Wimbledon served up a thrilling blend of drama, intrigue, and upsets during the first week as the world’s finest players toiled under a sweltering sun. A number of big names crashed out at the hands of plucky upstarts, while several superstars reminded us all of their talent. Here are the biggest talking points from week one at Wimbledon:
Fed Express rolls on
Top seed Roger Federer barely broke a sweat as he won all three first-week matches without dropping a set. He vanquished Dusan Lajovic, Lukas Lako, and Jan-Lenard Struff in supremely comfortable fashion, suggesting he is the man to beat once again at this tournament. He leads the way in the sports spread betting markets and deservedly so, as he has displayed great poise and grace thus far, while he also looks to be in great physical condition. The Swiss maestro is now 36 years old, but he has benefited from skipping the clay-court season and he seems refreshed and ready for week two. He has adapted his game to play with more aggressive, assertive strokes and that has more than made up for his slightly diminished mobility. Some of his chief rivals (namely Marin Cilic) have faltered, but Federer has arguably never looked better.
Women’s game is thrillingly unpredictable
Nine of the top 10 seeds in the women’s tournament were knocked out before the end of the third round, highlighting just how volatile the women’s game has become. Upsets have occurred with alarming regularity, and any punters backing the underdogs would have enjoyed a handsome overall profit. Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko set the tone at last year’s French Open when she defied the odds to seize the trophy. A first-time winner has claimed each of the past five Grand Slams, and that remarkable record could well be extended at Wimbledon. Belinda Bencic, Donna Vekic, Camila Giorgi, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Su-Wei Hsieh, and Alison Van Uytvanck are all still going strong, and all six are ranked between 47th and 56th in the world.
Serena could be back to her best
There is one key reason why the women’s game became so open and unpredictable: the absence of the legendary Serena Williams. She won the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant and then took a year out to have her baby. In that time, Ostapenko won at Roland Garros all the new champions were crowned and the sport descended into glorious bedlam. Williams returned in time for this year’s French Open, but she was not quite ready and she had to pull out of her last 16 showdown with Maria Sharapova. She was not given much hope of making a splash at this tournament, as she “almost died” while giving birth and she has not had much match practice since returning to action. But Williams is in ominous form. She has won all three matches without dropping a set, and she has displayed power, flair, and mental strength throughout. The 36-year-old American must be looking at the players left in the draw and starting to believe that she can go on to win a 24th Grand Slam title. If her body does not fail her like it did at Roland Garros, this trophy is hers.
Del Potro looks like a contender
Fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro could be the man to dethrone Federer in the men’s tournament. He is also in imperious form, having swept aside Peter Gojoczyk, Feliciano Lopez, and Benoit Paire in straight sets to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon for the fourth time. It is one of his best performances since missing more than two years after wrist surgeries, and suggests he is returning to his best. He already has a Grand Slam under his belt–the 2009 US Open—and he looks hungry for another. The Argentine reached the semifinals at the French Open last month despite never really having thrived on clay, and he is enjoying the grass at this tournament. He is on the opposite side of the draw from Federer, so he would not have to face him until the final. If he beats Gilles Simon, he might have to meet Rafael Nadal, but the Spaniard is at his best on clay and has not fared well on grass in several years. Del Potro has a pretty clear route to the final, and he should not fear Federer, after beating the Swiss in the Indian Wells Masters final earlier this year.
Heat is a factor
Wimbledon is usually dominated by grey skies and rain delays, but this year has seen London gripped by a prolonged heatwave. Some fans have fainted in the stands and players have looked sluggish as matches have worn on. The ferocious weather is forecast to continue throughout the second week, and it is all but certain to become the hottest tournament in Wimbledon’s 141-year history. But big servers should be pleased as the courts are extremely fast and that gives them an advantage heading into the fourth round.
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women’s tourney has been wild
You’re comparing IW to Wimbledon?
If Delpo struggled against Paire, I doubt he could beat Rafa and Djoko (his most likely opponents in the next two rounds) B2B to reach the final.
I agree. Just don’t see Delpo competing against the big 3 here.
Nice Article 👍.
WTA Wimbledon has been and continues to be crazy, Pliskova now out to Bertens but by now, that was expected.
Serena shouldn’t be a surprise but I just thought she’d need more time. Apparently NOT!
Camila Giorgi into the QF! Along with Ostapennko – yay, Bertens, and Cibulkova is back! There no predicting it.
Your last sentence. Kind of refreshing. Up until the last point, literally in some cases, either can win, even if one is down 0-5 in the final set.
If that reply was to me, Ramara, yes it is on one hand refreshing – OTOH, I don’t have much hope for anyone left vs Serena. And I prefer a new trophy winner. However, like Fed, Serena is miraculously back and when she’s back, she’s likely going to win. Credit and respect to Serena, Fed and Rafa — they are great champions and for many, I think, these superstars keep people interested in tennis.
Was there ever much hope for anyone vs Serena if she played well again? Lots of interesting players with the WTA but I don’t see any budding superstars. Really men’s game is similar in that respect. Plenty of interesting new players but when dominant Andy and Novak went down, it was the “old guys” Fed and Rafa that stepped up. In the absence of two of the Big Four the Big Two kept the slam dominance going. Don’t think I will see their like again.
