2023-07-08 05:47:21
Unfortunately, there was not the slightest opening for Stan Wawrinka last night once morest an impressive Novak Djokovic, who even took the curfew on the wrong foot. Belinda Bencic, in verve, is therefore the last Swiss representative at Wimbledon, where a women’s match with an improbable scenario broke records and summoned cramps.
STUNNING DJOKO… Foot to the floor, Novak Djokovic was merciless with Stan Wawrinka (6-3 6-1 7-6). The level of play and the level of confidence of the Serb make you dizzy and, as at Roland-Garros, we do not see who might beat him in this fortnight. Too solid, too realistic, too sure of himself, “Nole” evolves three floors above the competition. So much so that we keep wondering if he is really too too too strong or if adversity is the most fragile of the decade. A bit of both probably. The question remains open.
ARMS IN HAND… “It’s going fast, it’s going too viiiiite!”. Although we mightn’t help but paraphrase Josiane Balasko in Les Bronzés are skiing during a second set where everything went by too quickly for Stan Wawrinka, what else might the Vaudois last night? Not much, let’s face it, except hoping to be more efficient in the service, part of his game which was not up to the task for two rounds. For the rest, “Stanimal” fought with what he might offer, knowing that he is no longer used to these encounters and that he is not inhabited by the same certainties as his executioner. . At least the Swiss, better in his “thing” during the 3rd set, fell down in arms. And that’s all we wanted in case of defeat.
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STAN’S LUCIDITY… As often at the time of analysis, Wawrinka showed lucidity. “The difference is that I have been fighting for 15 months to win every match from the first rounds, while Novak Djokovic has total control of his tennis.“, rightly pointed out the veteran of the tournament. This is also why Stan did not manage to drive the point home in the tie-break. Because he does not have all the accumulated confidence for ages by the Serb.
TSITSIPAS, WITH THE MANNER… What might be better than ending a grueling match with an ace? Aware that this adds a little salt to a great victory, Stefanos Tsitsipas was not asked to afford this little happiness and Andy Murray at the same time. Sent back to the locker room by the curfew on Thursday evening, the two men continued to put on a nice show yesterday followingnoon, but age cost the Scot dearly, who no longer had quite his legs from the watch and above all found an opponent strong enough to make him bend in the 5th set. Never really flamboyant at Church Road (an 8th final in 5 participations) until then, the Greek went for his victory like a great man, with very good tennis. It appears more reliable than we thought in this fortnight. And since his part of the painting has come a little clear…
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MURRAY, ONCE AGAIN? Time flies for everyone and Andy Murray (36) has already pushed back a lot of limits and even Migros-Data. We can only be disappointed for him to see him get out of “his” tournament so quickly, ten years to the day following his first triumph, and this when he seemed to be playing his best tennis for months. Because if we praised the courage of Stan Wawrinka, what regarding that of the double winner of Wimbledon, who also went through very, very complicated times and even bluntly affirmed at the start of 2019 that he was going to retire? Except that he is still there, like an old lion, and his wave to the Center Court audience did not sound like a farewell, but rather a “goodbye”. So yes, Murray should be back in 2024, but for him too, a scoundrel with a delicious sense of humor, the end is approaching and the pleasure of seeing him at the highest level will not last forever.
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HURKACZ, IT’S CLEAN! Semi-finalist two years ago following having notably glued a bicycle wheel to a certain Roger F. (name known to the editorial staff), Hubert Hurkacz may not be going through his best period, he delivered a very clean and very solid performance. to leave Lorenzo Musetti by the wayside in just 2h06 (7-6 6-4 6-4). “Great rod” and not clumsy at the net, the Pole might pass for a big customer. Except that his next opponent is called … Novak Djokovic.
