The middle Sunday of Wimbledon seems to have been designed for us to pause and reflect. And as I reflect, I wonder, are we in a time machine that has taken us back to 2009? Rafael Nadal looks at his fittest and is playing with enough flair and authority to be considered a firm favourite for next Sunday. Roger Federer, too, is playing well within himself to ensure that he has the legs and energy for the decisive end of the tournament. And right behind them are Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. I am quite certain I would have said exactly this in 2009-10!
But that’s the way things stand at the moment. With the exception of Stan Wawrinka’s exit there has been no real upset so far. What has been upsetting is the disproportionate number of injury retirements in the first round. The ATP has rules in place to prevent this happening in their tournaments, but the ITF has not taken these rules on board. The fact is that the player who loses in the first round gets 35,000 pounds (Dh165,272) and that’s a lot of money. Since they are not breaking any rule players reckon they might as well turn up. I suspect we will see new rules on this matter in place by the US Open.
Coming back to the fray, Nadal looks rejuvenated and as good as new after the French Open. He will get even better as the grass dries up and the courts slow down. He is strong, has been serving consistently and seems to be chasing down balls exactly the way he used to a decade ago. I had said he would be a contender if he survives the first week. He has not merely survived, he has overpowered all his opponents and looks to be in the form of his life. It is hard to see him not go far if he keeps it up.
Murray, on the other hand, was tested and had to dig deep to survive the first week. It was an electric match as he was stretched by Fognini with the crowds really getting behind the home boy. The cheering and encouragement that Murray receives has always been incredible, but the Scotsman is learning to enjoy it and use it to his advantage better with every passing year. There was talk about a hip injury that had hampered the early part of this year. However, he is now looking pretty good and as defending champion he is clearly in good form — the forehand and the legs have both gained strength — and in no mood to relinquish his title.
The other guy who seems to have got his mojo back is Djokovic. He, too, has played a faultless first week under the watchful eye of Andre Agassi. The latter seems to have helped the former champion find some energy and focus. Djokovic looks a lot more in the game this tournament, with the fist pumps and screams coming back into his body language. Hopefully the withdrawn, listless Djokovic is a thing of the past. He has a tough path from here on and needs every ounce of focus to make him go the distance.
And that brings us to the crowd favourite (just a notch below Murray!), Federer. He is looking like he is playing within himself so that he has the energy and power to get deep into the tournament. He has not been tested too hard which would be a relief for him, and now the question is whether he has it in him to power past younger opponents and go the distance.
The young guns have also passed into the second week quietly. Alexander Zverev is looking really good and so are Milos Raonic, Grigor Dmitrov and Dominic Thiem. The latter is not a natural grasscourt player but he has shown fine form so far. While the focus is on the ‘big four’, these guys are closing in and not that far anymore.
Across in the women’s side, the incredible achievement of Victoria Azarenka has to be the standout performance. To be playing a Grand Slam six months after delivering a baby is really beyond belief. We thought Serena Williams pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with her Australian Open win during her first trimester. This just pushes it further. The girls have not seen too many upsets, and most of the seeds are in the fray. That said, there is so little to separate the players that anybody who has a good week from now can win.
A deciding factor will be the heat. Wimbledon has started a week later than it traditionally does so that players have a little time after the French Open — a move that I thoroughly approve of. However, it has been an unusually hot summer here and the grass is burning and drying fast, making the courts a little slower. This might work in the favour of some of the players — I can see a certain Spaniard smile! (Gameplan)
