Well after 125 years of play at the Wimbledon championships so many things have changed and so many things have stayed the same. As to what's changed, well the grass has been slowed down considerably and when the roof is closed the humidity makes the conditions become even slower. Yes, this has been the case for the last few years now but it's only now that people are really talking about it. Must have been a slow tournament hey? As to why it has been slowed down, well as is the case in most businesses, it's all about the money. And make no mistake, the ATP and ITF are businesses. So the thinking here is would audiences rather watch shortened rallies with huge serving that predictably results in a tiebreak or closer service games with extended rallies and more unexpected results. It doesn't matter what you or I think, to the casual tennis fan it is obviously the latter that would attract a wider range of audience, that in turn will generate higher revenue for the ATP and ITF. But that isn't the only reason serve and volley tennis has fallen by the wayside. Here's probably not the right place to discuss it but factors include the transformation of the game due to increased technology and the production line of ballbashers doesn't help either. As to what hasn't changed, the ridiculous scheduling is right up there and a small bitter part of me was hoping it rained all day on the Friday and Saturday of the first week so we could see if they would play the middle Sunday or not. Also best of five sets for doubles just shouldn't be happening. It's okay for the final perhaps, but it just creates to many problems in the earlier rounds when there are so many other matches that need to be completed on time. It's not like you can't determine who the best pairing is over 3 sets anyway.
As to the actual play, well this probably wasn't the most entertaining Wimbledon in recent memory, however the event had a worthy winner in the end. Novak Djokovic continued his remarkable run of form this year in dispatching the now former world number one Rafael Nadal in 4 sets in the final. On his way to the final, the Serb failed to produce his best tennis however it seems he was saving his best for last as the great players do, and unfortunately for Nadal it has been a common theme this year for him and especially in finals. It would be fair to say now that Djokovic has the edge both physically and mentally over Nadal at this stage in their careers and Nadal and Uncle Toni have even come out and said they don't have a winning game plan to defeat the Serb at the moment. Djokovic simply has to hit the ball hard and deep with his backhand to Nadal's forehand and wait for the short loopy reply and then he can attack the backhand side. This combined with the uncharacteristic lack of confidence that exists in Nadal's groundstroke swings whenever he encounters Djokovic spells worrying signs for the Spaniard in their future meetings. Of course Nadal's relentless determination will come to fruition now and you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be back on the training paddock soon to set upon devising a plan to trouble the world number one. Apparently he is out of action for the next six weeks because of the fracture to his foot but he wasn't meant to compete during that time anyway. People will see what they want to see there. As for the match, I'll keep it simple. Both players started off solid, with Nole beginning to get the edge in most of the baseline exchanges as the set went on. As it got to the business end of the set at 4-5 with Nadal serving, the Spaniard felt the effects of this and committed some unforced errors to hand Djokovic the set. The serb then lifted his level in the 2nd and Nadal couldn't keep up and was no doubt disappointed with the way he had gifted away the opening set. 6-1 to Djokovic. In the 3rd set Djokovic dropped his level while Nadal began to regain some belief and started hitting through the forehand more solidly. As it got to the latter stages it became clear that Djokovic had pretty much given this set away and was preparing himself for battle at the beginning of the fourth. Nadal takes it 6-1. Then in the 4th Djokovic breaks and serves it out at 5-3. Surprisingly there were no nerves on the Serb's part and he even through in a serve and volley play to set up the match point. The better player won and the celebrations the following night in Serbia was off the chains.
As has been stated before, the tournament wasn't the most memorable but there were a few aspects to savour. The coming of age for young Australian Bernard Tomic is worth noting and his run to the quarter finals was much needed for the game and for tennis in Australia. It was hilarious in the media during the event that when Hewitt crashed out to Soderling that tennis was at it's lowest point in Australia history, and then the next week it's looking great again with Tomic being a "superstar" now and having two junior winners as well. Typical knee jerk reactions from the press but I guess that is their job. Getting back onto Tomic, and quite simply the kid has got the X factor. He has the court craft and awareness that can't be taught and this will be his biggest weapon going forward. It's refreshing to see a player think his way around a tennis court, mixing up the pace and slicing the ball to the corners instead of watching the endless production line of ball bashers hitting the fur off the ball with no clear intention of constructing a tennis point. Of course there are many things he still has to improve. His movement is the most alarming that this stage, but thanks to his great anticipation, this doesn't get exposed as much as it should. The serve has improved a lot but still needs work, especially the second delivery. And he will need to spend more time on the clay where he is at a loss on the surface. Granted he's improved since last year, but that area is very much a work in progress. The youngster has barely any points to defend for the rest of the season and will now make the US Open directly so he has a great chance to progress further up the rankings.