BUBLIK WITHOUT MAKING NOISE… Let us beware of sleeping water, perhaps even more so when it is called Alexander Bublik. Titled 15 days ago in Halle, the somewhat crazy Kazakh has just spent his first two rounds smoking a pipe (6-3 7-6 6-0 once morest Wolf, 6-4 6-1 7-6 ahead of Marterer ) and even allowing yourself to do just regarding anything (see tweet below), and that’s probably also why we need him. Moreover, he generally delivers a pleasant and daring tennis which might still surprise more than one. Andrey Rublev, his next opponent, who lost to him in the final in Germany in June, is not proud. The Russian knows he’s good, Bublik.
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MEDVEDEV ASSURE… Although he claims not to be an herbivore, one still has the feeling that Daniil Medvedev might not be clumsy at all at Wimbledon. Wouldn’t the Russian be bluffing a bit? In any case, his second round in front of the turf specialist Adrian Mannarino did not fold. The great absentee from the 2022 edition won 6-3 6-3 7-6 to be entitled to a real test in the round of 16 once morest striker Marton Fucsovics.
BENCIC, BUT YES! For the third time in her career following 2015 and 2018, Belinda Bencic will therefore see the knockout stages of Wimbledon thanks to her expeditious victory once morest Magda Linette (6-3 6-1). A return to the 4th round which arrives perhaps the year when we least expected it, knowing that the Saint-Galloise spent the spring away from the courts treating sores. And that she even had to take care of other physical concerns before destroying the Polish woman, her right shoulder being sore. Problem: it’s another player from the Central European Republic who will stand in her way, and not just any player: Iga Swiatek, queen of the world hierarchy. Each time beaten in the round of 16 at Church Road by former No. 1 WTA, Bencic has the opportunity to break this series. For the record, she faced Swiatek three times and checked her once. But it was during their only Grand Slam clash, at the US Open 2021, at a time when we saw Bencic go … to the end.
The Swiss supporters gave voice, then displayed and especially took colors by supporting Belinda Bencic. [Adam Vaughan – EPA]
GOLUBIC TOO SHORT… We would have liked Viktorija Golubic to continue ahead of Madison Keys, her victim of 2021. But over her second round, the Zurich native was too short in the decisive moments to surprise an American who was not impressive. We can never repeat it enough, but what a pity that Golubic does not have a faceoff worthy of the name!
EASY FAVORITES… The favorites in the running yesterday all passed the pitfall. With ups and downs of course, but doing the essentials. Of course, we want to talk regarding Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka. Only the Belarusian left a round on the way, once morest the neo-French Varvara Gracheva, before recovering.
HITCHCOCK ON THE COURT… An improbable match was played yesterday on court 14, a long-term battle that wears out the nerves and flattens those who deliver it; between Lesia Tsurenko and Ana Bogdan, there was food and drink, good shots, big misses too, but above all suspense, sprinkled with these always pleasant “little” cramps, consequences of a flushed physique and a strained mind. The Ukrainian however ended up finding her salvation following 3h30 of combat, concluding 20-18 in the super tie-break of the 3rd round which lasted… 37 minutes! Tsurenko saved 5 match points before being able to “savor” his success on his 7th opening (the quotes are in order, as we don’t really know what we can savor with so many cramps). Jessica Pegula, her opponent in the round of 16, might well pick her up like a ripe fruit.
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SHAME… We find everything in the press room, and unfortunately often a lack of skills. That of Wimbledon is no exception to the rule, with in particular this journalist who congratulated Paula Badosa for her victory, while the Spaniard had just… given up once morest Marta Kostyuk. Pathetic, there is no other word. And it should come as no surprise that this profession has lost so much credit…
SOME BEAUTIFUL POSTERS… For the next 48 hours, Church Road will have some great posters on its programme. Here are a few, not to be missed: Zverev-Berrettini, Tiafoe-Dimitrov, Medvedev-Fucsovics, Rublev-Bublik and Hurkacz-Djokovic for the men. As well as Swiatek-Bencic, Azarenka-Svitolina and Jabeur-Andreescu on the women’s side.
Arnaud Cerutti – @arnaud_cerutti
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