Gauff v Anisimova is essential viewing
Get used to this matchup. I have a feeling in the years to come we’ll be seeing a lot of it, which bodes well for Women’s Tennis. Here we have two young dynamos with the charisma and game to keep fans glued to the TV. They’ve only played once at the pro level but in this Wimbledon 3rd round match up we’ll be seeing two future Grand Slam champions in action.
The unheralded Brits
Murray is out, so is Emma Raducanu, the locals need someone to cheer for, please step up Watson, Boulter and Cam Norrie. Local papers need to be sold and the BBC need their ratings. 30 year old Heather Watson is into the 4th round, with no big guns in her way she could end up semi final bound. Katie Boulter is into the 3rd round playing the Serena slayer Harmony Tan, win that and a date with the Gauff/Anisimova winner awaits. Cam Norrie the 9th seed plays American Tommy Paul; Norrie has a real chance to make a potential semi against Djokovic/Alcaraz. The British Government must be thrilled.
Can Kyrgios keep his head?
Well, it seems tournament organizers don’t think so, by scheduling his blockbuster 3rd round match up against 4th seed Tsitsipas on Court 1. Seemingly in retaliation for his US$10,000 fine for spitting on court towards unruly spectators after winning his 1st round match. When reporters quizzed him about this Alpaca move after his 2nd round victory Kyrgios replied, “I’m one of the most important people in the sport, do you want to speak about that?” Ok, then.
No matter what court he is on if Kyrgios can keep his head then a potential semi against Nadal is a real possibility. I would like to see that.
Novak is building nicely
The twenty time Slam Champ hasn’t had to activate the afterburners in getting to the 4th round where he’ll play Dutch wildcard Tim Van Rijthoven. In expending not much energy the only real danger to a much-anticipated final with Rafa is a likely quarter final against the ever-improving Carlos Alcaraz, who has adapted his game nicely to the grass. The second week is the time champions raise their game, the Serbian will need all his focus to win this Slam, likely his last for 2022, but this first week at Wimbledon he has built nicely.
The tournament is poorer without Serena in it
The Serena of a few years back would of dismantled the junk spin of Harmony Tan, but this version of Serena is sadly a long way from that. Lack of matches, age, sloppy footwork and poor shot selection all contributed to losing a winnable dramatic 1st round match. Although thoroughly entertaining it only underlined that without a full on preparation and improved fitness that Serena won’t catch Margaret Court’s 24 Slams. The US Open will be her last chance this season, for her I hope the courts are playing super quick, it will be her best chance. By the time the 2023 Australian Open comes around the American will be 41 years old, time is running out.