wrote Bollettieri in his columm for the Independent newspaper.

Seven-time champion Roger Federer is also in action Thursday taking on 31-year-old Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller.

Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, the fifth seed, faces Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan who made the quarter-finals in 2010.

Wawrinka is bidding to record back-to-back match-wins at Wimbledon for the first time since 2009.

Women’s top seed and five-time champion Serena Williams plays South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers while 2004 champion Maria Sharapova takes on Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Queen’s champ Dimitrov eyes Wimbledon glory

LONDON — Grigor Dimitrov insists his Queen’s Club triumph proves he is finally ready to end his long wait for a Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

Dimitrov enjoyed the perfect preparation for Wimbledon as the world number 13 hung tough to defeat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (8/6) in a classic final on Sunday.

The 23-year-old’s maiden success on grass makes him the first player since Roger Federer and David Ferrer in 2012 to win titles on three different surfaces in the same year after his victories on hard courts in Acapulco and clay in Bucharest.

Dimitrov’s fourth ATP trophy of a career so far scarred by unfulfilled expectations will make him a dark horse for the title when Wimbledon gets underway on June 23.

The 2008 junior Wimbledon champion’s impressive displays on the grass at Queen’s proved he is perfectly suited to the surface and added to the growing feeling he is ready to make the most of the vast potential that saw him compared to Roger Federer when he was a teenager.

Asked if he is set to make the breakthrough at one of the four majors, Dimitrov, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open earlier this year, didn’t back down from the challenge: “We’re about to find out in a week. It would be special to win that one.

“Wimbledon has been closer to me and what I have always wanted to achieve, and it’s definitely on my list to do or to win, and I’m going to have the chance in a week to go out there and perform the best way I can.

“Ever since I’ve played as a teenager I’ve dreamt of winning Queen’s. So I’m just heading into Wimbledon with a lot of positive vibes.”

If Dimitrov, the youngest player in the top 20, does enjoy a strong run at the All England Club, he will no doubt lean on the advice of girlfriend Maria Sharapova, who won Wimbledon aged 17 and clinched her second French Open title earlier month.

Sharapova was supporting Dimitrov at Queen’s and the Bulgarian, who blew a kiss to her during the post-match trophy presentation, was quick to pay tribute to his partner, while also hailing the impact of Australian coach Roger Rasheed, who has managed to add more focus and discipline to his game.

“Maria’s been unbelievable with me, just supporting me, and I think the feeling’s mutual, and I hope this won’t be the last tournament she’s at,” he said.

“Having Maria on my side definitely adds up, from a tremendous champion like her, there’s a lot to learn. And everything happened pretty naturally with Roger, it just feels comfortable.”

Dimitrov has long tired of the comparisons with Federer that saw him dubbed ‘Baby Fed’, but he knows the label will never be forgotten until he proves a success on his own terms.

“I think this is a step forward for me. I’m excited with progress so far, but my goals are way too high, so I wouldn’t call it a breakthrough or a coming of age – not yet,” he added.

“I was fired up all week, it’s been a very successful week for me.

“I’ve had such a good time but there’s still a lot to be achieved.”

Lopez, no slouch on grass himself, is convinced Dimitrov is the most likely candidate to break the Grand Slam stranglehold of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

“He’s the most complete player of that young generation and he’s already doing well,” Lopez said.

“Sooner or later it will come for him, but right now it’s tough.

“We’ve had 10 years of these animals at the top. It’s very tough to win slams because Roger, Rafa, Nole (Djokovic), they win everything.”

source: sports.inquirer.net