Question marks over the career of Roger Federer will no doubt be raised by the media over the coming days and months after the great Swiss player bowed out in the quarter finals to enigmatic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. What was more surprising about the loss was the way it came about, with Federer giving away a 2-0 sets lead to lose in five. It was the first time in 178 grand slam matches that Federer had lost a match while being two sets to love up. But there's always a first time for everything and Tsonga simply played lights out tennis for the final 3 sets to take the match. It was one of those matches that the Frenchman can play maybe once a year and I doubt Tsonga will be able to kick onto to threaten the top 5 in the rankings and i'm a glass half full kind of guy. He just doesn't have the consistency required to play at that level week in week out on the tour. Some of the shotmaking and drop volleys he was pulling of in this match are just to high risk to make every match and that is what he needs to do to beat the top players. Federer in his interview with the press following the match couldn't care less that he lost, saying that he played well and these things can happen. Well, at least it was classier than last year's interview at the same stage where he said some unnecessary comments. He is far from done and it wouldn't surprise me to see him holding the US Open trophy in a couple of months time.
Andy Murray once again folded to the pressure of grand slam tennis and Wimbledon, crashing out in the semi finals for the 3rd consecutive year. Murray was in good form leading into the event, winning at Queens but unfortunately for him it was the same old story for the Scot at the slams. After an encouraging start against Nadal in the semis, it all went pear shaped at the beginning of the second set where at 15-30 on Nadal's serve he missed an easy forehand and failed to break serve. From there he mentally capitulated and surrendered the next 3 sets 6-2 6-2 6-4. The forehand, which was working well in the opening set, went walk about and he will never be the best player mentally due to all the pressure that is heaped on him by the British press. British if he's winning and Scottish if he's losing was obvious again here during these championships. It's tough for Murray, there isn't really much more he can do to win a slam but hope that the top 3 somehow don't make it to the latter stages of it. He's still got plenty of time though, and I still think he will win one just not at Wimbledon. The AO is probably his best shot followed by the US.
It was also refreshing to see some old school serve and volley at Wimbledon, with Lukasz Kubot and Judy Murray's boy toy Feliciano Lopez bringing back a bit of old school in their 4th round and quarter final runs respectively. Kubot has been on fire at the slams this year and came through qualifying to make it to the 4th round and even had match points on serve in the 3rd set tiebreak but just couldn't pull through. You have to give credit to Lopez there, yes he is a hard player to pull for (if your male) but he showed some good old fashioned fight and determination to get himself out of that one. Kubot has never been the most clutch type of player but he had improved this year, coming through a number of tight matches at the French and during this Wimbledon but it wasn't to be for him. At least we got to see the epic dance quite a bit.
We'll finish on a light note, and Alex Bogomolov gets the prize for the best racquet throw of the championships, but perhaps not as good as his opponent Donald Young's one a couple of years ago where he threw his racquet out of the stadium.
Rain interrupted Wimbledon qualifying eventually concluded yesterday, with 16 players entering the main draw of the championships to commence on Monday. The event lasted 6 days, with schedulers having to set aside an extra three days to complete all of the matches. Wimbledon is the only slam that has the best of five set format for the third qualifying round, and maybe this is something that has to be looked at but will never happen because of tradition. The organisers had to set aside a day off for the men on the Wednesday so they could rest before potentially going 5 sets and could have completed all the matches by Wednesday if that wasn't the case. Anyway, enough of my complaining, what's done is done and the best 16 players over the week have advanced through into the main draw. Lets take a look at some of the more interesting qualifiers this week:
De Schepper has been dubbed the "French Karlovic" and for good reason. The 24 year old has a devastating serve which the grass compliments nicely, and is almost has tall him as well. Interesting story about Kenny, he only decided to become a pro tennis player 2 years ago and even then wasn't sure if it was the life for him, as he lacked a genuine attacking game and wasn't at all capable at the net. He's certainly improved that aspect of his game and could do some serious damage in the main draw. Had some good wins over Kellner and Ebden in the first two rounds and showed great nerve to close this one out in five. He was down 4-0 in the 4th set breaker and managed to claw his way back and from there the win was never in doubt against the mentally fragile Bolelli. Simone has the talent to be a lot higher than he is ranked, just doesn't have the right attitude and desire to put in the hard yards to ensure his game improves. He got in as a LL in any case and got a great draw so maybe things will turn for him now?
