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,...
For all her talent, the Tunisian could not shake off the jitters and her rival capitalised to seal a deserved Wimbledon triumphSport can be horribly cruel. On the biggest occasions, it is a matter of nerve. And when nerves fail, as they did most spectacularly for Ons Jabeur on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Saturday, it can be excruciating.As Marketa Vondrousova accepted the trophy after collecting her first grand slam title, becoming the first woman to win unseeded, emulating Boris Becker in the 1985 men’s singles, she took in the applause, led by the watching Martina Navratilova, the greatest Czech-born player, and Jan Kodes, the men’s champion here 50 years ago. This was her moment. Jabeur had expected it to...
Seven-time champion’s iron grip on Centre Court shows no sign of loosening as he heads into yet another grand slam finalAs Jannik Sinner walked to the net to shake hands with Novak Djokovic here on Friday, the young Italian allowed himself a little shake of the head. If you’re going to have a sniff of beating one of the all-time greats, you have to take your chances, however fleeting they may be. But like so many who have gone before him, Sinner was reminded that for all the talk of a new generation ready to take over the men’s game, the king is still holding on to his crown.It is 10 years since Djokovic last lost on Centre Court, to...
Russians such as Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva have made an unlikely impact on and off court after last year’s banIt has been a bounce-back tournament for Wimbledon: the crowds have returned and there’s a buzz around the grounds. The tennis has been engaging too, with the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz as a genuine contender and a series of upsets in the women’s draw. Among all the successes of the 2023 championships there is another, less welcome, winner, however, and that’s Russia.Russian players, alongside those from Belarus, were banned from participating in last year’s tournament after the invasion of Ukraine. This year, after Wimbledon found itself alone and under political and financial pressure, that position was reversed. Players could return...
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...