The young Spaniard’s astonishing victory over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final felt like an act of empire buildingOver to you then, Carlos. Across almost five hours of mind-bendingly fine grass court play, seasoned with cussedness, crowd-snark and some wonderfully fine champion will, the future of men’s tennis became the present too. It felt fitting that end note of a beautifully high grade men’s Wimbledon final was also unexpectedly tender.As Carlos Alcaraz crumpled on to his back on the Centre Court turf, Novak Djokovic walked across and hugged him, looking, for the first time since the first set four hours ago, back when the world was still young, like the only real grown up court. Ten years in the making,...
Centre Court is treated to a quarter-final first set of startling quality but also new forms, new shapes and new energiesAt times this Wimbledon fortnight has felt a bit like a grand, Pimm’s-sozzled Viking funeral. Here we have the ghost of Roger, reincarnated as royal box candy, rolled out to make the crowd coo and clutch a hand to its flushed throat one more time. Here we have another instalment in the extended farewell of Andy Murray, an athlete by now almost entirely held together with pins and staples, still gamely hobbling off in pursuit of that vanishing horizon.The sense of passing greats, heritage exhibits, the stars falling from the skies: all of this is in its own way deeply...
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune are electrifying the ATP Tour in a way unseen since another certain trio – the sport is in good handsLast week, shortly after Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played the point of the year so far – exchanges of 80mph cross-court forehands; Sinner hooking the ball back from behind him; Alcaraz falling and recovering; the kind of exquisite drop shots and physics‑defying sliding we’ve come to expect from both; and, finally, a triumphant Sinner whipping up the crowd after a fruitless dive from Alcaraz left the Spaniard sprawled and breathless on Miami’s Hard Rock court – their colleagues took to social media in adoration and disbelief.“Guys, are you from this planet?” and “What...