It says a lot about Novak Djokovic that a two-sets-to-nil hole at Wimbledon on a day when he was barely in his prime probably didn’t leave anyone thinking the end result was a foregone conclusion.
Much about his prominence at the All England Club in recent years. A lot about his track record of overcoming that kind of deficit. Much about its ability to adjust, to adapt, to straighten up quickly. A lot about what could happen if, or rather, when, he got back into the match and eventually reached a fifth set.
And that’s how Djokovic saw 10th seed Jannik Sinner of Italy with that big lead on Tuesday, then worked all the way back to pull away and win 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. on center court, earning her 11th place in the Wimbledon semi-final with her 26th consecutive win at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
Among the men, only Roger Federer, with 13, has made more semi-final appearances at the venue. Among the men, only Federer, with eight, has won more championships than the seven that Djokovic would achieve by lifting the trophy on Sunday for what would be a fourth straight year.
“He makes you play differently, well not differently, but the way he likes it,” Sinner said.
Djokovic, a 35-year-old Serb, made his seventh career comeback in a match he was trailing by straight sets (he last did so in the 2021 French Open final against Stefanos Tsitsipas) and improved to 37-10. in five. setters That includes a 10-1 record in matches going the distance at Wimbledon, including nine straight wins; the only loss occurred in 2006.
“He’s been in this situation many times,” the 20-year-old Sinner said. “That definitely helps.”
Djokovic was responsible for only one of Wednesday’s comebacks: in all four singles quarterfinals on a sunny day, the player who lost the first set ended up victorious. Norrie defeated David Goffin of Belgium 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; No. 3 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia defeated Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; Tatjana Maria defeated Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an all-German duel.
Norrie, Jabeur and Maria earned the right to debut in a Grand Slam semifinal.
“I can’t enjoy it too much right now,” said Norrie, 26, who was born in South Africa to British parents, grew up in New Zealand and played college tennis at Texas Christian University. “Just get ready for Novak in a couple of days.”
The men’s quarterfinals on Wednesday: No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain against No. 11 Taylor Fritz of the US, and Nick Kyrgios of Australia against Cristian Garin of Chile.
Maria in 1st Slam semifinal at 34
Ranked 103rd in the rankings, Maria is, at 34, the oldest first-time women’s semifinalist at a major and only the sixth woman at least that age to go that far at Wimbledon in the professional era, who started in 1968. The others? A whole list: Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
“I always thought I had something inside,” said Maria, who had only made it to the third round once before. “That I can do this.”
Maria defeated Jule Niemeier 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an all-German matchup. This is Maria’s 35th Grand Slam tournament; she had only made it to the third round once before.
Others? It’s quite a list: Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
He will take on Jabeur for a spot in Saturday’s final. The other women’s quarterfinals: 2019 champion Simona Halep of Romania against No. 20 Amanda Anisimova of the USA and No. 17 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia.
Of the women’s quarterfinalists, only Halep owns a major title (she has two).
All-white clothing annoys some, delights others
Before being interviewed on Center Court about his return to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Kyrgios traded in his all-white turf court shoes for a pair of red and white basketball shoes, and swapped his white cap for a red one.
What a thing? Not to Kyrgios. Not to many, probably. Still, it sure seemed like it to a reporter who peppered him with questions about it afterwards.
This is because the All England Club has a fairly strict policy on all white clothing while players are on the match courts during the tournament, which is clearly a nod to the early days of tennis, and some athletes believe that might have been more suited to the 1880s than the 2020s.
“I mean, I always want to wear all black, obviously,” Kyrgios responded when asked about the dress code during a pre-tournament press conference that he attended in a black hoodie and matching cap.
“It would be cool to allow, like, a black headband or a black sweatband. I think that would look cool,” Kyrgios said. “Obviously Wimbledon doesn’t really care what looks good.”
Neither Kyrgios, nor anyone else, expects a change in the rules anytime soon. And there are certainly those who appreciate it as part of what they see as the allure of tennis’s oldest Grand Slam event.
“For me, what I love about Wimbledon is the tradition and that’s what makes it so special, and having the all-white outfit is one of the little traditions that I really embrace. It looks fresh, especially against the grass court.” said Alison Riske-Amritraj, who came into the third round as the 28th seed. “You don’t have to do it in any other tournament during the year. It’s very professional. I would wear white to every game, everywhere, like that. I’m probably biased when it comes down to it.”
The first of the 10 points in the All England Club’s list of dress guidelines states: “Competitors must be dressed in appropriate tennis attire which is almost entirely white and this applies from the point the player enters the court. “. The second stipulation: “White does not include off-white or cream.”
‘It’s kinda cool’
There are also more details:
Colored trim “around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeves is acceptable, but should not be wider” than 1 centimeter (less than half an inch), than “Caps (including the bottom of the visor), ribbons for head, bandanas, wristbands and socks must be completely white, except for “full size allowance for trimmings” Shoes must be almost completely white Soles and laces must be completely white Large logos are not recommended manufacturers.
That is absolutely fine with some of the “competitors”.
Tommy Paul, who was seeded 30 and reached the fourth round, said the Royal Palm Tennis Club in Pinecrest, Florida, where the head pro is Eric Hechtman, who has coached Serena Williams and Venus Williams, requires all white when train there. .
“I don’t mind at all. It’s great,” Paul said. “If I see guys doing it at home during practice then I have no problem doing it for Wimbledon.”
A player at this year’s tournament said she always worries about getting her white clothes dirty while eating. Some say that she annoyed them that she had to look for new clothes to be able to play at Wimbledon. Others were excited about it.
“It’s very elegant. I really hope they keep this tradition forever, because it’s something different. You don’t always need to see colors in people’s clothes,” said Mihaela Buzarnescu, a Romanian who lost to French Open runner-up Coco Gauff. week. “Every year, I’m like, ‘Oh, white again. Come on!'”
Over the years, players have been punished for violating the letter or spirit of the written rules.
In 2013, for example, none other than now eight-time champion Roger Federer showed up with neon orange soles on his shoes for his first-round match, which he won; then the club reminded him of the Wimbledon rules, so he switched to white soles before his second-round match, which he lost, his first Grand Slam outing in a decade.
In 2007, Tatiana Golovin played at Wimbledon in red underwear under her white dress, leading to this opening exchange at a press conference:
Reporter: “Can I ask you about your panties?”
Golovin: “Excuse me?”
“Could it be maybe a bit more up-to-date? Of course. This is 2022,” said Jessica Pegula, who was seeded No. 8 this year and reached the fourth round at the All England Club for the first time. . “On the other hand, it’s two weeks off the calendar where you have to do it. It’s part of what makes Wimbledon Wimbledon.”
Source: www.cbc.ca