The 39-year-old was well-beaten by Hubert Hurkacz but has not had a bad tournament after a long injury lay-offRoger Federer has experienced so many different emotions over his 22-year Wimbledon career, unfettered joy and crushing despair alike, but as he stepped out to the baseline on Centre Court and served to stay in the match while trailing two sets and 0-5 against Hubert Hurkacz, he faced an entirely new scenario altogether.Across the 1,525 matches he has played as a professional on the ATP, Federer had only ever received a bagel set once in his life in the 21st century. That alone took the greatest clay-courter of all time, Rafael Nadal, at the height of his powers in the 2008 French...
The fierce desire that has been the driving force behind a brilliant career is fading and it is best to accept that realityHe looks tired. But then he always looks tired. Those slumped shoulders, the pained grimace, the pallor of cold, hours-old sweat on his furrowed brow: this is Andy Murray whether he is winning or losing, whether he is surfing the crest of a wave or getting thrashed by a 22-year-old on live television in front of his loved ones. Even in his finest moments, Murray always had the habit of making tennis look like the hardest sport in the world. Related: Is the sun finally setting on Andy Murray’s brilliant, battling career? | Andy Bull Related: Andy Murray’s...
Uplifting home-grown exploits in rugby, football and tennis have shown the value of our emotional connection to sportThere is nothing in sport quite like the unexpected emergence of an unaffected new star. It is the novelty that never wears off: the wide-eyed smile of the young athlete who can scarcely believe their wildest dreams are being realised, a captivated audience enjoying a first glimpse of talent and poise from beyond the tramlines of ordinariness. As of this weekend, this phenomenon can now be retitled the Emma Raducanu Effect. Related: ‘I’m having a blast’: Emma Raducanu vows to enjoy wildcard Wimbledon run Related: Josh Adams scores four tries as British & Irish Lions start tour in style Continue reading...
The 18-year-old takes on Ajla Tomljanovic on Monday and her emergence has been aided by the public glare being less harshTennis has a way of facilitating life-changing moments over the course of little more than a week with a few short matches, but the tale of 18-year-old Emma Raducanu is rare in its suddenness. Before this year’s grass season, Raducanu had never competed in the main draw of a top level tournament and she arrived at Wimbledon ranked No 338 in the world, having never faced a top 100 opponent. Although her talent has been cherished in British circles for a long time, she was relatively unknown beyond.As Raducanu steps out to face on No 1 Court on Monday, those...
The Scot has made a heroic comeback from injury but he was outclassed by the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov and will surely ask himself if all the hard work is worth itIt was late when Andy Murray finally made it out on to Centre Court for his match against Denis Shapovalov, and the clouds were just closing in over the last little patch of blue sky left over Wimbledon.There were two lads out in the crowd on Henman Hill who were weighing up their options. It was a hard-won spot, the hill was so busy they’d closed it off, but they were thinking of giving it up. They’d had a good day of it, done a little too much drinking,...