If I was at Wimbledon this year, these are the matches I would be observing live from the press row…
Court 16 McDonald vs Berankis, two sub six footers, both long overdue for a major breakout. Two feisty but powerful players, this one has five sets written all over it. Berankis in five.
Court 17 Karlovic vs Youzhny, two veterans both pushing 40 and both ranked now around the 100 zone. Both are desperate for some wins and points to get back into the ATP main draw mix. The loser of this match could be finished. The winner too. Very important match for both. Youzhny in four.
Court 15 Johnson vs Bemelmans. Bemel always looks nice on grass with his lefty game and slice backhand, Johnson is the perfect contrast for a battle. Johnson in four.
Court 10 Stakhovsky vs Sousa. The old school Ukrainian is ranked outside 100 and is desperate. Can Wimbledon grass rekindle his career? Sousa is always a tough out, another nice contrast of styles. Stak in five.
Court 8 Giorgi vs Sevastova is another baseline basher vs the 21 seed slicer and dicer. Sevastova in two sets. But if Giorgi is on her groove, it’s upset city.
Court 7 Muller vs Mmoh, veteran lefty vs young powerhouse. Mmoh probably isn’t ready for such a daunting task as topping Muller on grass but this kid has the firepower to present major trouble for Gilles. Gilles in three.
Court 7 Ryan Harrison vs Carballes Baena, always like to see Harrison play, but he’s especially good theater when he’s desperate to end a losing streak slump which he’s been in most of this year post Melbourne. Harrison in four.
Court 5 Luksika Kumkum vs Berarda Pera, Kumkum of Thailand has a diverse and varied game with a nasty slice, I think she can do well at Wimbledon. The Thai in two sets.
Court 12 Medvedev vs Coric, two ambitious, intense battlers, this will surely be a classic. I like Coric in five.
Court 2 Cilic vs Nishioka. Top contender Cilic should be able to handle the Japanese lefty but if he’s a little off and Nishioka can summon his genius, this will be a thriller. Cilic in three.
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« Previous 1 2Hartt · July 3, 2018 at 10:19 pm
That has been a challenge for Denis, ever since his great run last summer. Then he was just 18, even more of a kid, and no one wanted to lose to him.
Tom Tebbutt talked to Peter Polansky about Denis because Peter often hits with him. Peter said that Denis hits the ball as hard as Fed or Rafa. That is doing very well because, as I wrote earlier, Denis is not a big guy.
Duke Carnoustie · July 3, 2018 at 10:22 pm
You guys probably all read that Agassi ripped Djoker for not listening to him.
Anyway here is Andre in a more light-hearted interview that was a lot of fun…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGCKRcmjNwo
catherine · July 4, 2018 at 2:30 am
Oh dear Duke you just can’t keep away from politics can you ? The simple reason for Maria’s defeat is most probably that she isn’t that good any more and few players fear her.
I might also point out, before I leave this subject finally and forever, that most of the people involved in the stuff Abramovic does, far from being ‘left-wingers’ actually have no recognisable politics at all.
catherine · July 4, 2018 at 4:13 am
I saw a clip where Kerber was practising her forehand slice shot at Wimbledon so she’s obviously paying close attention to T-P and Scoop’s advice 🙂
And Agassi is waving a white flag at Djokovic and saying he’d like to coach him again. No chance.
Dan Markowitz · July 4, 2018 at 6:46 am
The fact of the matter or at least how I see it is that Djoker would rather have Europeans or at least guys like Vajda who probably won’t confront Djoko. Agassi probably told Djoko thinks he didn’t want to hear. I suppose Becker did too, but for some reason Agassi and Stepanek really didn’t help Djoko.
Chazz · July 4, 2018 at 8:05 am
I think it would be an incredible story if Djokovic wins another major title. I predicted he will go deep in this tournament and I’m sticking by it. I was almost ready to stick a fork in him as far as majors go until his recent resurgence.
Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2018 at 8:17 am
Always a privilege to listen to the great Agassi talk tennis. That was nice of you to share Duke. Funny how Wayne Ferreira was able to beat Sampras six or seven times but never could solve the Agassi puzzle. Wayne said Andre’s bh was able to exploit his bh weakness and that he could not get it up the line to Andre’s fh to move him around. Interesting stuff. Wayne shared to me his secret strategies which were able to conquer Sampras six or seven times, you will have to read it in Facing Sampras though 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2018 at 8:20 am
Agassi wants to coach Novak again? That’s odd to make that public. Wonder if Agassi needs income. Agassi Reyes weight training equipment was a massive flop, hopefully the investments in Idaho properties is doing better. Hope Agassi finds a bigger role in the tennis world because his presence adds so much. TV commentator? He’d be the best.
Duke Carnoustie · July 4, 2018 at 10:21 am
Right Scoop? It’s well known how Ferreira used to give Pete fits but I never realized he was 0-11 against Agassi. Many were in the quarters or semis of events too. I found it quite sporting how Ferreira was in that interview with a competitor who tormented him although Wayne is probably in a better place mentally now than Andre.
Here is Sock at the handshake yesterday telling his opponent, “Your coach is a piece of shit, by the way.” Can Sock get any lower?
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/1014430481285369856
Duke Carnoustie · July 4, 2018 at 12:15 pm
More insane news. Jack Sock is playing mixed doubles with Sloane Stephens. As you all know, these two used to date a few years ago.
Now Jack is licking his wounds from a crummy season and a breakup with Micaela Burns. Sloane, meanwhile, is dating U.S. soccer player Jozy Altidore. You wonder if Jack is trying to get back together.
They face Inglot and Stosur.
Dan Markowitz · July 4, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Wow, Sock is just dropping lower and lower in player ranking and his behavior on the court. I saw him in Delray just abusing Opelka saying the winners he hit were lucky. Sounds like a real wiseass who doesn’t respect too many people. Every time I’ve seen Sock play in last year, in Delray and in Miami, he had this badass attitude on the court which maybe has become prominent as his game has deteriorated.
American men are having a tough day with Harry losing in SS to Mannarino, Donaldson down to Tstitsipas and Izzie in a 5th set against Bemelmans.
How this shocker? Wawa is down 2 sets to love against Fabbiano, who’s like 5-8 standing on a stool.
I mean if Sock were playing in the NBA, he’d be so far buried on the bench he’d make Isiah Rider look relevant. Sock should look to play Mixed and Dubs and only singles in Exbo’s and give up on ATP singles. He’s become an embarrassment.
Tom Sawyer · July 4, 2018 at 3:26 pm
The potential Djokovic-Edmund match has the chance to be a real popcorn match, if Kyle doesn’t get overwhelmed by the moment. Nice two wins by Mack McDonald – if only Sock had his guts. C’mon Donaldson/Isner! ‘Merica…let’s go!
Joe Blow · July 4, 2018 at 8:29 pm
Guess The Woz doesn’t smile 100% of the time. Handshake after the loss was pretty cold, then this in the presser
‘I would be very surprised if you saw her go far,’ says Wozniacki of Wimbledon opponent after shock defeat
Michael in UK · July 5, 2018 at 8:10 am
Is this still the place for Wimbledon comments and discussion?
Yesterday Wednesday Jan Lenard Struff beat Dr Ivo in 5 set marathon (including 3 tie breaks and final set 13-11) which lasted just short of 4 hours.
On BBC TV John McEnroe picked it as match of the day because Struff won through despite Dr Ivo serving 61 aces!
Hartt · July 5, 2018 at 8:36 am
They were interviewing Fed during the end of this match, and showed it to him. It was interesting to see Fed doing this and hear his reactions. To the surprise of the interviewers, who thought he would not want to face Dr. Ivo, Fed said that Struff, with his good baseline game, would be the tougher opponent.