Let’s look back on some of the best moments from this year’s tournament.
10. Oh, Mr. Darcis!
For the second year in a row, Nadal runs aground in the first week, this time to little known Belgian Steve Darcis. Was he tired, injured or just not enough time practicing on the turf? Either way, Rafa will need to evaluate the importance of the grass court season next year to avoid embarrassing footnotes like this.
9. We’re Jammin!
What’s not to love about this dreadlocked, Jamaican-born German citizen, Dustin Brown? His serve and volley style dismantled the stubborn Hewitt including 21 aces and 73 winners. Hopefully the world number 178 can make the breakthrough he deserves.
8. It’s a Pippathon
Seeing a Middleton sister at Wimbledon is becoming as traditional as strawberries and cream these days. Pippa, unburdened by the Royal duties her sister has to manage, is the most prevalent. In fact, her love of tennis is becoming a sideline career with an appearance in Vanity Fair, providing a guide to Wimbledon slash fashion shoot. Better than the days of queuing in the rain with Kate!
7. Federer’s Reign Ends
Another vote for serve and volley tennis at this year’s Wimbledon, with Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky doing the impossible and taking down The King of Grass. It was Federer’s earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2002, when he was beaten in the first round. It also ended the 17-time major champion’s run of 36 consecutive quarter-final appearances in Grand Slam events A bitter disappointment for Roger and you wonder if the writing is on the wall for him.
6. Wacky Wednesday
The media called it weird Wednesday, but I don’t think there was anything weird about it. The truth is, the upsets and retirements are due to lack of preparation grass many of the top players and an evening out of the playing field. The movement on grass is different from hard or clay courts and the buttressing of the long clay court season leaves very little time to make adjustments to the grass. Deal with it.
5. The Man with the ‘Black Heart’
No longer Baby Fed, the man from Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov, has a new nick-name. Caught in the cross fire between his squeeze Sharapova and Serena Williams, he took some shrapnel from the American champion. He’ll need to let his tennis do the talking and avoid becoming the next Anna Kournikova. He went out to 11-9 to Grega Zemlja though.
4. Pole Position
Jerzy ‘The Poleveriser’ Janowicz and Lukas Kubot are providing Poland with something to cheer about these days. The first Pole to reach the semi-finals and a legitimate force in the men’s game. The 6’8″ Janowicz plays like Michael Stich on steroids and when he’s on, he’s unplayable.
3. Lasting Impressions
Josh Berry became a YouTube sensation with his impressions of all the top 5 players. He nails Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic and makes a good effort with a tricky Roger Federer accent. My favorite has to be his David Ferrer with accurate facial expressions to boot.
2. Like A Murricane on that Hot Sauce!
Andy’s 2 sets to love comeback over a rejuvenated Fernando ‘Hot Sauce’ Verdasco was a highlight throughout the fortnight. His 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 win was his 2nd 5 set win from 2 sets down at SW19. Good news for Verdasco though, who has endured a terrible past 2 years with his form. Perhaps this match might light a fire under for the rest of the season.
1. Goodbye Perry, Hello Murray.
The 77 year old wait to banish the ghost of Fred Perry is over. Under immense pressure, Murray outplayed Djokovic and held his nerve to serve it out in straight sets. The smiles finally came and he seemed a bit mentally scrambled post-interview, as to what he had done, even to mention his dream of playing Radek Stepanek or Denis Kudla in the final. High praise for them! Well done Andy.
