8 min read
With Week 1 of Wimbledon complete, it’s time to reflect on all that has happened with a roundup of the best and worst accolades. The round of 16 is set with former champions Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both remaining in the hunt, and newer faces like Sebastian Korda, Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Lorenzo Sonego eager to challenge. The women's field is also full of newcomers including wild cards Emma Raducanu and Liudmila Samsonova, surprise Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova, teenager Coco Gauff, and Ajla Tomljanovic.
Best Match
In the second round, 2018 champion Angelique Kerber was tested by Sara Sorribes Tormo in a 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 battle. Kerber had just won her first title in three years in Birmingham while Sorribes Tormo has had a stellar season with her own WTA title victory in Guadalajara. The two traded high-quality rallies for three hours and 18 minutes.
Kerber wins an epic match. what a sublime match. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/reBjSJMQdS
— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) July 1, 2021
Most Unpredictable
It was a surprise to see Nick Kyrgios compete after the Australian hadn't played since January, but he couldn't resist the Wimbledon crowds. He'd put on quite a show with wins over Ugo Humbert and Gianluca Mager. Against Auger-Aliassime, he forgot his shoes—remarkably not for the first time.
Special shoe delivery for @NickKyrgios #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/UUhElrCv4s
— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) July 3, 2021
After retiring with an injury two sets in, Kyrgios then did an unexpected on-court interview. "I haven't played this level of tennis in a long time...my ab, definitely did something to it," he said. "I'll come back and play for a bit longer, I reckon."
Then there's his partnership with Venus Williams. They had graced the Wimbledon lawns together on Friday for a three-set victory in front of an excited Court No. 2 crowd. He was heartbroken in press on Saturday admitting that the chances of him taking the court on Monday are low.
Most Dramatic Ending
Just before match point against Garbine Muguruza on Friday, Ons Jabeur stepped away to throw up. A few points later, she’d successfully seal the 5-7, 6-3,6-2 win to become the first Arab woman to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.
“Sometimes when I drink water, the water doesn’t go through anymore," she told press. "That’s why I get sick. Honestly, I don’t want to interrupt the players, so I try to get rid of it and just continue playing.”
The 26-year-old Tunisian had become the first Arab to win a title when she won Birmingham last month.
Worst Fall
The Centre Court grass was the culprit for a number of superstars slipping and falling. Serena Williams’ loss of footing was most costly as she retired just six games into her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a right hamstring injury.
Adrian Mannarino was also forced to stop in the fifth set against Federer after he fell and hurt his knee. Others to hit the deck with less devastating consequences were Kyrgios, Federer, Djokovic, Andy Murray, and John Isner, to name just a few.
Best INSIGHT
All fortnight-long, Universal Tennis INSIGHTS has been giving win probabilities for each match as well as who is most likely to win the Grand Slam. The two faraway favorites, Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty are still in contention, and INSIGHTS has correctly called Sebastian Korda’s run. Before his first round against Alex de Minaur, the analysis predicted the 20-year-old had a 56% chance of ousting the No. 15 seed. He’d win in four sets, and keep on winning.
Greatest Fan
Tennis fans are more than just a little excited to be back courtside, especially at Wimbledon where the capacity has been limited and government mandates can change at any moment. During Djokovic’s first match, a woman in the crowd sat cradling a shirtless picture of him.
There are fans. And then there are super fans.#WimbledonThing | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/PXxaOl39RA
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021
Most Triumphant Return
Murray has enlightened his home nation with a courageous effort at his first Wimbledon appearance since 2017. After enduring hip replacement surgery and multiple setbacks over the past few years leading to an almost retirement, the Scot made a triumphant return to the All England Club. The 34-year-old battled through two tough rounds over Nikoloz Basilashvili and Oscar Otte before bowing out to Shapovalov.
Best Outfit
Fila went above and beyond at the All England Club this summer. Barty emerged in a scalloped skirt in celebration of the 50th anniversary of her compatriot Evonne Goolangon’s 1971 Wimbledon win. The unique skirt and matching top is part of the fittingly named Trailblazer collection.
What would a Trailblazer collection be without a blazer? Fila-adorned men and women alike have had the option to don a stylish white jacket for entrances and exits.
Biggest Breakthrough
This week, British wild card Raducanu became the youngest British woman in the Open era to reach the round of 16. The 18-year-old has yet to drop a set with wins over Vitalia Diatchenko, Marketa Vondrousova, and Sorana Cirstea. Not only had she never played a major before but Raducanu just made her WTA debut last month in Birmingham.
Thank you so much for all the support and messages!! Taking it all in and having a blast🥳 @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/tjXm2Xw1JI
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) July 2, 2021
“The way that I’m approaching my matches is each time I’m thinking to myself, ‘Why not?’ Someone has to be in the second week,” Raducanu said. “Why not me?”
Toughest Farewell
After revealing a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma ahead of the 2019 US Open, Carla Suarez Navarro returned to the tour just six months later. She announced she was cancer-free this April. Playing in her second match in 18 months, Suarez Navarro lost in the first round to Barty 6-1 6-7 (1-7) 6-1. The 32-year-old Spaniard bid farewell to the All England Club with 2021 marking her last season.
That was an UNFORGETTABLE experience. You gave me goosebumps today, @Wimbledon. I’ve always felt privileged for compete on your lawns. Many thanks for the best farewell I could imagine. 💚💜👋🏻
— Carla Suárez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) June 29, 2021
All the best, @ashbarty. You’re a special one. Thanks for a wonderful match today. 😉 pic.twitter.com/8Bg69THO5u
After taking in the lows and highs of Wimbledon so far, everyone can now head into Week 2 better prepared for what’s coming next.
Stay tuned for more from INSIGHTS, and to learn more about Universal Tennis, click here.