Agree, Ramara.
And no I don’t have much hope for anyone left vs Serena. Had Kvitova played well or Muguruza; or even Wozniacki (but grass isn’t her best surface) I’d have more optimism about it being a good Final. Halep at her best has beaten Serena.
It’s down to Kerber, if she gets past Ostapenko, is my choice to meet Serena. Ostapenko is a strong but too many ups and downs – she just goes hard for every shot and is fun to watch. And sometimes it works out. She won French Open last year. She’s a dangerous player but doesn’t have much control or patience – she just whacks the ball. Kerber is the most solid choice left vs Serena.
WTA SF’s set.
Kerber vs Ostapenko
Serena vs Goerges
fun lineup!
Serena and Georges have met 3 times and it’s 3-0 Serena. The matches are straight set wins. But they’ve never met on grass. Still, Serena will beat Goerges. I had more hope for and upset vs Serena with a great mover and hard ball striker like Camila Georgi. But Serena just beat Camila 36,63,64 – pretty good match.
Kerber and Ostapenko have never met. Could be a good match if Ostapenko’s shots are going in and she serves well, Angie will have a fight on her hands.
Fed takes the opening set 6-0
We’ll see about Delpo. Wish I could watch that match with Simon!
At least I got to watch bits of all the WTA matches this morning – got to see Ostapenko win 😀
I’d love to see Ostapenko won the whole thing now.
Angie Serena would be a great final! That’s my choice!
think Kerbs would win that
She is playing like she sees a massive opportunity opening for her so wouldn’t be surprised!
I’m with Big Al,
Love to see Ostapenko holding the Wimbledon trophy – her 2nd GS title.
Be happy for Kerber to get her 3rd slam too.
I don’t have any hope for Goerges vs Serena.
I’ll be happy in the end if it’s Serena, as well, just not as happy as seeing a new face winning it.
Agree with that , but my order or preference is : 1 = Osta/Kerber, 2 Goerges , 3 Serena .
RC…I’m rooting for Angie & Jelena to win too!…But,not sure she can beat Angie..God!..I should thought harder about jelena’s chances at Wimby when i pick my Bracket..Of coz she’s going to play freely now after FO, with all that pressure has gone…
MA…Ostapenko was striking the ball better and better in her match vs Cibby…still a lot of shots went off the mark – have not looked at the stats. But she’s looking fit and fast and was killing Cibulkova’s serve. ROS was on fire and you are right – she appears to be having fun – the way she won FO. 😀 And that’s the way I like to see her!
Not sure about Jelena getting past Angie, either. Anyway, we’ll see. It wouldn’t surprise me tho.
Yeah RC!…Agree with u that Jelena is having fun atm!…And that’s what makes her so dangerous!…I can’t comment much on her perfomance RC coz i just a glimpse from it…But,i think she sent the signal pretty loud & clear…Let’s see whether she can pass Angie or not…In a way i want her to win coz i think her powerful game can match Serena’s powerful game too!…And i want to see her facing Serena in final…With Jelena winning…It must be awesome if that’s happen right?
Yes it would be awesome – but I don’t know about Ostapenko returning Serena’s serve – that’s quite different than taking on Cibby’s! I was just re-watching Penko’s match on Tennis Channel. Surprising when TC steps up and shows a WTA match, let alone a match with no Americans playing.
She’s full of herself again, Ostapenko is. Or, I should say her confidence and joy was showing in that match. She’ll need that vs Angie.
But I think Angie could maybe make a better contest vs Serena because Angie’s played Serena and beat her. Angie is the most solid one of them vs Serena. But I’m not sure who benefits more in their match with the familiarity Serena and Angie have for each others game. It will be a very difficult task to keep Serena from picking up another Wimby trophy!!
Now I’m watching Georges v Bertens match and wondering if I’m underestimating Julia when I dismiss her from getting close to Serena. She’s not as powerful as Kiki Bertens but she definitely outlasted Kiki in their match. Julia seems like such a gentle soul. I don’t know.
So yeah I think both SF’s could be good!
rooting for Goerges
I am not a huge fan of Ostapenko. I don’t tend to like players who just hit the ball S hard as possible. It’s nice to see Kerber playing well again, I never warned up to her, but I am glad that she has found her game again. The pressure of becoming #1 relatively late in her career did not seem to do her any favors. But she has looked very good. I was surprised to see Georges back in the mix. Also nice to see.
I will be okay with Serena winning and making more history. Good for her for taking advantage of all the top ten seebds getting knocked out so early, I think all four of the semifinalists are playing well and would be a deserving winner.
I never WARMED up to Kerber. *
Nny,
You just need to get that wtatv.com when Wimbledon is over. Then you can see more tour matches and find your favorites – there’s so much talent to see. I can’t help but love Ostapenko’s lively personality and I think her game has more than just big hitting – potential is there anyway. She does swing for the fences like her compatriot, Gulbis, lol
rc,
Yes I am going to look into it. I really need to see the women on a regular basis. I am still trying to process all the top ten players getting knocked out.
Ii’s not that I dislike Ostapenko, I don’t want it to come across that way. She does have this enthusiasm and joy when she plays that is very appealing. I need to see more of her. I would be pleased to see that she is not just a ball basher. I don’t like it in the men either.