Bernard Tomic (AUS) def. Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 6-1 6-4 6-1
Expected convincing win for the young Australian who everyone in Australia is hoping will be the next local to carry the flag when Hewitt retires in the next couple of years. Bernie likes Wimbledon and the whole tradition of it all, so naturally he lifts his game to play well here, which he did just dropping one set to advance in his 3 matches. A lot of people don't like Tomic and that's understandable but the problem doesn't lie so much with him personally, but by his father and the attitude instilled by him into Bernard at a young age. People have to realise as well that it isn't just going to all come together for Bernard, he has to mature physically and work on the movement and the transition onto the main tour isn't as smooth as it was a decade ago, it takes much longer now to develop because of the evolution of the game and the technology. Anyway, Tomic did what he had to do here and ended up drawing Davydenko in the main draw which isn't as bad as it might sound initially. The Russian has never been too good on the grass and isn't in great form after coming back from a series of injuries. Bernard has a chance here.
Conor Niland (IRL) def. Nikola Mektic (CRO) 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4
Conor becomes the first Irishman since 1977 to qualify for the main draw of Wimbledon. The guy has worked very hard over the last couple of years and was no doubt inspired by countryman Louk Sorenson's run into the AO main draw last year as well. Niland battled his way through the first two qualifying rounds, saving match points in a tough 8-6 3rd set win over Ouanna, and also coming from behind to defeat Greg Jones in another 3 set encounter. Had an easier time of it in the final round and got through the nerves in the last set to make his first ever main draw at a grand slam. Has drawn Mannarino in the 1st round which is a tough one but it could have been a lot worse. He will have the support of the locals and perhaps the prospect of a second round date with Federer on centre court will be enough to inspire Niland for the win.
Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (GER) def. Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-3 7-5 1-6 4-6 7-5
Hilarious match, and one probably most affected by the rain delays. When I say most affected, I mean in the general flow of the match and the twists and turns it took after play re-commenced. The two youngsters were vying for a spot in the main draw of Wimbledon for the first time and were desperate for the win, which was evident with Harrison being fined for unsportsmanlike conduct during the 5th set. The American probably shouldn't have let it get to that stage in the first place, having a 4-0 lead in the second set, only to surrender it 5-7 after yet another rain interruption. Stebe has been on fire this year starting the year off well with some good performances in futures and challenger events, before going on to be the only man to take a set off eventual Halle champion Philipp Kohlschreiber a couple of weeks ago. The 20 year old German has a bright future and did well to bounce back in the 5th set and hold off Harrison for the win. Has a main draw date with another young gun, Grigor "baby fed" Dimitrov in the opening round. Dimitrov has all the talent in the world, but hasn't quite learned when to pull the trigger and when to be consistent from the baseline. Should be a good match, with Grigor starting the favourite in my book.
Other Qualifiers:
Rik de Voest (RSA) def. Grega Zemlja (SLO) 6-2 6-7(5) 6-2 6-2 Martin Fischer (AUT) def. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 6-4 6-7(5) 4-6 6-3 8-6 Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. Augustin Gensse (FRA) 6-3 7-6(7) 6-7(4) 6-1 Frank Dancevic (CAN) def. Marco Crugnola (ITA) (ITA) 6-2 6-2 6-3 Lucas Lacko (SLO) def. Go Soeda (JPN) 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-4 Flavio Cipolla (ITA) def. Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) 2-6 6-2 7-6(10) 7-5 Igor Sijsling (NED) def. David Goffin (BEL) 7-6(7) 6-3 4-6 7-5 Karol Beck (SVK) def. Marco Chuidinelli (SUI) 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-3 Marinko Matosevic (AUS) def. Chris Guccione (AUS) 7-6(9) 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1 Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-4 4-6 7-6(3) 6-2 Andreas Beck (GER) def. Jurgen Zopp (EST) 2-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-3 Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) def. Guillermo Olaso (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2
Main draw action kicks off Monday 12:00 local time.
