The Australian doubles act offer one of the wildest rides in tennis but it remains to be seen how they will be received on the genteel lawns of SW19The rowdier the crowd, the better. Such a plea would usually be as welcome at Wimbledon as Russian and Belarusian players in 2022. But it is the ethos that drives the Special Ks show, coming to the All England Club over the next fortnight and featuring bullet-like serving, blistering forehands and bombastical quotes.The Australian double act of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have played to full houses in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami this year, drawing crowds with their thrill-a-minute routine. A doubles match featuring the duo provides one of the wildest...
Raducanu and Murray hog the headlines but late-blooming Norrie is the home hope in the best form as Wimbledon loomsWhat we talk about when we talk about current British tennis: Emma Raducanu’s rapid rise, and Andy Murray’s nascent comeback. It’s unsurprising that the teenage Raducanu’s truly extraordinary feat of triumphing in the US Open from the qualifying stages – without dropping a set – dominates the conversation. Nor that Murray’s exertions back on the ATP Tour after his hip surgery focus the attention of fans hungry to extend the joys of watching the “big four”. But in the meantime, there’s a sporting success story sneaking under the radar of the public: Cameron Norrie.It is debatable whether many Wimbledon viewers will...
An improvement in his serve and mixing up his game at vital times leaves no real weaknesses to be exploitedAs the fourth set of Sunday’s Wimbledon final hung in the balance for whoever had the courage to take it, Matteo Berrettini made his move while leading 3-2, 15-30 on Novak Djokovic’s serve. He struck an exquisite down-the-line backhand slice, then unloaded on an inside-out forehand into the other corner. The crowd gasped, anticipating the end of the point. But somehow Djokovic chased down both shots. Then he reached Berrettini’s subsequent drop shot, slotting an angled forehand past the Italian at the net.It was the type of point that has defined Djokovic for so long – the movement, the flexibility and...
The Serb seized all the key moments to claim a 20th grand slam and now looks to be putting his former rivals in the shadeMoments after Novak Djokovic captured his sixth Wimbledon title, with an enthralling and high-class victory over the Italian gunslinger Matteo Berrettini, he patted the grass like an old friend before chewing on a single blade. It has become a familiar ritual. But, for the first time on Centre Court, the Serb was heralded with shouts once reserved for his great rival Roger Federer.“Novak, you’re the Goat!” several of his fans cried. And while bald statistics show that Djokovic has now claimed 20 grand slams, taking him level with Federer and Rafael Nadal, he is surely now...
The new champion, the second Indigenous Australian to win Wimbledon, paid tribute to her mentor – and took the climb to her box that another compatriot did in 1987Moments after Ashleigh Barty secured her first Wimbledon women’s singles title, and with her body still supercharged with adrenaline and relief, she skipped across Centre Court, over a barrier and into the crowd.Seasoned Wimbledon watchers knew what was coming. Before long Barty had clambered over the NBC broadcast booth and into the players’ box where, to the great delight of the capacity crowd, she hugged her physio, coach and boyfriend who had all helped make her childhood dream a reality. Related: Ashleigh Barty battles past Karolina Pliskova to clinch first Wimbledon title...