The Romanian has worked on her mentality as well as her groundstrokes and both were in fine fettle as she dismantled the great Serena Williams on Centre CourtIt took 56 minutes into the biggest match of Simona Halep’s career for her legs to go finally wobbly. But at that point her opponent, Serena Williams, was shuffling towards the net, head bowed and hand outstretched. And Centre Court was rising and roaring to salute a performance of staggering intensity.Watching on it seemed impossible that when Halep was a young child in Romania she used to cry before going onto court because she was so shy. Yet on the game’s biggest stage the tiny introvert was transformed into a lion with ice...
Swiss justified the All England Club’s decision to make him No 2 seed as he came back from a limp second set against his old friend and rival to avenge 2008 final defeatTwo old friends played some tennis for a shade over three hours on a sunny Friday evening and everything felt right with the world. When it was over the crowd gave both their heroes standing ovations and prayed for an encore. Everyone agreed: this simply cannot be the last time Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet at Wimbledon.Did it have to end? Unfortunately it did and when it was over the majestic Federer had reached the second Sunday for the 12th time, made up for his defeat to...
A club that prides itself on tradition lets the mask slip a little with an addition that – for now, at least – feels like a luxury itemThe crumbling porch at the entrance of that once fine edifice, the United Kingdom, is held up by a series of Corinthian columns: the monarchy, the great public schools, the ancient universities …They have much in common. A rich patina of tradition suffuses everything they do. They all run their own operations skilfully; and they have the knack of creating an image of constancy while continually updating themselves, a process assisted by having vast reserves of money. Related: Cori Gauff, 15, eclipses Venus Williams in Wimbledon first round What is the new format?...
Few would bet against Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafa Nadal triumphing again this year as thirtysomethings march onThe three names at the top of the betting for the men’s singles at Wimbledon this year are so familiar that they can almost be taken for granted. Between them, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal have won 14 of the 16 slam titles in SW19 since Lleyton Hewitt lifted the trophy in 2002 and their odds imply a 75% chance that one of them will make it 15 from 17. Or, to put it another way, the other 125 players in the main draw have a 25% chance of winning between them, versus three men with a combined age of...