News Analysis |
Wimbledon 2017 was a tournament to remember since it left a dent in history it self. This years tournament featured a record breaking eighth win for Roger Federer, saw the rise of a new talent in Johanna Konta and Garbiñe Muguruza. For the doubles, Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo took four-and-a-half hours to win an epic Wimbledon men’s doubles final, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina earned the women’s title in 55 minutes. Jamie Murray ensured that there was at least one British winner at Wimbledon as he won the mixed doubles title alongside Martina Hingis.
“Last year he was stronger. Today I think he’s less confident. He played a bit less fast. He was a little more hesitant, and that gave me a bit more time.”-Stan Wawrinka
The tournament also had its dark clouds as injuries left the two giants, Andie Murray and Novak Djokovic, unable to see a final they desperately wanted to see. However, there was a silver lining as Murray still holds the number 1 position in Men’s tennis and Nadal maintained second. It also saw Venus Williams fall in the final. S. Halep, the number 2 in the women’s rankings, leave in the quarter finals, A. Kerber, The number 1 leave before getting to the elimination rounds.
The man of the moment
Roger Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles with victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic. The Swiss won 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4 as Cilic struggled with a blister on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set. He became the oldest man in the Open era to win at the All England Club.
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“Is it possible I could be still playing here when I am 40?…You would think so, health permitting, and everything is okay. You could take 300 days off beforehand, just prepare for Wimbledon, put yourself in a freeze box, then you come out and train a bit – you’re not going to be injured.”-Roger federer
Federer surpassed Pete Sampras and William Renshaw, who won their seventh titles in 2000 and 1889 respectively, with only Martina Navratilova still ahead in terms of Wimbledon singles titles on nine. He has won two of the three Grand Slam titles so far this year, having returned from a six-month break to win the Australian Open in January. With 19 major titles, he extends his lead over Rafael Nadal in the men’s game to four.
The new world No.3 did not play last season after Wimbledon because of a knee injury before returning to win in Melbourne in January. “I’ve got to take more time off!” he said. “Is it possible I could be still playing here when I am 40?
An underdog beats her childhood idol
“I had the hardest match today against Venus. She’s such an incredible player and I grew up watching her play…sorry,”-Muguruza
Her powerful, aggressive game and ability to play her best tennis on the biggest stage means Muguruza has long been talked about as the most obvious successor to Serena Williams. When she was beaten by Serena in the 2015 Wimbledon final the American said to her at the net: “Don’t worry, you’ll have this trophy soon.” And she did as she beat her idol Venus Williams to take the win in straight sets. Garbine Muguruza said it felt “incredible” to become Wimbledon champion even if it did mean defeating childhood idol, Venus Williams.
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“I feel incredible to be able to play Venus here. Of course I’m nervous because I always dreamed about winning it, but I was composed,”-Muguruza
Muguruza was coached at Wimbledon by Conchita Martinez, the first Spanish woman to lift the trophy at the All England Club in 1994. Martinez was standing in for Sam Sumyk who sat out Wimbledon to stay at home with his pregnant wife.When asked if she had a message for Sumyk, Muguruza lifted the trophy towards the TV camera, “Here it is,” she said.
“Two years ago I lost in the final against Serena and she told me I was going to win.”-Muguruza
Williams, playing in her ninth Wimbledon final, had two set points in the opener. However, she was unable to convert them and Muguruza won all of the remaining nine games of the final. Venus also spared a thought for sister Serena, the seven-time champion at Wimbledon, who did not defend her title this year as she prepares to give birth to her first baby next month. “I tried my best to do the things you do… but I think there will be other opportunities.”
The Doubles
Poland’s Kubot and Brazil’s Melo edged Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 13-11. Russian duo Makarova and Vesnina beat Chinese Taipei’s Chan Hao-ching and Romania’s Monica Niculescu 6-0 6-0. Kubot and Melo were broken in the 11th game of their match by Austrian Marach and Croat Pavic and lost the first set before bouncing back to claim the next two. They lost the fourth set before falling 13-11 in the decider after more than four-and-a-half hours of play. However, There was no such trouble for Makarova and Vesnina, who raced to victory without dropping a game, sealing the first set in 29 minutes and the second in 26 minutes.
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“I’m really happy how we played and performed. One Briton was going to win a Wimbledon title this year and I was hoping it would be mine”-Martina Hingis
In the mixed doubles, The British and Swiss pairing, Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis, both former title winners at Wimbledon, crucially broke Briton Watson and Finn Kontinen in the seventh game of the match en route to taking the first set.The duo only decided to strike up a partnership in the days leading up to The Championships, but breezed through the draw without dropping a single set, overcoming defending champions 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Centre Court.
“This was pretty sweet and I have to give huge thanks to Martina when she texted me it was an easy decision and it’s great to have the trophy again.”-Jamie Murray
The “very abled”
“Yui’s my best friend, I would do anything for Yui, I would try my hardest for Yui and I know she would do the same… That’s what makes it such a special doubles team.”-Jordanne Whiley
Great Britain’s Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett retained their wheelchair doubles title by defeating the French pair of Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer for the second year in a row. While Britain’s Jordanne Whiley and partner Yui Kamiji won a fourth successive Wimbledon women’s wheelchair doubles title as they saw off Marjolein Buis and Diede de Groot.
All in all this years tournament was a treat to watch and was full of magnificent tennis and colorful emotions. We hope that the next tournament will be as exciting as this one.